Learn to confidently create your own custom performance costume
Have you always wanted to make a performance costume but had no idea where to start? Maybe you've made one before but felt like you were guessing your way through stretch fabrics, fit, or construction.
Costume Making Foundations is a personalised 1:1 course designed for complete beginners and improvers who want to confidently learn the fundamentals of performance costume making.
Across six live sessions, you’ll learn the process of creating a custom performance costume from start to finish while making your own fully wearable piece. Whether you're sewing for yourself, your child, your students, or simply want to learn a new skill, this course will guide you through every step in a supportive, beginner-friendly way.
Classes are taught primarily online (with an in-person option available for local students) and are tailored to your pace and experience level. Because this is a 1:1 course, sessions are arranged at a mutually convenient time. Sessions can be scheduled weekly, or if you’d prefer to progress more quickly, they can be booked closer together - even daily if desired.
Between sessions, you’ll complete guided tasks to prepare for the next stage of construction, with access to messaging support betwene sessions.
During the course, you will learn:
✦ How to design a simple but effective performance costume
✦ How to choose suitable stretch fabrics and understand stretch direction
✦ How to take accurate measurements and select the correct pattern size
✦ How to adjust a pattern for fit and customise design details
✦ How to cut and prepare stretch fabrics for construction
✦ How to sew stretch fabrics using a sewing machine and/or overlocker
✦ How to sew elastic, finish openings, and attach skirts or sleeves
✦ Beginner embellishment techniques including appliqué placement and crystal application
✦ How to troubleshoot common fit and sewing issues
By the end of the course, you will have:
✓ A finished custom performance costume
✓ Confidence using a sewing machine (and overlocker if available)
✓ A practical understanding of stretch fabrics and costume construction
✓ Confidence reading and adjusting patterns
✓ Beginner embellishment skills
✓ A better understanding of fit, finishing, and troubleshooting
Who is this course for?
This course is ideal for dancers, gymnasts, circus performers, skating parents, dance/gym parents, hobby sewists, and anyone wanting to learn how performance costumes are made.
No prior costume-making experience is required.
Please note: Students must have access to a sewing machine at home. An overlocker/serger is recommended but not essential. A full supplies and reccomended sellers list will be provided before the course begins.
Already have the basics covered?
If you don’t need a beginner course but would like support with a specific technique, project, or skill, you can also book 1:1 hourly sewing tuition tailored entirely to your needs. Whether you want help perfecting fit, learning embellishment techniques, troubleshooting stretch fabrics, or working through a current project, bespoke sessions are available in my shop.
Images provided are examples of outcomes that could be achieved on the course. By purchasing this product, you are purchasing 6x2 hour sessions of tuition, no physical product will be sent.
Introducing personalised wraps from The Jump Stitch, crafted to elevate your aerial performances with style and functionality. Made from soft yet durable 100% cotton, these wraps offer unparalleled comfort and support for your wrists or ankles during flying trapeze, hand-to-hand disciplines, or ankle catches.
Customize your wraps with an embroidered name and a glitter image of your choice, ensuring a unique and personalized touch to your aerial gear. Choose from a variety of colors to match your individual style and preferences, adding a pop of personality to your performance ensemble.
Please ensure you include personalisation notes with your order, or use the contact page to let me know the name and image required.
Introducing our adorable Neon Pink and Neon Yellow Three-Piece Dance Costume, perfect for young dancers in jazz, tap, and modern dance. Designed with both style and comfort in mind, this cute and sassy ensemble will make any little performer shine.
Made from 80% nylon and 20% Lycra, it ensures maximum stretch and comfort for active kids. The costume includes a top with front and back keyholes and charming puff sleeves, briefs with frilled leg openings, and a matching hair bow. The neon colours, polka dots, and stripes make it eye-catching and fun. Fully lined with minimal internal seams, it guarantees durability and opacity.
