Sewing lessons in Nguékhokh, on the Petite Côte, mean a one-week or three-month introduction to sewing, pattern-making or fashion design, or a two-day skills boost. Machines and tools are provided, in sessions of ten places, from age 15.

Seven options, three disciplines

The courses are grouped by discipline:

• Introduction to sewing, one week or three months;
• Introduction to pattern-making, one week or three months;
• Introduction to fashion design, one week or three months;
• Skills boost, two days.

Sewing is putting the garment together, pattern-making means drawing and preparing the template, and fashion design means conceiving the piece. The one-week option gives a first overview; the three-month training really lays the foundations. The two-day skills boost is for those who already have some notions and want to consolidate a specific point.

On the practical side, the equipment (machines and tools) is provided, while fabric and accessories are the student’s responsibility. Each session has ten places, which keeps numbers small and leaves time for each student at their machine. The minimum age is 15: the training is for teenagers and adults who want to take it up seriously, for a week or over three months.

If you live on the Petite Côte, it is local training that saves you going to Dakar. If you are visiting, a long stay could allow you to follow a week of classes, between two visits.

Nguékhokh, on the Petite Côte

Nguékhokh is a village on the Petite Côte, attached to Mbour. Mbour is about 80 km south of Dakar, 5 km from the beach resort of Saly, and is the country’s second fishing port after Dakar.

Extending your time

To carry on with textiles, dyeing, batik and textile workshops complement sewing, and other craft and skills options offer other skills to learn. For outings, Joal-Fadiouth and the Somone lagoon are classics of the coast.