GOOD TO KNOW
Frequently asked questions
From choosing your course to learning at home — find your answers here.
GUIDANCE & SUPPORT
General questions
Which course is right for me?
Both the Basic Sewing Course and the Masterclass welcome complete beginners. The best choice depends on your goal.
Basic Sewing Course: Discover whether sewing is your hobby and build confidence by making six everyday garments.
Masterclass: Learn the craft in depth through 52 progressive units, from the foundations to professional-quality workmanship. Ideal if you want to become really good at sewing, whether you are new to it or already experienced.
Perfect Fit Mastery: Develop your fitting and pattern-adjustment skills. You will need previous sewing experience.
How is the Masterclass different from the Basic Sewing Course?
You can start either course without previous sewing experience.
The Basic Sewing Course helps you discover the pleasure of making your own clothes. Through six garments, you gain confidence step by step and find out whether sewing is the hobby for you.
The Masterclass is the comprehensive training for people who want to master the craft. The introduction moves more quickly, then 52 progressive units take you through increasingly demanding garments and professional techniques. Even the early units offer useful methods and details for experienced sewists.
Can I try your teaching style before enrolling?
Yes. Our free Skirt with Bow tutorial gives you a first impression. Sign up on our homepage and we will send the tutorial by email.
Do I need previous sewing experience?
Not for the Basic Sewing Course or the Masterclass. For Perfect Fit Mastery, you should already be able to sew independently and have some experience fitting garments on yourself or someone else.
Can I start learning later in life?
Yes. You learn at your own pace and can replay the videos whenever you need. What matters is your interest in sewing and choosing a course that suits your experience.
How does learning online work?
You learn through detailed video tutorials with close-ups. Pause, rewind and repeat each step as often as you need, then put it into practice at your sewing machine. There are no fixed lesson times: watch whenever it suits you.
Can I learn on my phone, and do I need a printer?
You can watch the videos on a phone or tablet. You do not need your own printer: download the pattern PDFs and have them printed at a copy shop. A larger screen can make it easier to see small details while you sew.
Are the patterns available in US Letter, A4 and A0?
Yes. The course patterns are supplied as downloadable PDFs in US Letter and A4 for printing and assembling at home, and A0 for large-format printing at a copy shop. Choose the file that matches your printer paper.
I usually use inches. Can I still follow the courses?
Yes. We use centimeters (cm), and the course explains why we use them and shows you how to work with them. You do not need to be familiar with the metric system before you start.
A measuring tape and ruler marked in centimeters make it easy to follow along directly, without converting every measurement into inches. Tools with both scales are useful if you are used to inches.
What basic sewing equipment do I need?
To get started, you need a household sewing machine, an iron and ironing board, scissors, a measuring tape, a ruler, tailor’s chalk, needles and thread. Your machine should have straight stitch, zigzag and a buttonhole function. You do not need an overlocker (serger) at the start. Each project includes details of any additional materials.
Where can I find prices and enroll?
You will find the current offer, price and enrollment options on each course page:
Masterclass · Basic Sewing Course · Perfect Fit Mastery
How can I pay?
Payment methods and payment plans vary by course. You will find the current options directly on the relevant course page:
Masterclass · Basic Sewing Course · Perfect Fit Mastery
What if the course is not right for me?
Our money-back guarantee lets you try the course with confidence. For the Masterclass and Basic Sewing Course, you have six weeks. If the course is not right for you, email us at [email protected] within the guarantee period and we will refund your payment.
Perfect Fit Mastery has a seven-day guarantee. Its first unit already gives you a substantial introduction to the content and teaching approach, so you can judge whether it suits your experience and goals.
If we agree a later course start with you, your full guarantee period begins on that agreed date.
Do I keep access after completing or canceling a course?
Your paid and unlocked Masterclass units and patterns remain available permanently, including after cancellation. The Basic Sewing Course and Perfect Fit Mastery also include lifetime access. You can return to the lessons and keep practicing at your own pace.
Who can help if I have a question?
Email us at [email protected]. Tell us which course you are taking and, for booking questions, the email address you used to enroll. Clear photos help us answer questions about your sewing project. We usually reply within 1–2 business days.
What should I do if something is not working?
Tell us what is happening and which device and browser you are using. A screenshot of any error message helps us investigate. Please do not send your password. Email us at [email protected].
Where do I sign in, and what if my access email is missing?
Open the sign-in page and use the email address from your booking. If you cannot remember your password, use the password-reset option there. Check your spam folder for a missing access email. If you still cannot access your account or course, email [email protected] with the email address you used to enroll.
