7-day refund policy. No questions asked.

Free membership to our online community - Get full-support if you're stuck, share your progress, connect with other members.

3-years access. Learn at your own pace. Plus, a Couture Academy Certificate of Completion when you finish the course.

This Course Is Designed For:

1. Dressmakers ready to move beyond guesswork 2. Fashion students who want real-world clarity 3. Designers building or refining their own collections 4. Anyone serious about learning the craft properly If you want to learn to create your own designs from scratch, beautifully, you’re in the right place.

This Isn’t For You If:

1. You’re looking for quick shortcuts or fast hacks 2. You’re happy following surface-level tutorials 3. You don’t want to invest time in learning the process properly This is for people who want to get it right.

You’ve Probably Already Tried To Learn This:

Watched videos. Followed tutorials. Maybe even bought a course. But something still feels… off. The instructions don’t quite make sense The results don’t look professional You’re left filling in gaps on your own Most courses are either not built on real industry knowledge, or not taught by experienced, professional educators. They’re pieced together, simplified, or just plain wrong. And that leaves you stuck.

You Don't Need Another Tutorial That Teaches Bad Habits:

You need the skills and expert-led direction to bring your ideas to life. A course that takes you from first pattern to finished garment with real confidence.

Learn From A Couture Designer

All courses are taught by Julia Panciroli—a couture designer and university-level educator, whose career spans over three decades at the highest level of the fashion industry.

Student work - Met NYC fashion award winner

About Julia

International Couture Career

An honours graduate of the London College of Fashion, Julia has presented collections in the UK, Los Angeles and San Francisco, with fashion shows in partnership with Tiffany & Co. and Boucheron Paris.

Academic Expertise

As an adjunct professor of fashion design for eight years, Julia taught MFA and BFA Fashion students within a leading California university program.

Award Winning Students

Under Julia's tuition students have won, and been runners-up for, the Met NYC Fashion Award, and gone on to careers at global fashion brands such as, Nike, Gap and The North Face.

This Course Is Different.

Inside the Shirt & Blouse Design Masterclass, you’ll follow a complete, professional process—from start to finish. By the end, you won’t just “understand” shirt design. You’ll have the skills to: Create your own patterns with confidence Develop and refine your designs in 3D Construct garments that look polished, intentional, and professional Even if you’re starting from zero.

Couture Academy pressing a ruffle shirt collar

1. Learn The Correct Way

Most online courses skip steps or teach shortcuts that don’t hold up. Here, every technique follows a structured, industry-standard process—so you’re learning methods you can trust and build on.

Couture Academy shirt toile

2. This Isn't Passive Learning

You’ll actively create throughout the course. Draft patterns for three shirt designs, develop toiles, shape your design on the dress form, and construct each garment with precision.

Couture Academy shirt cuff

3. No More Second-Guessing

Or hoping you’re doing it right. You’ll understand each step, why it matters, and how to apply it—so you can design independently with confidence.

Enroll By Nov 2oth For 30% off

Plus our basic blocks in every size for FREE (retail £196) Regular Course Price £997 Limited-time Launch Price

£698.00

Enroll now

What Julia's Students Are Saying

Helping aspiring designers and dressmakers achieve their creative goals since 2010

Julia doesn't just teach technique — she teaches you to think like a designer and outside of the box when using fabric, pattern, and the three dimensional form. Her classes gave me both the technical skills and the confidence to bring my ideas to life in some of the most impactful aspects of apparel design process.
Mark Dasilva

Senior Technical Designer at Nike

Julia’s class has helped incredibly with strengthening my own fashion business, allowing me to fit garments perfectly to each of my clients for custom designs. Her methods for drafting blocks have helped me produce well-fitted, high quality garments that my clients are comfortable in and look amazing in. I highly recommend her classes to raise your pattern making skill level to the next degree!
Erika Regalado

