Freehand Machine Embroidery isn’t just another workshop showing you how to use your sewing machine – it is one of the ultimate ways to show your creativity without the confines of seams and structure. Think swirls, think circles, think beautiful coloured threads, freehand machine embroidery is used to build texture and overlap to create a beautiful design with lines close together and random. We teach you the skills, tips and tricks required so you can understand the process of machine embroidery to ensure you make a beautiful bespoke work of your own creative expression.

In this workshop, you will use a 19 x 19 panel of neutral toned mid-weight fabric as the base for your finished piece. This panel, when finished, can be used as a cushion front, a piece of wall art or for you to keep and use as you want.

In this workshop, taught by Maria Tarn, you will learn:

• how to prepare your fabric for machine embroidery.
• how to set your sewing machine up ready for the embroidery process.
• you can work with a design that we supply or you can create your own
• learn how to use medium weight stabilizer and Vilene double sided stabilizer in preparing your panel.

Skill Level:  Beginner

Course Availability: Daytime

Tools and Equipment required for this Freehand Machine Embroidery workshop: ALL SUPPLIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE. A complete list of what we use in the workshop is listed here and can be purchased from our on-line store or in person at the Studio.

Fee and what this includes: 47.00. The cost for the workshop includes everything you will need to complete this workshop – we even provide an embroidery for the sewing machines. However, if you would like to learn on your own sewing machine, please feel free to bring it with you as we are very machine friendly. 

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: 20.00, 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?

If you want to learn the trade secrets behind making a piped cushion that is finished to a professional level, this three and a half hour workshop is exactly what you are looking for.

This workshop is taught by Anne Sigsworth, owner of Sophies Soft Furnishings, who has over sixteen years experience in making professional soft furnishings. Anne is not only a gifted teacher, she shares her tips and tricks that help sewers achieve the look of a high street store when making the cushion to enable them to recreate this same look at home.

In this workshop:

• You will work with both a zipper foot and a piping foot in order to make the piping to achieve the finished cushion.
• We discuss how to pick the best fabric to achieve the result you are looking for.
• You will learn how to make bias binding in order so that your piping is unique your cushion.
• We look at ways to embellish your cushions to create a bespoke cushion.
• At the end of the workshop, you will have completed a fully finished 18 x 18 piped cushion complete with insert, to take home, ready to add to your home decor.

We supply the fabric for the workshop or you can bring along 0.5 meters of your chosen fabric if you like –  we can offer you advice on purchasing fabric if required. 

Note: This workshop does require basic sewing machine skills. If you would like to freshen up your sewing skills, our All You Need To Know To Sew workshop is a great way to ensure you know exactly what you are doing with your sewing machine. 

Skill Level: Confident Beginner

Course Availability: Daytime 

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 if you would like to purchase items for future makes, the link is here. You can also purchase any of the items that you use for your workshop as we stock all of the items used on the day. And we give you an extra 10% discount on the day!

Fee and what this includes: 48.00, this includes all items needed to make your Piped Cushion Cover. (We can even lend you a sewing machine if required), a full set of instructions, coffee/tea & a homemade snack.

FAQs

If we told you that if you attended our beginners sewing workshop, All You Need to Know to Sew, you could learn to sew in one, half-day session, would you believe us? Did you get a new sewing machine but have yet to get it out of the box? Do you feel like you need a confidence booster to show you how to sew and you would like to know what happens with all the knobs and settings? Or do you just want to learn how to sew and need someone to help move you past the red L plate stage? This course is an excellent place to start and comes highly recommended so that you can gain confidence with no pressure.

Maeri Howard will be your instructor for this workshop, where you will:

• Learn all the major functions of one of our sewing machines or you can bring your own to learn to sew on
• What makes a good “starter” kit for sewing equipment, as well as what each item does
• Basic sewing machine maintenance – what to do when things go wrong & how to fix them
• Introduction to fabrics, marking, pinning & cutting
• An invaluable list of tricks & tips that help beginner sewers get ahead of the sewing curve
• Students will create a cushion cover that they can take home which includes a cushion insert
• Students take home a handy 16-page booklet that reflects the content of the workshop

Skill Level:  Absolute Beginner (anyone can learn – we promise!)

Course Availability: Daytime, Evening & Weekends

Fee and what this includes: £43.00, this includes all items needed to make your cushion cover including the insert (sewing machine is available at no extra charge), coffee/tea & a homemade snack.

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.

And we have a great Pinterest board for those that are new to sewing – it includes hints, tips, and projects great for those new to sewing! Why not check it out and follow it?

FAQs

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 called the York Top– 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 York 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 the 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 home made snack.