Can I download the videos and course materials?
The videos are streamed online, so you need a reasonably stable internet connection. Patterns and PDF materials provided for download can be saved to your device and printed.
LEARN THE CRAFT STEP BY STEP
Masterclass questions
Course choice & requirements
Is the Masterclass right for me?
Yes, if you want to develop your skills systematically and reach a high standard of workmanship, whether you are just starting or have been sewing for years.
No previous experience is required. The introduction moves more quickly than in the Basic Sewing Course, but you can pause and replay every video. If you already sew, the first garments help you refine your techniques and attention to detail before you move on to more demanding projects.
What will I gain from the Masterclass?
You build skills you can use in your own projects: understanding garment construction, improving fit and sewing with greater confidence. The 52 progressive units combine detailed tutorials, patterns, bonus lessons and personal support. Your paid and unlocked units remain available permanently.
Course schedule, pace & access
When does the course start, and where do I find my lessons?
The Masterclass is entirely online. After enrolling, you receive an email with your access details. Your first unit, including videos, patterns and additional topics, unlocks immediately. A new unit follows every 14 days.
Do I have to study at fixed times or finish every unit in two weeks?
No. A new unit unlocks every 14 days, but you do not have to finish the previous one by then or be online when it is released. You can catch up later and replay the videos. Experienced sewists can ask for earlier access to the first units; these foundations still contain valuable techniques.
How much time should I allow?
Each unit contains around 90–150 minutes of video, with more complex garments at the upper end. We recommend around 4–5 hours of sewing per week. A new unit unlocks every two weeks, but there is no deadline to finish: your paid units remain available, so you can continue later.
How long can I access my units?
All your paid and unlocked Masterclass units and patterns remain available permanently, including after completing the course or canceling your payment plan. You can revisit techniques and keep practicing whenever you like.
Can I enroll now and start later?
Yes. Permanent access lets you study later. If you pay for the full course upfront, we can also arrange a later start so that units begin unlocking on your chosen date. Email us after enrolling to arrange this. Your full six-week guarantee begins on the agreed course start date.
Who helps me during the course?
Our tailoring team can help with your questions. Email [email protected], ideally with clear photos of your project. We usually reply within 1–2 business days. The lessons also include answers to common project questions. During your first two course years, you can use the course community to ask questions and exchange ideas.
Will someone assess the garments I make?
For your regular projects, you learn to assess your own workmanship with a dedicated video and detailed self-assessment questionnaire. Selected garments are assessed as part of the optional final exam.
Course content, patterns & equipment
What is included in the Masterclass?
52 progressive units with video tutorials, patterns, materials lists and cutting layouts. You sew dresses, trousers, blouses, jackets, traditional garments, eveningwear and menswear. Bonus lessons explore topics such as fit and fabric knowledge.
Explore all 52 garments ↗
What equipment do I need for the Masterclass?
A household sewing machine with straight stitch, zigzag and a buttonhole function is enough to begin. You also need an iron and ironing board, scissors, a measuring tape, a ruler, tailor’s chalk, needles and thread. An overlocker (serger) is not required at the start. The introductory sewing-room video explains the equipment, and each project has its own materials list.
Which pattern sizes and print formats are included?
Women’s patterns come in EU sizes 32–52 and men’s patterns in EU sizes 44–64. Use the body measurements in the size chart to choose your starting size.
The downloadable PDFs are available in US Letter and A4 for printing and assembling at home, and A0 for large-format printing at a copy shop.
What if my body does not match a standard size?
From the beginning, you learn to take measurements, choose a suitable starting size and adjust the pattern. Fittings and further adjustments for different body shapes are developed throughout the course. You work with your own measurements rather than relying on a clothing-size label.
Will I learn to draft patterns from scratch?
No. In the Masterclass, you work with the supplied patterns and learn to adapt them to your body and design ideas. Drafting patterns from scratch and fashion illustration are not part of the course.
What if a garment is not my style?
The classic core designs are chosen to teach specific techniques. Different fabrics, lengths and details let you make them your own: an evening dress can become a summer dress, for example. Even if you choose not to sew a particular garment, its video teaches techniques you can use elsewhere.
Are there written sewing instructions?
The sewing instructions are provided as videos. Supporting PDFs include materials lists, fabric requirements and cutting layouts. There is no separate written step-by-step sewing guide. Your own notes can be useful when you return to a project.
How do I know which fabrics and materials to buy?
