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
Courses available both in-person and online
We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between in-person and online learning.
Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to.
Experiment with a range of heat transfer processes and hand painting methods. Develop initial ideas through mark-making and collage. Create fabrics or art works using a personal colour palette and embellish surface through foil print and simple stitch marks.
Investigate mark making, layering and juxtaposing ideas through experimental drawings. Explore the importance of imaginative research and how to record it in a sketchbook. Develop versatile design textile ideas for interiors, fashion, stationery or text.
Ideal for beginners, you will learn how to use a sewing machine, its different components, how to troubleshoot and look after your machine. You will also learn different sewing techniques to complement your journey into the world of sewing.
Start 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.