It is adorned with top quality neon and AB crystals to ensure it lights up the stage! Ideal for child dancers aged 4-6, the stretchy, two-piece design ensures a flexible fit. This costume is the perfect blend of cute, sassy, and practical, ensuring your little dancer looks and feels great on stage.
The One with the Boa
Ideal for: Aerial Arts, Circus Performance, Burlesque Shows, Contemporary Dance & Professional Stage
Transform your stage presence with this exquisite wine-colored performance leotard meticulously crafted for the dedicated performer. This premium adult medium costume features:
✨ Rich wine-colored fabric that exudes sophistication under stage lighting
✨ Elaborate crystal and pearl embellishments in an elegant cascading pattern
✨ Striking sweetheart neckline with structured, built-in supportive bra
✨ Innovative cross-back design with gold ring detail for unrestricted movement
✨ Coordinating blush pink tulle boa shrug that creates dramatic visual impact
✨ Fully adjustable straps for perfect customization to your unique proportions
✨ Designed specifically for long-torso performers seeking exceptional comfort
✨ 100% vegan-friendly materials that never shed during intense performances
This versatile professional-grade costume is engineered to meet the demanding requirements of aerial silks, lyra, trapeze, and pole performances while creating an unforgettable visual impact for burlesque and contemporary dance routines. The strategic crystal placement catches and reflects light magnificently, ensuring you command attention from every angle in the venue.
The built-in supportive bra provides exceptional confidence during complex movements, while the thoughtfully designed cross-back with gold hardware balances beauty with the functionality aerial artists demand. The removable blush pink tulle boa adds dramatic flair without the maintenance issues of traditional feathers.
Invest in your professional performance career with this show-stopping custom creation designed to withstand rigorous aerial work while maintaining its spectacular appearance season after season.
Limited edition design – order now to secure yours before the next production run. Custom sizing available for perfect fit.
The One with the Jacket
Ultimate Luxury for: Professional Aerial Artists, Burlesque Performers, Contemporary Dancers & Competition Soloists
Command the stage with this breathtaking premium wine and gold ensemble—a signature piece meticulously handcrafted for the serious professional performer. This extraordinary three-piece collection delivers exceptional value through versatility, craftsmanship, and show-stopping visual impact.
✨ Exquisite Base Leotard: Sumptuous wine-colored premium stretch fabric with:
- Intricate gold crystal and pearl embellishment in masterfully executed placement
- Professional-grade built-in supportive bra for confident movement
- Strategic seam placement minimizing irritation during complex routines
- Luxurious full lining for exceptional comfort against skin
- Performance-tested adjustable straps with secure gold hardware
- Elegant sweetheart neckline for timeless sophistication
- Dynamic cup chain detail at hips creating mesmerizing movement effects
✨ Detachable Statement Collar: Elaborate gold crystal and pearl embellished neckpiece that:
- Creates dramatic visual focus to facial expressions
- Secures comfortably with hidden closures
- Catches and reflects stage lighting magnificently
- Elevates the entire ensemble to professional competition level
✨ Transformative Sleeveless Jacket: Exquisite matching design featuring:
- Premium lycra bodice with coordinating gold embellishments
- Flowing blush pink tulle skirt for ethereal movement
- Luxurious vegan 'feather boa' effect along the hemline
- Easily removable for mid-performance costume transformation
- Exceptional movement characteristics enhancing aerial rotations
This premium costume delivers extraordinary versatility—offering multiple looks within a single performance from dramatic entrance to revealing transformation. The exceptional craftsmanship is evident in every detail, from the perfectly matched embellishments to the professionally engineered construction that withstands the demands of aerial arts, burlesque, and competitive dance.
The adult medium size accommodates a regular torso with superior stretch and flexibility, ensuring comfort through the most challenging performances while maintaining its spectacular appearance. Each element has been thoughtfully designed to maximize visual impact from every angle and under all stage lighting conditions.
Limited edition design created for professionals who understand the competitive advantage of a truly exceptional costume. Custom sizing available upon request.