C'est du Joly is obviously the Brussels haberdashery specializing in Japanese fabrics, apparel fabrics, haberdashery, and yarns for knitting, crocheting and embroidery but not only that... because it is also a place where you can take sewing workshops from beginner to advanced levels! 

Our goal is to offer you a coherent training path from your first workshop and discovering the sewing machine, through discovering the serger, up to making lined coats, jeans, and why not creating your own patterns! 

But let's start at the beginning... I need to explain where this desire to share our passion with you comes from and ultimately how our educational journey was born...

A bit of history

About fifteen years ago, I wanted to learn sewing primarily as a hobby. I wanted an activity that valued my artistic and manual skills, with a useful result, and to join a supportive and constructive community. Learning while having fun in a good mood and making garments that I would use in my daily life. 

The second goal was to sew my own clothes to:
- that they fit my measurements (I am 1.53m tall and have curves...),
- that they can be sewn in natural and quality materials
- that they are sewn in colors and patterns I would like to wear
- that they have impeccable finishes because I am demanding about the quality of the finishes and fabrics I wear (which is reflected in the choice of fabrics in the shop). 

In short, everything that the textile retail trade, ready-to-wear from chains but also mid-range brands, no longer offered at that time (and it hasn't improved) knowing that my budget didn't allow me to shop in fancier stores...
In short, sewing was the perfect solution to meet my needs! 

So I launched myself full throttle in search of courses that met my needs, and it was no easy task! I scoured all of Brussels: either it was professional training during the day (which I couldn’t combine with my job), or workshops only held during the day where the teacher wasn’t even officially registered, or the workshops only offered an introduction and then no further courses to progress... a real hassle!

Finally, after weeks of searching, I landed in a haberdashery-workshop (now closed) that offered courses from beginner to advanced. Over the years, I supplemented these courses with solid self-taught training based on sewing and patternmaking teaching books as well as a fashion design training in France. 

I thought I surely wasn’t the only one struggling to find sewing courses in Brussels that met the same needs. I started creating courses for another haberdashery (now closed) in 2019 and 2020, and I really enjoyed passing on this knowledge. 

So in 2022, I took the plunge and opened our first workshop in Ixelles. 

Just as I created the haberdashery where I would have liked to be welcomed, I created the sewing learning process I wished I had found about fifteen years ago!

The main principles of C'est du Joly courses

Whether you attend the sewing courses in our Ixelles or Woluwe workshop, we are committed to welcoming you in a space where you will find skills and kindness.

We offer more than just an entertaining activity; we provide a true moment of sharing pleasant knowledge with our qualified teachers as well as with other students. 

At C'est du Joly, we want to gently support you on your journey as a dressmaker. Therefore, all the courses are designed for you to acquire new skills, with a bit of challenge but never to the point of failure! 

Our teachers adapt to you and not the other way around; the goal is for you to feel confident throughout all your projects until you become independent. We recruit them based on their professionalism, both in technical skills and interpersonal qualities. 

Finally, C'est du Joly is committed to offering a fair price for its courses, taking into account that we have chosen to be part of society. Our instructors are employees of our company, and we want them to receive a fair salary for their work. We receive no government aid for our work, and it is a source of pride for me to create jobs and value within society. 

We have also chosen to equip the workshops with high-quality Janome sewing machines and Juki sergers so that your sewing moments are very enjoyable. 

Our progressive program

1. I discover sewing

Designed for complete beginners, the course "je découvre la couture" is aimed at people who have never touched a sewing machine, those who started sewing during COVID with masks and haven’t done anything since, those who learned a long time ago and want to get started on electronic sewing machines...

This course lets you start safely and, above all, teaches you the right techniques from the start! In fact, children from 12 years old can attend unaccompanied, and children from 8 years old can come as a duo with a parent (in this case, book two spots and enjoy a moment of sharing and discovery). 

Our experienced instructors teach you the correct techniques and kindly correct your posture and movements during the course so you don’t develop bad habits; something YouTube and tutorials can’t guarantee. During this course, you will learn to use a sewing machine (which will also allow you to work with any machine afterward) and especially to sew your first real sewing projects!

No prerequisites or materials to bring are required for this course; we start with the basics so you develop the right habits and methods from the very beginning of your sewing journey.

During these 4 sessions of 2h30 each, you will learn:
- the anatomy of the sewing machine and its basic functions
- using the sewing machine safely
- the initial machine settings and changing presser feet
- your first basics on sewing equipment and basic fabrics
- straight sewing, curved sewing…
- inserting a zipper / zip pull
- attaching a bias tape or piping   

We will complete 3 full projects together that you will take home. The price of this course includes the materials for the 3 projects and 10 hours of sewing accompanied by your instructor. 

2. I sew my first garment

After getting started, we offer the first garment course which will lead you to discover sewing patterns. 

This course is accessible to people:
- who have received sewing introduction with us
- who started an introduction elsewhere, including independent use of the sewing machine, zipper insertion, zigzag stitch... without this, we recommend starting with the introduction "I discover sewing" to fully benefit from the garment course. 
- who sewed a long time ago and are no longer familiar with new patterns (or only know Burda) and want to get back into garment sewing.  

During these 4 course sessions, you will learn:
- taking your measurements correctly
- deciphering a commercial pattern
- reproducing this pattern on paper to your measurements
- reading the assembly instructions
- specific sewing techniques for clothing  

We will make one garment project together (blouse, dress, or skirt for ladies – unlined jacket for gentlemen). Ladies will have a choice among about fifteen patterns. Gentlemen are guided towards a nice unlined jacket or a simple overall. 

