Sewing and knitting have been in demand since the old days, as it is a traditional way of creating a textile. The fashion industry is one of the largest markets in India and the world. Currently, the fashion retail market is estimated at INR 3,22,209 Cr, which is expected to grow by 7.7% and reach a size of INR 6,74,037 Cr by 2027.
The demand of the clothing and textile industry is growing every year, thus building a career in this field could be beneficial. A number of institutes offer sewing and knitting courses such as Netaji Subhas Open University, NIFT Delhi, Pearl Academy etc. The average course fee of these courses ranges from INR 3,000 to INR 1,00,000.
Currently, Sewing and Knitting courses are available both in online and offline mode at Certification, UG, PG and Diploma levels of study. Most sought-after courses in Sewing and Knitting are BDes, MDes etc. These courses are pursued by students who want to make a career in Sewing and Knitting in specializations such as Sewing Technology, Knitting Technology, Knitwear Design etc.
After completing any Sewing and Knitting course, students can directly start working in the clothing industry or can even start their own business of sewing or knitting as a Tailor, Designer, Fashion Stylist, Knitwear Instructor, Embroidery Designer etc. The average annual salary offered to these professionals after sewing and knitting courses in India is INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 per annum.
1.1 What are Sewing and Knitting Courses?
1.2 Why study Sewing and Knitting Courses?
1.3 Who should pursue Sewing and Knitting Courses?
2.1 Certificate
2.2 Diploma
2.3 Undergraduate
2.4 Postgraduate
3.1 Domestika
3.2 Skillshare
3.3 Udemy
6.1 BDes Knitwear Design and BDes Textile Design
6.2 Diploma in Sewing Technology and Diploma in Knitting Technology
7.1 Delhi
7.2 Mumbai
7.3 Kolkata
7.4 Chennai
7.5 Bangalore
9.1 Top Job Profiles
9.2 Top Recruiters
All About Sewing and Knitting Courses
- Sewing and knitting are two different skills and are offered as different courses. Sewing courses are available only as diploma and certificate courses of a maximum of 1 year.
- Whereas the knitting courses are available at UG, PG, diploma, and certificate courses. These skills could also be learned through online courses with no prior knowledge.
- There are various fashion institutes across India. The diploma and certificate courses are 6 months to a 1-year program, offered by tailoring institutes recognized by AICTE.
- The admission into the diploma and certificate courses are usually direct. The average course fee would range from INR 3,000 to INR 10,000 per annum.
- The UG and PG courses are offered by the fashion institutes that conduct their own entrance exams like NIFT. These courses are of 3 - 4 year duration and the fees range from INR 50,000 - INR 1,00,000 per annum.
- The online courses in sewing and knitting are offered through websites like Udemy, Skillshare, Domestika, etc. The candidates can enroll directly by creating an account and paying the fees. The average course fee ranges from INR 1,000 to INR 4,000. Some of the websites also offer free courses,
- After completion of the course, the graduates can find jobs at Textile & Knit Industry, design studios, handloom and handicraft cooperatives, NGOs, home and apparel retail brands, mills, export houses, buying agencies, online stores, etc.
- They can work as designers, creative managers, merchandisers, production managers, and entrepreneurs.
- The average salary after these courses is around INR 2,00,000 to INR 4,00,000 per annum.
What are Sewing and Knitting Courses?
Sewing and Knitting are two different ancient crafts that are mainly constructive, rather than decorative. These methods are still used to prepare clothes and are still popular.
Sewing Courses
- Sewing involves stitching fabrics together with a needle and thread. It can be done by hand or with a machine.
- It is done primarily to produce clothing and household furnishing like bed sheets, curtains, etc.
- Sewing is also done to repair clothes, add the buttons, and is a foundation for many needle arts like applique, canvas work, and patchwork.
- The person who earns through sewing is known as a tailor, dressmaker, seamstress, or garment worker.
Knitting Courses
- Knitting is a process of creating a flat piece of material called textile.
- It involves using a long needle to interlink or knot a series of loops made by one continuous thread.
- One loop connects to another and these various loops create a textile.
- It can be done by hand or a machine, although the commercial fabrics are generally made by machine.
Why study Sewing and Knitting Courses?
The individuals who have completed courses in sewing and knitting have the following scope:
- These two courses can open up various career options like designers, creative managers, merchandisers, production managers, and entrepreneurs.
- The graduates from these courses can find jobs in Textile & Knit Industry design studios, handloom and handicraft cooperatives, NGOs, home and apparel retail brands, mills, export houses, buying agencies, online stores, etc.
