15 Top Fashion Courses in 2022 to Make Your Own Clothes

Learn techniques to create sewing patterns, design a dress from scratch, stitch crochet garments, and more with these online fashion design courses for beginners

One way to build a wardrobe that truly shows off your style is to make your own clothes—plus, it’s a great way to join the sustainable slow fashion movement! But with all kinds of techniques and materials out there, it can be difficult to know where (and how) to get started.

In this article, we share fifteen online fashion design courses that will prepare you with the skills and inspiration you need to design and make clothing using crochet, sewing, and upcycling techniques from start to finish.

With professional designers to guide you, you’ll discover tips for finding design ideas, making patterns, and sourcing fabrics, before learning the techniques you’ll need to design custom crocheted tops, shirred dresses, tailored pants, bomber jackets, and more.

Online courses to sew your own clothes

1. Dressmaking: Draft and Sew a Shirred Dress, a course by By Hand London

Learn how to design made-to-measure clothing using a sewing machine with By Hand London founder, Elisalex (@byhandlondon)—an independent brand that celebrates individual style and creative women.

In this course, Elisalex shows you how to create a custom-made shirred dress from scratch. As well as taking you through each stage of sewing your dress, she teaches you how to take your measurements and transfer them to your pattern, tips to cut fabric, and shares advice for making environmentally-friendly choices in your designs.

2. Make and Customize Your First Bomber Jacket, a course by Lydia Higginson

Over five years ago, seamstress Lydia Higginson (@lydia_mademywardrobe) started her creative project “Made My Wardrobe”, for which she makes all of her own clothes and hasn’t bought a single garment since.

Ready to join the DIY movement? In this course, she teaches you to make and customize a bomber jacket. She explains, step by step, how to use a sewing machine, how to cut each piece of fabric, and how to add creative embellishments and embroidery.

3. Pattern Cutting: Create Classic Tailored Trousers, a course by Monisola Omotoso

If you struggle to find pants that fit comfortably, why not make your own? Designer and creative pattern cutter Monisola Omotoso (@patterncuttingdeconstructed) has created clothing for icons like David Bowie and developed patterns for Alexander McQueen—she also makes pattern-making kits to help people get started.

In this course, Monisola teaches you how to measure and make a pair of trousers. After designing a basic trouser block pattern, you’ll sew a pair of classic pants using a fabric of your choice. Plus, you’ll learn how to adapt the pattern to create different styles and looks.

Online courses to crochet and knit clothes from scratch

4. Granny Square Crochet: Make Your Own Sweater, a course by Katie Jones

Learn to handcraft bold and brightly-colored statement pieces using the simple granny square technique with knitwear designer Katie Jones (@katiejonesknit), who designs and sells granny square patterns for vibrant colored crocheted garments.

Through her course, Granny Square Crochet: Make Your Own Sweater, you’ll learn step by step how to stitch and transform individual granny squares into a custom sweater, finished off with a double crochet edge.

5. Intarsia Knitwear Design and Creation, a course by Laura Dalgaard

Intarsia is a fiber art technique in which you combine different colored yarns to craft fabrics featuring organic shapes and designs. It’s one of knitwear designer Laura Dalgaard’s (@lauradalgaard) favorite styles for creating playful, hand-knitted wearable art—which sells along with knitting patterns.

In her course, Laura teaches you how to knit a custom sweater using the intarsia technique. You’ll learn to combine organic shapes and harmonious color combinations to create a piece that’s truly unique.

6. Top-Down: One-Piece Crocheted Garments, a course by Estefa González

Simple patterns, seamless garments, and endless possibilities are three key characteristics of crocheted garments made using the top-down method. The designer and founder of crochet platform Santa Pazienzia, Estefa González (@santapazienzia) uses the technique to create stylish fashion collections.

Through Estefa’s course, you will learn how to crochet one-piece garments using the top-down technique. Discover tips to take accurate measurements, adapt your designs to any material, and apply different finishes to your pieces.

7. Crochet Techniques for Colorful Clothing, a course by Marie Castro

Brazilian creator Marie Castro (@marie_castro) also specializes in the top-down technique to create her vibrant garments and accessories.

In her course, Crochet Techniques for Colorful Clothing, she’ll teach you how to make seamless, easy-to-weave crochet dresses and blouses. Marie will walk you through the basic stitches, share advice for choosing your color scheme, tips for improving your creative process, and much more.

