Fashion & Textiles Courses in London
Our wide range of fashion and textiles courses offer students both practical guides and bags of creative motivation, providing opportunities for learners to explore the traditional and contemporary. We offer beginner courses for learners who want an introduction to sewing through to intermediate classes that focus on specific techniques such as shibori and creative machine embroidery. Our classes support experimental approaches as well as more traditional skills.
Our team of experienced artists and expert tutors work with learners, supporting you to overcome barriers and realise personal ambitions. Our purpose built studio provides access to industry standard equipment, height adjustable tables and chairs and good natural light. Just down the hall learners can combine their hand making with digital design by joining one of our textile design courses.
The textiles community at City Lit is very strong, don’t be surprised if you join a class with someone who has attended that class before. We value all our learners and welcome new students to contribute and diversify our burgeoning community.
All of our courses have basic materials provided but please read the full course outline before you book as the tutor will list anything you need to bring along.
We host exhibitions throughout the year at City Lit Gallery where our students showcase their amazing work.
Any questions? Contact our visual arts team on visual.arts@citylit.ac.uk
- Illustrated stitch: a masterclass with Rosie James
Course start date: Mon 4 Aug 2025Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rosie JamesDraw from your own photographs of people and buildings then learn how to stitch those drawings on to cloth using a sewing machine. Add fabric to create a completed contemporary textile artwork. - Contemporary quilts: log cabin Course start date: Wed 6 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Beverley SellLearn how to design and make a contemporary quilt from start to finish. You will use a range of construction and embellishment techniques. The emphasis for design is on Triangles and bold Geometric shapes mixed with cotton fabrics to create a personalised quilt. Suitable for beginners.Full fee £259.00 Senior fee £207.00 Concession £168.00 - Textiles: polychromatic printing Course start date: Sat 9 Aug 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Dawn DupreeExperiment with polychromatic print onto fabric and paper, exploring the creative potential of Procion dyes and silk screen printing. Processes include mark making, hand painting, resists, stencils and layering. Develop personal designs, textile samples and artwork.Full fee £169.00 Senior fee £169.00 Concession £169.00 - Introduction to using the sewing machine Course start date: Sun 14 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Renata MinoldoAn introduction to using the sewing machine. Learn how to use the sewing machine safely and competently. We also look at troubleshooting and different sewing techniques.Full fee £129.00 Senior fee £129.00 Concession £129.00 - City Lit textiles: mixed media Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Renata MinoldoInvestigate mixed-media textiles through this project-based course which introduces a variety of materials, techniques and design processes. You will develop a creative portfolio of textile samples using sketchbook research and finally work towards a finished piece.Full fee £499.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £324.00 - Introduction to pattern cutting III Course start date: Tue 16 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SelormeyThis is a chance to work on your own project of your own choice creating a pattern of a garment you have designed or a style you have always wanted to recreate from your favored garment.Full fee £439.00 Senior fee £351.00 Concession £285.00 - Sewing on Sundays I Course start date: Sun 21 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SelormeyStart making clothes with a pair of elasticated trousers in a fabric of your choice. Learn how to choose the right pattern size, lay out pattern pieces, cut out and sew seams, waist facings and hems. - Introduction to pattern cutting I Course start date: Thu 25 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Rachel SelormeyExpand your clothesmaking knowledge and learn introductory skills and techniques of pattern cutting and learn how to draft a classic dress block.You will then learn how to use the block to create patterns and silhouettes from a design. This course is suitable for those who have some experience in clothes making and would like to learn how to craft their own patterns. - Hand knitting for beginners Course start date: Sat 27 Sep 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire MontgomerieThis intensive course will inspire a passion for hand knitting, colour and texture.The perfect way to get started. - Textile design using Adobe Illustrator Course start date: Sat 4 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Freya ProudlockPractise basic drawing using Adobe Illustrator tools to turn simple lines, shapes and colours into design elements for textile design. Learn vector-based skills using digital software to develop ideas. Suitable for beginners although basic computer skills are required.Full fee £209.00 Senior fee £167.00 Concession £136.00 - Textiles: botanical dye techniques Course start date: Sat 18 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Renata MinoldoProduce your own hand dyed fabrics using botanical dye techniques.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £191.00 Concession £155.00 - Clothes making I Course start date: Mon 20 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Silvia SacrestanoLearn how to make a skirt from a simple pattern. You will be guided step-by-step to produce a garment in a fabric of your choice using easy techniques and, incorporating a zip and waistband.Full fee £369.00 Senior fee £295.00 Concession £240.00 - Textiles for beginners short course Course start date: Fri 7 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Renata MinoldoGet started with the basics of textiles by painting, printing and stitching fabric. Combine simple practical techniques with design work in colour, texture, pattern and composition.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £129.00 - Hand knitting for improvers Course start date: Sat 15 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Claire MontgomerieTake your knitting beyond simple stocking stitch, adding colour and texture by playing with stitches, stripes and learning techniques such as lace and Aran knitting. - Textiles: recycle fabrics using kantha stitch Course start date: Sun 27 Apr 2025
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Amarjeet NandhraUsing techniques inspired by kantha quilting, recycle your old favourite fabrics. Blend old and new materials with simple running stitch to create several exploratory samples or a small resolved piece.Full fee £329.00 Senior fee £263.00 Concession £214.00
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