- It is a skill that opens paths for freelancing and to start their own business as a tailor, design house, clothing brand, etc.
- With the current growth of online stores, there is a huge scope for individuals who have the skills to make clothes or home accessories. They can easily start their own online store through websites like Amazon, Flipkart, Etsy, etc.
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They can also work as an instructor in technical or fashion institutes or can start their own course through websites like Skillshare, Udemy, Domestika, etc.
Who should pursue Sewing and Knitting Courses?
- Sewing and Knitting are craft courses that can be beneficial in our daily life and therefore everyone should at least know how to sew. So that they can mend their clothes or fix the loose button by themselves.
- These courses should be taken by those who are interested in learning and want to knit or sew for hobby purposes.
- These courses can be taken by those who want to build their career in the clothing industry as a tailor, dressmaker, designer, knitter, etc.
- These courses can be taken by those who want to start their own business in the clothing area.
Types of Sewing and Knitting Courses
The sewing and knitting courses are offered at all levels of study i.e, bachelor, master’s, diploma, and certificate. Different types of sewing and knitting courses are mentioned in the sections below:
Certificate Courses in Sewing and Knitting
- The certificate courses available in sewing and knitting are generally offered in an online mode.
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These courses could be done by anyone, there are no such prerequisites required. Some of the certificate courses have been mentioned in the table below:
| Course Name | Average Course Fee | Top Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate in Cutting and Sewing | INR 3,000 | DEI-DEP National Institute of Skill Development |
| Certificate in Stitching and Sewing Technology | INR 8,000 | National Institute of Skill Development |
| Certificate in Sewing and Designing | INR 700 | Disha Fashion Institute |
| Professional Knitter Certification | INR 11,133 per module | The Knitting Guide Association |
| Certification for Knitwear Designers | INR 11,133 per module | The Knitting Guide Association |
Diploma Courses in Sewing and Knitting
- The diploma courses in sewing and knitting could be pursued after class 10th. In some cases, they also take students after class 8th.
- These diploma courses are usually offered by the technical institutes recognized by AICTE. Some of the diploma courses have been mentioned in the table below:
| Course Name | Average Course Fee | Top Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| Diploma in Cutting and Sewing/ Sewing Technology | INR 3,000 |
Ahimsa Women’s Polytechnic |
| Diploma in Knitting Technology | Up to INR 1,00,000 |
Government Institute of Textile Chemistry and Knitting Technology |
Undergraduate Courses in Sewing and Knitting
The UG courses offered in sewing and knitting could be pursued after 10+2. The admission is usually based on entrance exams conducted by the institute itself. The UG courses are mentioned in the table below:
| Course Name | Average Course Fee | Top Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| BDes Knitwear Design | INR 2,00,000 to INR 3,00,000 |
Postgraduate Courses in Sewing and Knitting
The PG courses in sewing and knitting can be pursued after completion of bachelors in a relevant field. The PG courses are mentioned below:
| Course Name | Average Course Fee | Top Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| MDes in Textile and Knitwear Design | INR 1,00,000 - INR 2,00,000 | Karnavati University |
Top Online Sewing and Knitting Courses
There are various online platforms that offer courses in sewing and knitting. These online courses have the benefit of being able to do the course from anywhere and they are quite affordable and some of them are also free.
The sewing and knitting courses offered by some of the platforms have been mentioned in the sections below:
Sewing and Knitting Courses on Domestika
Some of the sewing and knitting courses offered by Domestika has been mentioned in the table below:
| Course Name | Duration | Course Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Sewing Machine 101: Make Your Own Dress | 5 hours 5 minutes | INR 2,167 |
| Basic Sewing with a Sewing Machine | 2 hours 50 minutes | INR 2,167 |
| Introduction to Knitting and Circular Needles | 2 hours 10 minutes | INR 2,167 |
| Knitting and Crochet Basic Techniques | 2 hours 3 minutes | INR 2,167 |
| Introduction to Arm Knitting and Wool Dyeing | 1 hour 4 minutes | INR 2,167 |
Sewing and Knitting Courses on SkillShare
Some of the sewing and knitting courses offered by SkillShare has been mentioned in the table below:
| Course Name | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Sewing Basics: Make Your Own Clothes | 1 hour 55 minutes | Free |