Fashion Designer, California

Julia has an incredible ability to break down complex techniques into steps that actually make sense. I left every class understanding not just what to do, but why — which made all the difference. Julia doesn't just teach technique — she teaches you to think like a designer. Her classes gave me both the technical skill and the confidence to bring my ideas to life.
Nazila ShSaraf 

Fashion Designer, San Francisco

I’ve learned so much from Julia and loved taking her classes! She’s an amazing, fun, energetic, detail-oriented instructor who goes beyond the basic, straight-forward, step-by-step lesson and will teach you tips and tricks of garment construction that will elevate your designs and your garments. Julia’s classes are engaging and illuminating.
Asya Namsaraeva

Fashion Designer, San Francisco

”
Fantastic! Julia is a fantastic teacher with so much knowledge and experience to pass on. It was a wonderful course and a great time!
Kathleen Sheehan

Amateur Dressmaker, Mill Valley, California

What makes Julia an incredible teacher is her exceptional knowledge and technical skills, combined with her ability to teach with patience, clarity, and attention to detail. I gained so much confidence and skill through her teaching, I feel very fortunate to have been one of her students.
Vishali Sitharthan

MFA Fashion Design, USA

”
Custom Bodice & Sleeve Block Class - The information I received in this course strengthened my understanding of pattern drafting and provided me with the tools I need to create a custom fit bodice and sleeve. Julia's in- depth, direct instruction is accompanied by guided practice to ensure full understanding of concepts. I really enjoyed the class- it was informative and fun.
Mallorie Winn

Fashion Designer, USA

”
I took the custom pant class and loved it! In this three-session class, I learnt how to take custom measurements correctly, draft a set of pant blocks based on these measurements, evaluate the fitting, fix various fitting issues, and make the fitting adjustments back to the pant blocks. Julia explained a lot of technical details and shared many useful tips. This was such a great experience and I would highly recommend her classes!
Chenqi Xie

Fashion Designer, China

”
The couture class is amazing! I have learned so much in this class. Knowing how to take measurements on the real body, and transfer them from 3D to 2D on the paper. That is the most interesting part actually. I think it's really basic knowledge but nobody teaches this in fashion school. 
Leyla

Fashion Designer, Taiwan

Course Curriculum

12 Chapters · 74 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Course Outline/Meet Your Instructor

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Drafting Equipment

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      Sewing Equipment

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      Blocks/Slopers - How To Print & Assemble

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 1 Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      1:1 Begin Shirt Bodice Draft

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      1:2 Add Ease To The Draft

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      1:3 Drafting The Fisheye Darts & Hemline

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      1:4 True The Front & Back Bodice Drafts

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      1:5 Drafting The Bodice Pattern Pieces

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      1:6 Cut & Prep Bodice First Toile

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      1:7 Sew & Critique The First Toile

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 2 Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      2:1 Drafting A Classic Collar and Collar Stand

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      2:2 Classic Collar First Toile

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      2:3 Draft Changes To Collar and Stand Fit, Shape and Size

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      2:4 Classic Collar 2nd Toile Development

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      2:5 Double Collar Draft & Toile

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      2:6 Final Changes To the Double Collar Front Spread

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      2:7 Ruffle Collar Draft & Toile

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      2:8 Check The Final Drafts For All Three Collar Styles

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 3 Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      3:1 Drafting The Puffball Sleeve

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      3:2 Develop The Puffball Sleeve Toile

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      3:3 Drafting A Gathered Sleeve

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      3:4 Develop The Gathered Sleeve Toile

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      4:1 Drafting The Classic Shirt Sleeve

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      4:2 Drafting The Classic Cuff

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      4:3 Develop The Classic Sleeve Toile

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      4:4 Draft The Sleeve Placket

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      4:5 Bend The Sleeve & Adjust The Length

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 5 Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      5:1 Blind Front Closure Draft & Toile Sample

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      5:2 Fit Adjustment Tips