Each unit includes a materials list, fabric requirements and a cutting layout, with guidance on suitable fabrics. Fabric knowledge is explained through the projects and additional bonus videos. Materials lists are released in groups: unit 1 covers units 1–6, unit 6 covers units 7–12, and so on, so you can prepare several projects ahead.
Are traditional Austrian garments included?
Yes. You make two dirndls, each with a blouse and apron. If traditional dress is not your style, you can adapt the designs into summer or evening dresses and use the techniques in other projects.
Will I also sew menswear?
Yes. The second course year includes five menswear designs. Many of the construction techniques taught in the first year are useful for menswear too.
Which pattern software do you use?
We digitize the tried-and-tested patterns from our tailoring workshop using GRAFIS CAD, then provide printable PDFs. You do not need pattern-design software yourself.
Can I use the patterns for paid client work?
Yes. The extended license lets you use the patterns from your paid units permanently to make garments for clients and other commercial sewing projects. You may not share or resell the pattern files, or provide them to others in your own sewing courses.
Read the terms of use ↗
Prices, payment & cancellation
How much is the Masterclass, and which payment plans are available?
All three plans include the same Masterclass. Choose payment per unit every 14 days, two payments twelve months apart, or one payment for the full course. The standard unit-release schedule is the same for all plans.
See current prices and payment plans ↗
Which payment methods can I use?
Pay-per-unit and two-payment plans can be paid by credit card or PayPal. For a one-time payment, contact us if you would like to pay by bank transfer. You will find the current payment options on the Masterclass course page ↗.
Can I buy individual units?
The Masterclass is a progressive course, so individual garment units are not sold separately. The pay-per-unit plan lets you stop the course, but it does not let you pick individual units out of sequence.
How do I cancel my Masterclass payment plan?
Simply let us know, for example by emailing [email protected]. With pay-per-unit, you can cancel at any time; future releases and payments stop from the next unit. With two payments, you can cancel before the second course year. You retain access to the units you have already paid for. A one-time payment has no ongoing renewal.
Can I pause my subscription or receive one unit per month?
Units unlock automatically every 14 days; there is no monthly release option or automatic subscription pause. You can pause your learning at any time. If you cancel and enroll again later, you continue where you left off. The cancellation terms of your chosen payment plan apply.
Are there any additional costs?
Patterns and course materials are included, and no additional textbooks are required. You pay for your own fabric, sewing supplies and any printing. These costs depend on your fabric choices, and you can use suitable materials you already have. The optional final exam has a separate fee.
Can I switch to a one-time payment later?
Yes. Email [email protected] and we will prepare an offer that takes the units you have already paid for into account.
Can I give the Masterclass as a gift?
Yes, with the one-time payment option. Enroll using an email address of your own that is not already registered with us. Then email us with the recipient’s details and the desired start date, so we can arrange their access.
How does the money-back guarantee work?
You have six weeks to try the Masterclass. With the standard release schedule of one unit every two weeks, this lets you explore the first three units. If the course is not right for you, email [email protected] within the guarantee period for a full refund. If we agree a later start with you, the full six-week guarantee begins on that agreed date.
Exam & diploma
Will I receive a diploma, and is the exam compulsory?
After passing the final exam, you receive a Tailor Academy diploma. The exam is optional and requires separate registration and an exam fee. The diploma records your assessed skills and can help you demonstrate your work to clients or prospective employers. You can complete the Masterclass without taking the exam.
How does the final exam work?
You can register for the optional, fee-based exam from unit 50 and receive the question catalog to prepare. You can take the exam from unit 52, with one year from the release of unit 52 to complete it.
The exam covers theory, cutting and pattern adjustments, plus an assessment of photographs of three garments: trousers, a jacket or blazer, and a dress. You choose from the specified designs for these garments.
Does the Masterclass replace a formal tailoring apprenticeship?
No. The learning path follows the practical progression of a tailoring apprenticeship and develops substantial hands-on skills, but it does not replace a formal vocational qualification. Pattern drafting from scratch, fashion illustration and client consultation are not included in the course.
Can the Masterclass help me prepare for a professional tailoring exam?
It can build a practical foundation; participants have used the training to prepare for practical tailoring exams. Completing the Masterclass does not itself award a national trade or master-craft qualification. Ask the relevant examination body in your country about entry requirements, recognition and any additional preparation you need.
Can I start a sewing business with the diploma?
The diploma documents your assessed course skills. It is not automatically a business license or a state-recognized vocational qualification. Requirements depend on your country and the work you plan to offer, including children’s clothing. Check with the relevant local business or professional authority before starting.
