It was a pleasure for the Fashion Technology Academy to deliver a Pattern Cutting and Garment Construction workshop at the historic Grey Coat Hospital for their Sixth Form students on 5th October 2026.
FTA tutors Manuela and Louisa spent the day working with a fantastic group of students with a wide range of abilities and experience. What stood out immediately was their enthusiasm, creativity and willingness to learn a new practical skill that they can carry with them throughout their Sixth Form journey and beyond.
During the workshop, students were introduced to the fundamentals of pattern cutting and garment construction. They learned how to draft a basic skirt block, trace their patterns, add seam allowances, cut their chosen fabrics and construct their samples.
Having a full day with the students allowed the tutors to see their creativity develop throughout the workshop. Once they understood the basic principles, they began making the designs their own — experimenting with gathers, adapting their toiles and even dyeing their fabrics to reflect their individual personalities and tastes.
It was fantastic to see how quickly the students moved from following instructions to making creative decisions for themselves. Their ideas showed that when young people are given the skills, knowledge and freedom to experiment, their creativity really can have no boundaries.
The students were a wonderful representation of their school, and Manuela and Louisa thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with them.
This is exactly what we love to see at Fashion Technology Academy — developing practical skills, encouraging creativity and inspiring the next generation of fashion professionals.
The FTA teaching team look forward to welcoming the students back and continuing to work with Grey Coat Hospital in the future.