8. Creating Garments Using Crochet, a course by Alicia Riego Rodríguez

Better known as Alimaravillas (@alimaravillas), Alicia Riego Rodríguez is a Nordic-style crochet designer and yarn bomber known for her minimalist designs. Starting with the very basics—including how to hold your crochet hook and make your crochet patterns—in this course, Alimaravillas teaches you how to create garments using crochet. You’ll also learn the colorwork technique to add a burst of color to your creations.

Online courses for upcycling clothes

9. Textile Design: Upcycling Clothes with Experimental Techniques, a course by Giselle Manzano Ramírez

Instead of making clothes from scratch, transform your old wares into something new by getting creative with upcycling in this course by designer and artist Giselle Manzano Ramírez (@giselle_ny).

For Giselle, clothes can be empowering, doubling up as a canvas to express meaning and emotion. With that in mind, in this course, she teaches you how to upcycle clothes with experimental techniques. You’ll learn reverse dye techniques with unconventional objects to create unique, sustainable garments in your own personal style.

10. Lettering for Embroidered Patches: Make a Wearable Statement, a course by Cristin Morgan

Creating embroidered embellishments to sew onto garments is another DIY technique to build a wardrobe that expresses your personality. Fiber and textile artist Cristin Morgan (@cristinmorgan) specializes in hand embroidery; her work has featured in several publications including publications from Martha Stewart and Better Homes and Gardens.

In her course, she teaches you how to revamp your clothes by creating colorful hand-embroidered patches inspired by typography. Whether it’s an old jacket or pair of jeans, learn how to transform your clothes into wearable art that makes a personal statement.

11. Origami Textile: Creative Pattern Cutting Techniques , a course by Shingo Sato

The world of origami textile and moulage is becoming more popular. Textile artist Shingo Sata, the founder of TR Cutting School in Tokyo, has had his work showcased in exhibitions in fashion capitals such as Paris and Milan. He is well known for his innovative approach to fashion design that combines origami textile techniques with moulage.

In his course, he teaches you a variety of techniques to create a symmetrical dress inspired by the Japanese art form. You will learn how to make a basic pattern on a mannequin and bring it to life stitch by stitch.

12. Macramé: denim jacket with clove hitch knots, a course by Terri Watson

Begin an exciting fiber art adventure! Terri Watson is a talented fiber artist and published author. Her passion for macrame and her playful humor shine through while she introduces you to all the material you will need and teaches you basic knots.

In this course, you will discover how use these tools to create a beautiful piece of work using the vertical clove hitch knot. Get ready to create stunning illustrated macrame pieces that you'll be proud to showcase.

13. Stranded colorwork knitting, a course by Jennifer Berg

Get ready to immerse yourself in the captivating world of knitting with Jennifer Berg, the talented founder of Native Knitter. Her expert guidance will equip you with the skills to create stunning knitwear that not only exudes artistic flair but also keeps you cozy and warm!

In her course, Stranded Colorwork Knitting, you will be introduced to the mesmerizing art of stranded colorwork, also known as the jacquard technique. You will also explore the profound beauty of bold patterns and intricate designs inspired by Jennifer's Navajo roots. No previous experience is requires, all you need are some needles and wool!

14. Modern Hatmaking, a course by NOMADE MODERNE HATS

Discover the art of hatmaking and create you own custom-designed felt hat from scratch with Nuriel and Audrey Molcho! They equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to create your very own felt masterpiece through step-by-step guidance and comprehensive lessons.

In their course, Modern Hatmaking, you will dive into the rich history and resurgence of hats as a fashion staple. Nuriel and Audrey introduce you to the tools, materials, and techniques required to craft your unique hat.

15. High fashion embroidery with Lunéville crochet, a course by Jelena Saveljeva

Get ready to enrich your garments with unique details! Jelena Saveljeva studied at the embroidery atelier that works for the British royal family, and then founded her own school.

In her online course, Haute Couture Embroidery, you will learn how the basics of Luneville crochet, a particular needled with a wooden handle that became widespread in France around the 1800s. Get ready to embroider with thread, or insert different types of crystals, beads, and sequins, transforming any item of clothing or accessory into a precious jewel.

Discover more resources to design your own clothes

Check out all of Domestika's online fashion courses, and read on for more recommended resources to build your design skills and find creative inspiration...

- Learn how to design macramé sandals, create floral headdresses, make custom jewelry, and more with these online courses to design fashion accessories.

- Pick up quick tips to set up your sewing machine in this free tutorial.

- Looking for fashion inspiration? Discover thousands of free vintage design ideas from the 19th and 20th centuries.