YOUR FIRST STEPS IN SEWING
Basic Sewing Course questions
Can I start with no sewing experience?
Yes. The course begins with the foundations and guides you step by step to your first garments. No previous sewing experience is needed.
What will I sew and learn?
You make a T-shirt, joggers, a skirt, a hoodie, palazzo trousers and a dress. The Sewing ABC prepares you with guidance on equipment, fabrics, taking measurements and your first sewing steps.
Which pattern sizes are included?
All women’s designs come in EU sizes 32–52, with additional patterns for girls in sizes 80–164. T-shirts, joggers and hoodies also include men’s sizes 44–64 and boys’ sizes 80–164. Choose your size using the measurements in the size chart. The PDFs are available in US Letter, A4 and A0.
Do I need a sewing machine?
Yes. A standard household sewing machine is enough; you do not need an expensive or specialist model. The Sewing ABC explains what to look for, including guidance if you do not own a machine yet.
How much time do I need?
There is no fixed timetable. Watch the lessons when it suits you and take as much time as you need for each project. You set the pace.
How long do I have access, and can I start later?
You have lifetime access. Enroll now, start later, take breaks and replay the videos whenever you like. There is no deadline for completing the projects.
Who can help if I get stuck?
Our team is here to help. Email [email protected] with your question and, where useful, clear photos. We usually reply within 1–2 business days. The detailed video tutorials can also be replayed as often as you need.
How is this different from the Masterclass?
Both courses welcome complete beginners. The Basic Sewing Course helps you discover whether sewing is your hobby while building confidence through six garments.
If you already know you want to become really good at sewing and reach a high level of workmanship, choose the Masterclass. It moves more quickly at the start and teaches the craft through 52 progressive units, with valuable techniques for experienced sewists too.
Is the Basic Sewing Course a subscription?
No. You pay once and keep lifetime access. See the course page for the current price.
How does the money-back guarantee work?
You have six weeks to get to know the course. If it is not right for you, email [email protected] within the guarantee period and we will refund the full course price, without asking you to justify your decision. If we agree a later course start with you, your full guarantee begins on that date.
MAKE CLOTHES THAT FIT
Perfect Fit Mastery questions
How much sewing experience do I need?
You should be able to sew independently and accurately, and have some experience fitting garments on yourself or others. You do not need to have taken the Masterclass. If you joined the Masterclass as a complete beginner, we recommend reaching at least unit 12 first.
Which fitting problems does the course cover?
Examples include gaping necklines and armholes, shoulder and back width, sleeve position and width, sway backs, rounded backs and fuller abdomens. You also explore adjustments for different bust sizes, heights and measurements outside a pattern’s size range. The corrections are demonstrated on different people and garments.
How much content is included?
41 videos with more than 19 hours of instruction: foundations, introductions and measurements for eight real people, plus 17 detailed garment examples. The garment videos run for approximately 21–84 minutes each.
How much time should I allow?
Content is released over six weeks. During the practical weeks, allow around four to five hours for videos, plus time for notes, rewatching and your own practice. Lifetime access means you can work at your own pace.
Are there reference materials?
Yes. Alongside the videos, you receive a 77-page digital reference handbook on fit and pattern adjustments. Download the PDF and keep it to hand when working on your own garments.
Can I enroll now and start later?
Yes. You can study later without arranging a start date. If you also want the content releases and accompanying emails to begin later, email us after enrolling with your preferred date.
Will I learn to fit garments on myself?
Yes. Right at the beginning, Stefan explains how to carry out fittings on yourself.
Who can help with questions about my own sewing project?
You receive personal support with questions about cutting, fitting and shaping garments. Email [email protected] and describe where you need help. Clear photos help us understand the issue. We usually reply within 1–2 business days.
Are future additions included?
Yes. Future additions and course updates are included. The course explores a wide range of fitting problems, helping you recognize the underlying principles and apply them to your own projects.
Is the exam optional, and does it cost extra?
The theory-based multiple-choice exam is optional and included in the course price. After passing, you receive a certificate. You choose when to take it.
How many exam attempts do I have?
You have three attempts in total.
Which money-back guarantee applies?
Perfect Fit Mastery includes a seven-day money-back guarantee. The first unit already gives you a substantial introduction to the content and teaching approach, so you can decide whether the course suits your experience and goals. If not, email [email protected] within the guarantee period and we will refund your payment. If we agree a later course start with you, the seven days begin on that agreed date.
PERSONAL SUPPORT
Still have a question?
Send us a message. We’re happy to help.
We usually reply within 1–2 business days.