Nothin says lovin: Sewing Class Update

Friday, 19 August 2011

Sewing Class Update

Well I promised to look into setting up sewing classes for those of you who have been asking and today I booked a venue that I am very familiar with. It may be an older village hall but it's only a short distance outside of Bury - Fornham St Martin. In fact we held our youngest grandson's Baptism reception there and it has ample space to spread out and plenty of parking to boot. I know we'll need to unload our sewing machines at the door rather than carry them any kind of distance and this venue means we can do that easily.

I have tentatively booked 4 dates - one each month between now and Christmas in preparation for all your Christmas gift giving. Details of final projects will hopefully follow once I know whether or not there is enough interest and what kind of projects everyone is looking to make.

These are the dates:

Saturday 10 September - 1.00 to 4.00 pm
Saturday 8 October - 1.00 to 4.00 pm
Saturday 5 November - 1.00 - 4.00 pm
Saturday 3 December - 1.00 - 4.00 pm

I have arranged for 3 hour sessions initially to give us plenty of time to get projects well under way. If it turns out we need more time then I can negotiate to 4.30 or 5.00 pm but this may effect cost. Some projects such as rag quilts may be impossible to complete in a day, let alone a session - but I would expect you to go home with it at least half finished and all the skills needed to complete the project yourself at home as well as make several more.

I'm aiming to provide full instructions and patterns for each session and planning to give some basic info for purchasing and cutting fabric before hand to speed things up a bit. This will be provided when you book and pay for a session - payment must be up front as I have to pay for the venue - sorry, no exceptions.

I anticipate needing minimum 4-5 to run a session and maximum 6 initially. This is because while there is plenty of space in the hall, there is only one of me and I would very much want to make sure everyone has my attention as and when they need it. If there are more competent seamstresses amongst the group then I may be able to take one or two more on board but certainly 8 would be the absolute maximum. It would be helpful to know your level of sewing skills when you book.

As with any sewing class you'd take; in town or otherwise, I would expect you to know your own machine in as much as you could thread it, wind and load a new bobbin (I suggest you come with a full spare anyhow), have recently tested it for good tension & stitch, know where your reverse button is located and have used it successfully at least once or twice and can sew in a reasonably straight line. If you are in any doubt get it out and test these functions!

Apologies if this all sounds a bit basic but it's essential you can master these few tasks otherwise we could spend an entire session learning those and nothing else! I am happy to meet up with you and run through the basics of your machine ahead of class if need be.

Cost is likely to be £16.00 per session (£15.00 if you book 2 or more sessions) and will include patterns (my own homemade), instructions, tuition and tea & coffee. You will need to bring your own sewing machine, scissors, pins and related sewing equipment along as well as purchase the required amount of fabric for each session. I believe in pressing, pressing, pressing new seams as much as possible so I will provide a couple of irons and ironing boards for this purpose.

All that's left now is for me to wait to see if you are still keen to have these classes. I for one am excited at the prospect of teaching sewing projects. I love to sew them AND to give them as gifts and I hope you will too.