| Sewing Pattern 101: Learn to Read Sewing Pattern | 1 hour 12 minutes | Free |
| Sewing 101 - The Basics | 1 hour 7 minutes | Free |
| Quick and Dirty Sewing: Machine Crash Course | 25 minutes | Free |
| Knitting 101: The Basics for Beginners | 37 minutes | Free |
| Knitting 101: Create a Timeless Snood | 1 hour 11 minutes | Free |
| Continental Knitting for Beginners | 2 hour 21 minutes | Free |
| Knitting Basics - Increasing and Decreasing Stitches | 18 minutes | Free |
| Knitting 101 | 3 hour 58 minutes | Free |
Sewing and Knitting Courses on Udemy
Some of the Sewing and Knitting courses offered by Udemy has been mentioned in the table below:
| Course Name | Duration | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Knitting from Start to Finish | 1 hour | INR 1,280 |
| Knitting 101| Beginner Guide to Knitting | 4.5 hours | INR 4,800 |
| Learn to Knit in 3 Easy Lessons By the Knitting Channel | 2 hours | INR 1,920 |
| The Complete Guide to Knitting | 9 hours | INR 3,200 |
| Continual Knitting | 43 minutes | INR 1,280 |
| Sewing 101 | 2 hours | INR 1,920 |
| Sewing Patterns 101: Learn to Read Sewing Patterns | 1 hour | INR 1,280 |
| Simple Sewing Skills: Sew French Seam & Making Bias Binding | 32 minutes | INR 4,480 |
| Serger 101: Machine Basics For Sewing with Serger | 1.5 hours | INR 1,280 |
Sewing and Knitting Courses Specializations
The specializations that is available in sewing and knitting is discussed below:
Embroidery Course
- It is a type of skill that is used to decorate fabrics with a needle and a thread. It is also used to mend the damaged fabric.
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The average salary in this specialization is around INR 3,00,000 per annum.
Sewing and Knitting Courses Syllabus
The diploma and the certificate courses usually teach skills to find jobs. Whereas the UG and PG courses cover the whole knitting and clothing industry dealing with production, distribution, and sales.
Knitting Courses Syllabus
| Fashion Art and Illustration | Garment Construction |
| Pattern-making for Knits | Flat and Circular Knitting |
| Computerized Flat Knitting | Trends and Forecasting |
| Design Process | Knitwear Production and Planning |
| Merchandising and Marketing | _ |
Sewing Courses Syllabus
| Various Techniques for Stitching Garments | Illustrate and Understand Various Types of Garments and Techniques used in them |
| Stitching Garments for Adults and Kids | Prepare Patterns of Garments |
| Production of Garments | How to Set an Entrepreneurial Unit |
Stream Comparisons
A comparison among some of the courses has been done below, based on various factors like course objective, duration, eligibility, fees, salary, top colleges offering the course, job scope, etc.
BDes Knitwear Design vs BDes Textile Design
| Parameters | BDes Knitwear Design | BDes Textile Design |
|---|---|---|
| Main Objective | This course is designed to create professionals who can understand and apply the intricacies and technicalities of knitwear design, quality control, production, branding, promotion, and management. | It is a course designed for the creation and design of various fabrics and textiles and their extensive applications in the fashion industry. |
| Education Level | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
| Duration | 4 years | 4 years |
| Eligibility | 10+2 in any stream | 10+2 in any stream |
| Average Course Fee | INR 2,00,000 - INR 3,00,000 | INR 50,000 - INR 3,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 3,00,000 - INR 5,00,000 per annum | INR 2,00,000 - INR 10,00,000 per annum |
| Top Colleges | NIFT | NIFT, Pearl Academy, Madras Institute of Fashion Technology |
| Job Scope | Knitted Fabric Designer, Quality Controlled for Fabric, Apparel Designer, Product Developer, etc. | Textile Illustrator, Print & Pattern Designer, Color and Style Specialist, etc. |
Diploma in Sewing Technology vs Diploma in Knitting Technology
| Parameters | Diploma in Sewing Technology | Diploma in Knitting Technology |
|---|---|---|
| Main Objective | It teaches the skills of tailoring like handling measurements, drafting, cutting, and pressing tools and equipment. | It involves the production of fabric with a thread or yarn by creating loops. |
| Education Level | Vocational Course | Vocational Course |
| Eligibility | Completion of Class 10th | Completion of Class 10th |
| In-Demand Skills | Stitching, alteration, design illustration, etc. | Binding off, blocking, crocheting, casting, felting, etc. |
| Average Course Fee | Up to INR 1,00,000 | Up to INR 1,00,000 |
| Average Salary | INR 2,00,000 - INR 5,00,000 per annum | INR 2,00,000 - INR 5,00,000 per annum |
| Job Scope | Sewing Room Assistant, Tailor, Couture Pattern Cutter, Teacher, etc. | Knitter, Knitwear Designer, etc. |
Top Sewing and Knitting Colleges in India
There are various tailoring and fashion institutes across India. Some of the top institutes have been mentioned according to the cities.
