The Sewing Room

In this workshop we will be taking all the body measurements needed to ensure a better fit of tops, dresses and skirts before you cut out your fabric. Each student will be taught how to measure properly and take over 20 personal body measurements which will be used to check against a bodice pattern. Demonstrations and in-depth guidance will be given on how to apply these measurements to the pattern and how to change the pattern pieces appropriately to ensure a better fit - before starting your garment.

Is your sewing machine still in the box? Not entirely sure what all the dials are for? This morning class is designed to get you comfortable with its workings, taking the fear out of getting started. You’ll come away with a new found confidence backed up with notes to refer to. Suitable for absolute beginners.

A 14 page pdf Guide full of hints and tips on buying the right pattern: Contents: - prices for every budget - secondhand and vintage patterns - what to look out for - sizing and body measurements - getting it right - garment styles - getting the best value

A 14 page pdf How To Guide full of hints and tips to deciphering the envelope jargon Contents: - Clarifying the design - making sure its what you want - Fabric quantities - working out how much you'll need - What's 'nap'? - how it affects your fabric choice - Choosing fabric - a few things to think about - Haberdashery - the other things you'll need

A 17 page pdf How To Guide full of hints and tips on sorting the relevant pattern pieces and size. Checking measurements and adjusting before cutting out. Contents: - Opening the envelope - what's included and sorting what's relevant - Identifying all the pieces - Which size to use - Cutting around the pattern pieces - Checking the measurements - Basic pattern adjustments

A 23 page pdf How To Guide full of hints and tips on taking measurements to help getter a better fit BEFORE cutting out your fabric. Contents: - What's in a Size - looking at numbers - Before Measuring Up - some things to get in place - How to Measure - step-by-step guide - Assessing your Size and Shape - comparing the size with numbers - Your Measurements v. the Pattern - things to consider - Checking the Pattern - comparing the measurements against the pattern pieces - Making...

An 18 page pdf How To Guide full of hints and tips on preparing and choosing the right fabric for your garment. Contents - Which fabric? choosing the right one for a successful project - Which way is up? identifying the right and wrong sides - Checking your fabric - avoiding faults in the fabric - Fabric preparation - before you lay up your pattern - Fabric widths - why you need to know this - Fabric adjustments - tweaks before you cut

A 24 page pdf How to Guide full of hints and tips on how to lay out your pattern pieces on the fabric ready for cutting out. Contents: - The Fabric Key - understanding your pattern pieces - The Lay Diagram - placing the pattern on the fabric - Which Diagram? - focusing in on the relevant information - Matching Checks and Stripes - dealing with fabric design quirks - Positioning Pieces on Patterned Fabric - planning ahead for the look you want - The Straight of Grain - THE...

A 22 page pdf How To Guide full of hints and tips covering the essential equipment you'll need and guidance on developing a good cutting out technique. Contents: - Essential Cutting Equipment - choosing scissors and shears - Other Useful Scissors - pinking, paper and unpicking - A Word about Pins - choosing and using - Measuring Equipment - rulers, tapes, sticks and right-angles - Pressing Equipment - must haves for beginners - The Pressing 'Wish List' - next stage equipment - Cutting Technique - developing a skill and the...

A 28 page pdf How To Guide full of hints and tips on identifying essential markings and transferring them to your fabric to ease the construction process. Contents: - Before you Start - markings and symbols are your best friends! - Identifying Different Markings & Making Them - Tailor's Tacks in six easy steps - Notches - Where to find them and what to do with them - Centre Front Marking - why you should do it - Transferring Markings onto Fabric - different approaches - Chalk Paper & Carbon...

Sewing with an overlocker (or serger) is very different to a conventional sewing machine. In this new workshop we'll take a look at the different stretch fabrics available, how to handle them and the techniques needed to create garments. We'll get you familiar with your overlocker and what it can do, ready to tackle making a t-shirt in a future class.

This intensive class runs over two full days. We start by taking you through the basic functions of a sewing machine and how it works. Classes are designed to give you a thorough grounding in all the essential sewing know-how, gradually building your confidence in a variety of useful techniques which can be applied to any project. You’ll come away with samples and notes. The class is suitable for absolute beginners, those who’ve stumbled along without any formal training and the very rusty!

Classes for beginners - all the things you need to know before you sew! This workshop covers all the things no-one tells you, to ensure a happy outcome to your sewing project! We cover everything to get you started: tips on how to choose the right pattern for your shape, what to look for in a fabric, decoding the instruction sheet and pattern pieces - what all the symbols and terminology means, through to laying up the pattern pieces on your fabric. The class is a mixture of theory, demonstrations...

This morning workshop is just about zips… the different types, which to use where and taking the fear out of how to insert them. Easy to follow instructions give you step-by-step guidance on how to insert three different types of zip: centred, lapped and concealed (invisible) zip. Each student will come away with their own samples and full instructions to refer back to. Suitable for beginners