Creative Textiles & Garment Manufacture

Course description

Providing those with an interest in working in the fashion or garment manufacture industry an in-depth insight into the skills and knowledge required.

This SQA Units course in Creative Textiles and Garment Manufacture is designed to equip school pupils with the knowledge, understanding and skills required for success in current and future employment within the textiles sector, or for progression to further academic study.

Throughout the course you will investigate techniques and experiment with new skills, whilst developing contemporary garment construction skills and creating your own unique pieces.

The course consists of two SQA National Progression Awards, comprising a total of six mandatory units which you must successfully complete in order to gain both awards. These include:

1. Garment Pattern Cutting: An Introduction
   This unit is designed to provide you with an introduction to garment pattern construction using industrial methods. You will learn how to create a basic block from which manipulation sheets can be created and then you will also create a production pattern for a garment.
2. Industrial Sewing Skills: An Intro
   You will learn a range of industrial sewing techniques and will use them to produce a simple sewn product.
3. Develop and Manufacture: Skirts
   You will manipulate a basic skirt block to make relevant style changes, create and cut out a production pattern and then sew a skirt. You will use industrial equipment and methods and will work in accordance with working drawings.
4. Art & Design: Colour
   A variety of colour media, media handling techniques, colour mixing and colour groupings will be investigated through the production of colour samples for a given brief. Colour and/or colour groupings will then be applied to selected art and/or design work. This will help you to develop your knowledge and understanding of colour theory through applied contexts.
5. Art & Design: Sketchbook Development
   You will develop personal ideas and concepts through the use of a sketchbook(s). You will investigate and experiment with a variety of materials and media handling techniques.
6. Art & Design: Creative Textile Development
   You will be able to develop an individual, creative response to the development of textiles.

You will experience a variety of teaching methods and practical activities. The course will be delivered in a textile workshop at the College’s Aberdeen City Campus, and you will have access to all relevant resources including industrial sewing machines.

You will be expected to demonstrate/develop the following essential skills for the workplace:

Assessment will take place on an ongoing basis throughout the course, under open-book conditions.

You will be asked to provide a kit of essential materials including:

• A selection of needles and pins
• A selection of threads
• Fabric scissors
• Tape measure
• Chalk

During the course, you will choose fabrics in accordance with your designs. Further detail will be provided upon being offered a place.

Learning outcome

Progression:

Whether you wish to progress in your studies or enter the world of work, North East Scotland College has excellent progression opportunities, with links to eight universities across Scotland and great relationships with industry employers.

Upon successful completion of this course, you may be able to progress to one of the following full-time courses at North East Scotland College:

Those with the qualifications to do so may choose to apply for further study at university level, e.g. BA Fashion Management or BA Textiles.

If you would like to progress directly to employment, a range of entry level opportunities will be available within the creative industries sector.