Top Sewing and Knitting Colleges in Delhi
Some of the colleges in Delhi that offer sewing and knitting courses are mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Courses Offered | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Apparel Training and Design Centre | Certification in AMT Knits Foundation | NA |
| Production Supervisor Sewing | NA | |
| NIFT Delhi | BDes Knitwear Design | INR 2,70,900 |
| Anurag Industrial Training Unit | Cutting and Sewing | NA |
| Arwachin Industrial Training Centre | Cutting and Sewing | NA |
| Asha Sadan Cutting and Tailoring Centre | Cutting and Sewing | NA |
| Ch Brahm Parkash ITI Jaffarpur | Cutting and Sewing | NA |
Top Sewing and Knitting Colleges in Mumbai
Some of the colleges in Mumbai that offer sewing and knitting courses are mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Courses Offered | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| NIFT Mumbai | BDes Knitwear Design | INR 2,97,100 |
| Sasmira’s Institute of Man-made Textile | Diploma in Knitting Technology | NA |
| Mod’art India | Pattern Drafting Program (Basic) - Drafting and Sewing | INR 60,000 |
Top Sewing and Knitting Colleges in Kolkata
Some of the institutes in Kolkata that offer sewing and knitting courses are mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Courses Offered | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Disha Fashion Institute | Sewing and Designing | INR 700 |
| NIFT Kolkata | BDes Knitwear Design | INR 1,67,250 |
| Government Tailoring Institute | Diploma in Tailoring | Free |
| Netaji Subhas Open University | Advanced Diploma in Tailoring | INR 21,300 |
Top Sewing and Knitting Colleges in Chennai
Some of the institutes in Chennai that offer sewing and knitting courses are mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Courses Offered | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| NIFT Chennai | BDes Knitwear Design | INR 2,97,100 |
| Apparel Training and Design Institute | Certification in AMT Knits Foundation | NA |
| Production Supervisor Sewing | NA | |
| Priya Tailoring Institute | Sewing Diploma Course | INR 4,800 |
| Sewing Advanced Course | INR 3,800 |
Top Sewing and Knitting Colleges in Bangalore
Some of the institutes in Bangalore that offer courses in sewing and knitting are mentioned in the table below:
| Institute Name | Courses Offered | Course Fees |
|---|---|---|
| NIFT Bangalore | BDes Knitwear Design | INR 1,67,250 |
| Surana Institute of Fashion Technology | Short-term course in Crochet & Knitting | NA |
| Parimala Tailoring Classes | Basic Sewing and Fashion Design | NA |
| Bibi Fathima Educational Trust Crescent ITI | Cutting and Sewing | NA |
Skills Required for Sewing and Knitting Courses
Sewing and knitting require a lot of techniques to and thus some of the basic skills have been mentioned below:
Skills Required for Sewing
Some of the basic skills that an individual should know to sew properly are mentioned in the table below:
| Control fabric while running the sewing machine | Change the length of the straight stitch | Change the length of the width of the zig-zag stitch |
| Change the settings to stretch stitching | Know the proper use of straight, basting, zigzag, & stretch stitches | Use the seam guide on the machine |
| Pivot | Use good habits: proper lighting, good posture, clean-up skills | Fabric grain by fringing fabric edge |
| Bias | Selvage | Appropriate fabric choice for pattern |
| Matching thread | Sew a square corner | Sew a curved seam |
| Backstitch at ends of seams | Sew an edge stitch finish on seams | Sew a zigzag finish on seams |
| Trim seams | Sew the casing for elastic | Machine hem |
Skills Required for Knitting
Some of the basic skills required in knitting are mentioned in the table below:
| Binding Off | Blocking | Light Blocking |
| Wet Blocking | Casting On | Crocheted Edging |
| Crocheting a chain | Felting | Knit Stitch |
| Knitting into a back of a stitch | Making stitches knitwise and purlwise | Mattress stitch |
Scope of Sewing and Knitting Courses
Sewing and knitting are skills that can help an individual find jobs in the clothing and garment industry or to build their own business in this industry.