3. Free project workshop 

After completing the first two modules (or equivalent), we invite you to join us in

free project workshops.

The principle is you choose your own project and we make it together!

This module is for people who:
- have completed the first two modules: I discover sewing and I sew my first garment
- know how to sew or learned to sew a long time ago but… need explanations of patterns or tutorials, have doubts about techniques, don’t progress alone at home, need expert advice for assembly steps they haven’t mastered...

The instructor supports you in your project by giving you sewing tips and tricks so you can create your garments, from baby nests to wedding dresses, including the entire wardrobe and accessories. 

Of course, gentlemen are also welcome; we also work on men's patterns 😊 and sometimes it’s our female students who sew for their partners, sons...

Why are the free project workshops in subscription form?

Simply because we want to give you quality courses. 

Imagine a classroom where the teacher receives different students every week whose level he doesn’t know, with different projects he discovers during the session... how can we expect him, despite all his goodwill and skills, to provide you with a quality course in 2h30 in a friendly atmosphere... you will wait, be frustrated, and no one will leave happy from this session.

The subscription allows us to form groups of 6 to a maximum of 7 regular people known to the teacher, who will adapt to your level, recommend projects for you to progress, and who can come by several times during the session to help you at every step. 

When do subscriptions start?

As soon as a spot is available on the site, you can join a free project workshop group according to the schedule of your choice. There is no start date, except for new schedules (this is always specified in the description). 

Can I miss sessions?

Yes, you can miss up to 3 times without any consequence on your course card. If you miss more sessions, we offer you a make-up in another time slot group. 

Will I always have the same teacher?

Yes, except for illness and holidays, it is the same teacher you will see every week. 

In case of replacement, the substitute teacher is briefed on the students' level and their expectations to best meet their needs. 

 4. I discover the serger

For those who want to tame the "beast"... Do you want to discover how to use the serger and sew knit fabrics? Maybe you already bought one but don’t dare to use it alone? Then the course "I discover the serger and sew my first project" is made for you!

We learn together:
- What are the main features of a serger
- How to thread it?
- The precautions to take when using it
- The differences between knit fabrics
- And above all, we will sew your first t-shirt or sweatshirt together!

The prerequisites for this course are having already sewn a garment with a sewing machine. It is not necessary to have already used a serger for this course; we start with the basics so you develop the right reflexes and methods from the start on this machine.  

We will make a t-shirt or sweatshirt together that you will take home at the end of the second course.

The group is made up of a maximum of 6 students.

The course includes: 1 X 3h of technical explanations, tests, and pattern preparation and 1 X 3h of sewing the project (basic t-shirt or sweatshirt - women’s or men’s model of your choice)

The themed courses

The themed courses are courses designed to guide you through sewing a specific project. Each course includes a first theoretical part on the different specifics of the project. For example, for my quilted pouch, we will go through the different quilting techniques, and for the jeans workshop, we will study the various special parts that make up jeans like the rise or the coin pocket... Then, the instructor will guide you through sewing your project, focusing on the project’s specifics.

The following list is a recommendation of the minimum level to take the course. If your level is higher than the minimum recommendation, don’t worry because you will always learn something.

For example, you may be advanced and attend the fabric discovery or high-end hand finishing courses because I’m sure you will still learn a lot even if you have never learned quilting techniques; our little pouch will be a simple and effective project to then launch you into more complex projects. 

The themed courses accessible after the course I discover sewing:
- My first kimono
- Thai pants
- My quilted pouch
- My Japanese apron
- My twirling skirt for summer
- High-end hand finishing
- Introduction to patchwork
- My project bag
- I discover fabrics

The themed courses accessible after I sew my first garment:
- I combine fabrics and patterns for successful sewing projects
- My lined and zipped handbag
- My first pants

The themed courses accessible to intermediates (having completed at least one free project cycle or equivalent) 
- Introduction to lingerie: my little panties
- My all-lace thong
- My patchwork bag
- My first shirt
- My quilted lined jacket

Themed courses reserved for advanced students (having completed at least 2/3 cycles of free project workshop depending on acquired skills or equivalent)
- Bra
- Coat
- Jeans
- Pattern making and pattern transformation

How to register?

There are two ways to register:
- or in one of our two shops where you can also ask all the necessary questions before registering and see our workshops. 
- either via our website

Where are your courses held?

Our courses are given in our workshop at: 

Or in Ixelles: Avenue de la couronne, 357 1050 Ixelles

Either in Woluwe Saint Lambert: Avenue Georges Henri, 328 1200 Woluwe Saint Lambert 

Our teachers

We choose teachers who have undeniable technical and pedagogical skills to teach the courses assigned to them. Teachers have either attended a fashion, sewing, or arts school or can demonstrate useful experience in the field taught. We select competent profiles with shared values and whose integration into the team is supported because we work hard but in good spirits!

Motivation, commitment to projects, and ease of work are also dear to our shop-workshop and we want our teachers to reflect our commitments to you. We select people with good interpersonal skills with customers in the shop and students in the workshop, respecting everyone so that you and we can work together in complete trust. 

A little additional note, we are always looking for the next gems to complete the team. If you want to join the team or if you know someone who might be interested in this challenge; don’t hesitate to send the contact details (CV and cover letter/introduction) to eugenie@cestdujoly.be

There you go, you know everything or almost everything 😊 about our sewing courses but if you have any questions or need additional information; feel free to stop by the shop or send me a message at eugenie@cestdujoly.be

I will be happy to answer your questions. 

See you soon,

Eugénie