Our Overlockers for Beginners workshop can make all the difference to your finished sewing – no more raggy hems and your finish looks like it was made by a high street shop. Plus you really understand what it can do and most importantly – how to thread it!!

But what if you have never sewn on one before and are not sure if it will make that much difference for the sewing that you do and the additional cost of purchasing one? Or what if you have one but do not know how to use it properly or keep finding that the same old problems when sewing keep you from using it to its full potential? Or what if people keep telling you that you need one and you have no clue what it is!

Our Overlockers for Beginners is for those that do not own an overlocker but want to have a go on one or have one but need guidance on how to get the most out of it and how to overcome the main problems that occur when using one.

You will receive approximately two hours demonstration in the Studios relaxed environment, including a question and answer section, on how to use our four spool serger, a Toyota SL1A or any overlockers brought by attendees. This is a chance to see what an overlocker does and also answer questions on what using it requires. The demonstration will include:

• what each of the four spools of the thread do in overlock stitch construction
• how to thread up a machine from scratch with tips and tricks to make it painless
• how to rethread a machine without having to thread from the beginning
• maintenance and how to keep your machine running properly
• a set of sample stitches
• a three-page troubleshooters guide

We also discuss what overlockers we would recommend for purchasing if you are considering buying one.

Skill Level: Absolute Beginner

Course Availability: Daytime, evening

Fee and what this includes: 22.00, coffee/tea and a homemade snack.

If you love Pinterest like we do, why not check out our All About Sergers/Overlockers board for some great information which we have put together for you?

Learn the basics of crochet in our popular Loopy About Crochet workshop. Our Loopy About Crochet workshop shows how you can recreate that magic of crochet with a fresh, contemporary twist so that you can easily turn your hand to making your own collection of crocheted items. Today’s crocheting is much more subtle in its use of colour and fibers but with a nod to the simple beauty of the craft – you will be amazed at what you can make once you have the knowledge of how to work with your basic stitches.

We provide everything for your workshop experience and you take ALL of it home with you at the end of the session. We use StyleCraft Special DK 100% cotton yarn, in a variety of colours, to help you create your beautifully crocheted piece. And to make sure you get the attention you need to learn your new skill, our workshop numbers are limited to five people.

In this class, Sue Lacey will be your instructor, we will cover:

• Learn the basic crochet stitches
• Follow a basic crochet pattern
• Understand what tension is and how to adjust it
• Use basic finishing techniques
• Create a beautiful and functional mug shrug
• Supported with a helpful handout to help you continue to “hook at home”!
• You will have all your supplies waiting for you when you arrive and you can take ALL of it home with you (hook included!) as well as a 50g ball Stylecraft wool to ensure you can keep “hooking” at home.

Skill Level: Absolute Beginner and those needing a refresher

Course Availability: Daytimes & Evenings

Fee and what this includes: 40.00, this includes all items needed to make your crocheted item, the hook and a 50 gm ball of Stylecraft Classique Cotton DK  (a £4.95 value) all for you to take home to keep, as well as coffee/tea and a homemade snack.

Do you Pin? Our Pinterest board for those new to crochet is filled with inspirational projects that will make sure you have a project to aspire to once you leave our workshop. Why not check it out and follow our board?

Our beginner’s dressmaking workshop isn’t rocket science – we promise you! Anyone who knows me will know that this is a bit of a poke at my newly appointed husband who really is a scientist! When he starts telling me about his day, I start to think “huh – what is he talking about? but he takes the time to explain it to me, puts it into real world language and it suddenly makes sense to me. And I can understand where some might think the same about dressmaking as it can be shrouded in mystery words and techniques but using our easy, relaxed but can-do attitude towards learning, we will work with you ensure that you learn a modern, more relaxed approach to dressmaking from the ground up.

This is a multi-session workshop, and the cost includes EVERYTHING – even a sewing machine if needed – as well a 16-page workbook created just for this workshop and samples where required. You will make a top from the independent pattern company Colette Patterns– which is a great top to start with as you can modify it for so many different looks.

Please note: Both evening and day sessions cover the same information.

Session 1: – You won’t need a sewing machine for this session as much of what this session is about knowledge intake and pattern preparation before you start. In this session, we will be:

• Showing you around the various patterns that are available for you to use (mainstream ones like Butterick and New Look, Independent labels, free ones from magazines as well as PDF downloads from the internet) and the plusses and minuses of using these each type of pattern.
• Talking about how to understand taking correct measurements and if you would like, take your set for reference.
• Using the Colette Laurel Top pattern, you will be given a demonstration on basic pattern tracing techniques using American craft paper.
• Talking about fabric for your pattern and how to pick the correct fabric for your pattern. We will discuss fabric preparation and show you how to layout and cut your fabric as per your pattern instructions.

You will have a full set of instructions and information for all the areas that we cover (we even give you a little notebook to take notes!). For homework, you will be taking home your fabric and cutting it out ready for next week – but don’t worry, we will make sure you know what you are doing!

We provide the fabric for your project (a cotton lawn weight) and try to pick a range of fabrics to choose from but this can be the hardest part as everyone has personal tastes that we can’t, with the best knowledge in the world, accommodate for. If you have a specific fabric you would like to use – or are keen to purchase your own – we can give you advice that is suitable for these projects. But please don’t feel you have to purchase anything as again, we provide it!

 Session number 2 – This is where the magic begins! We will:

• Review last weeks session and a quick Q and A session.
• Discuss piecing techniques for ensuring pain-free construction of your garment.
• Learn how to insert a zipper (how to know what zipper to use, how to shorten a zipper that is too long, explain the importance of a zipper foot and how to change it and then simple insertion techniques)
• Use your pattern instructions, and be guided as you start to piece your garment together.
• Discuss the importance of double bias binding to the construction of your garment. You will make your own bias binding for your garment.
• Add the bias binding to your sleeves and neckline.

Session number 3/4 – Making sure you get a great finish for your top (or how to surprise people when you tell them that you made it!). We will:

• Use the “easing” technique for simple and easy insertion of sleeves.
• Conduct final piecing of your garment.
• Create fabric buttons from your fabric of choice to finish the back closing.
• Discuss where you can make basic alterations to your top to help get a better fit.
• We can answer any questions and give advice on moving forward with choosing a pattern; the Studio has a collection of patterns and pattern books that you can borrow free of charge to trace your next project from.

Skill Level: Enthusiastic Beginner (not sure if you are an enthusiastic beginner? We like you to be able to sew straight and not be afraid to ask questions. But if you want to make sure you are set up to take this workshop, why not sign up for our All You Need to Know to Sew workshop?)

Course Availability: Daytimes & Evenings

EQUIPMENT LIST: All materials are provided for in the workshop – we want you to not have to worry about a thing when you come along. If you would like to see what we use, or bookmark for later, the link is here.

Fee and what this includes: 127.00 and this includes everything you will need to take this workshop (we can even lend you a sewing machine if required), coffee/tea and a homemade snack.