Top Job Profiles
Some of the job options available with skills like sewing and knitting are mentioned in the table below:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Tailor | They generally work for specialty clothing sellers or have their own tailoring shop. They create, alter, and finish the custom-created clothing for customers. They interact with the customer, understand the design, take measurements and create the clothing. | INR 2,96,609 |
| Knitter (Hand) | Their work is to knit garments like sweaters, dresses, suits, and accessories using yarn and needles. They work independently or for garment industries. | INR 2,06,916 |
| Designer | Their work is to create designs for clothes, shoes, and accessories. They sketch the design, get approval from the management, sew the first sample, and then oversee the production of the garment. | INR 3,81,032 |
| Embroidery Designer | They use special stitching techniques to decorate the fabrics, garments, and accessories. They work for designers, tailors, or fabric production companies. They are also required in home accessories, furniture design, toy manufacturing, etc. | INR 3,00,000 |
| Knitting Instructor | They work for knitting or designing institutes or can start their knitting course virtually. They interact with the students and conduct sessions. They troubleshoot the problems faced by the students and help them learn the skill in the best and easiest way. | INR 3,60,000 |
Top Recruiters
Some of the top recruiters in India that hire tailors, embroiders, and knitters are:
- Raymond Shops - Raymond hires the tailors to offer premium suits with the best fitting. They have been hiring around 1 lakh tailors and training them according to their requirements.
- Online companies like YourTailor, Local Darzi, Urban Tailor, etc. These online companies are partnering with the tailors to offer easy alterations and stitching options. They have also filled the gap and offered the tailors jobs during off-seasons, otherwise, the local tailors have to wait for the festivals to get the orders.
- Top designers like Anita Dongre, Archana Kochhar, Sabyasachi Couture, Santanu & Nikhil, Riddhi & Siddhi Mapxencar, etc.
Salary after Sewing and Knitting Courses in India
The salary of an individual varies based on various factors. The salaries based on some of the factors have been mentioned in the sections below:
Company Wise Salary
The salaries offered by some of the companies from the garment industry are mentioned in the table below:
| Company Name | Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Raymond | Tailor | INR 1,50,000 |
| House of Anita Dongre | Master Tailor | INR 2,90,000 |
| Sabyasachi | Designer | INR 3,90,000 |
Gender Wise Salary
The salary of males and females differ even though they are in the same post. The Average monthly salary of males and females are mentioned below:
| Job Profiles | Average Salary per month (Male) | Average Salary per month (Female) |
|---|---|---|
| Tailor | INR 11,600 | INR 14,000 |
| Knitting Instructor | INR 25,200 | INR 22,500 |
| Fashion and Apparel Designer | INR 25,500 | INR 27,900 |
| Fashion Stylist | INR 45,400 | INR 50,700 |
Region Wise Salary
The salary differs based on the city an individual is working. The average monthly salary in some of the cities are mentioned below:
| Job Profile | Delhi | Mumbai |
|---|---|---|
| Tailor | INR 15,300 | INR 13,500 |
| Knitting Instructor | INR 27,300 | INR 27,100 |
| Fashion and Apparel Designer | INR 30,000 | INR 30,100 |
| Fashion Stylist | INR 52,900 | INR 54,500 |
Experience Wise Salary
With experience, the salary of an individual also increases. The average monthly salary with an increase in experience is mentioned in the table below:
| Job Profiles | Salary in 1 to 10 years of Career | Salary in 10 to 20+ years of Career |
|---|---|---|
| Tailor | INR 6,700 to INR 13,200 | INR 16,100 to INR 19,000 |
| Knitting Instructor | INR 14,000 to INR 24,900 | INR 30,800 to INR 35,200 |
| Fashion & Apparel Designer | INR 24,833 to INR 49,250 | INR 67,833 to INR 42,166 |
| Fashion Stylist | INR 28,100 to INR 48,900 | INR 59,200 to INR 68,100 |
Sewing and Knitting Courses FAQs
Ques. Are there any courses in sewing and knitting after 10+2?
Ans. There is no undergraduate program for sewing. Sewing is usually available as a vocational course for candidates who want to learn this trade. Whereas for knitting, there is an undergraduate program named ‘BDes in Knitwear Design’. It is a 4-year program usually offered by NIFT.
Ques. Who should learn Sewing?
Ans. Anyone who wants to build their career as a tailor, dressmaker, designer, or want to start their own business, can take up sewing courses.
Ques. What are the job options available after sewing and knitting courses?
Ans. After completion of courses in sewing and knitting the candidates can work as designers, creative managers, merchandisers, production managers, and entrepreneurs.
Ques. Can tailors find jobs in any organization or the only option for them is to start their own shop?
Ans. Tailors can obviously find jobs in various companies. They are required in Textile & Knit Industry design studios, handloom and handicraft cooperatives, NGOs, home and apparel retail brands, mills, online stores, etc.
Ques. What is the average salary earned after completion of sewing and knitting courses?
Ans. After completion of the sewing and knitting courses, the graduates can earn around INR 3,00,000 - INR 5,00,000 per annum. This amount will obviously increase with experience.
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