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      5:3 Marking The Style Lines On The Toile

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      5:4 Drafting The Yoke

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      5:5 Drafting The Hemline

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      5:6 Drafting The Front Princess Seam

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      5:7 Drafting The Back Princess Seam

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 6 Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      6:1 Draft The A-Line Gathered Shirt Bodice

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      6:2 A-Line Gathered Shirt Toile

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 7 Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      7:1 Fitted Shirt Bodice Front Patterns

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      7:2 Fitted Shirt Back & Yoke Patterns

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      7:3 Patterns For All 3 Collars

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      7:4 Classic Sleeve & Puffball Sleeve Patterns

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      7:5 A-Line Gathered Shirt Bodice & Sleeve Patterns

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 8 Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      8:1 Sewing The Front, Blind Placket & Yoke

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      8:2 Sew & Press The Double Collar

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      8:3 Attach The Double Collar & Enclose Yoke

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      8:4 Sew The Classic Sleeve Placket & Cuff

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 9 Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      9:1 Attach The Classic Sleeve, Cuff & Side Seams

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      9:2 Sew Narrow Hem & Review Fitted Shirt Toile

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      9:3 Puffball Sleeve & Ruffle Collar Shirt Toile

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      9:4 A-Line Shirt & Gathered Sleeve Toile

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 10 Introduction Discussing Fabric & Interfacing Choices

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      10:1 Cutting, Prepping & Interfacings

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      10:2 Review Pieces For All 3 Shirts, Prep Front Closure

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      10:3 Sew Front Closures & Button Holes

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      10:4 Sew Princess Seams, Enclose Back Yoke Seam

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      10:5 Sew & Press All 3 Collar Styles

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      10:6 Attach & Finish All The Collars

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Module 11 Introduction

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      11:1 Begin Sewing The Puffball Sleeve

    3. (Included in full purchase)

      11:2 Puffball Sleeve Attach & Finish

    4. (Included in full purchase)

      11:3 Gathered Sleeve Begin Sewing & French Seams

    5. (Included in full purchase)

      11:4 Gathered Sleeve Finish Narrow Cuff

    6. (Included in full purchase)

      11:5 Classic Pleated Sleeve Sew Placket & Opening

    7. (Included in full purchase)

      11:6 Pleated Sleeve Attach Cuff & Finish

    8. (Included in full purchase)

      11:7 Narrow Hemming & Buttons

    9. (Included in full purchase)

      Final Review

Are The Instructions In Cm or Inches?

This course is available worldwide so we've made all the instructions in both cm and inches.

Is The Course Live Or Pre-recorded?

It's pre-recorded, so you can follow along at your own pace and re-watch each class as often as you need to.

What If I'm Stuck Or Have Questions?

You'll automatically be enrolled in our online community where you can ask questions, communicate with your instructor and other students. 

What Skill Level Is This Course For?

Every step of the process is demonstrated in detail - pattern-drafting, toile development, sewing the final garments - so all skill levels can follow along at a pace that suits them.

What Equipment/Fabrics Do I Need?

At the beginning of the course there are two videos showing you the tools and fabric quantities you'll need. 

What Should I Expect To Know By The End Of The Course?

How to create your own shirt and blouse designs from scratch - Different body silhouettes, multiple sleeve styles, any shape and style of collar.

Ready To Unlock Your Creative Potential?  Enroll By Nov 20th For 30% off

Fashion school can cost thousands—and still leave gaps. This masterclass gives you a complete, structured system you can return to again and again. 1. 7-day refund policy. No questions asked. 2. 3-years access. Learn at your own pace. 3. Free membership to our online community - Get full-support if you're stuck, connect with other members. 4. A Couture Academy Certificate of Completion when you finish the course. LAUNCH OFFER INCLUDES: Our professionally calibrated basic blocks in every size FREE! (retail £196). Regular Course Price £997 Limited Time Launch Price

£698.00

Enroll Now