8-week Complete Beginners Course
Lessons: The course consists of 8 lessons of 2.5hrs each week.
Day: Tuesday Mornings, 10-12.30
Dates: 20, 28 Jan, 3, 10, 17, 24 Feb, 3, 10 Mar 2026
Venue: Central Stratford upon Avon.
TO BOOK ONTO THIS COURSE or just discuss, please call Sarah on 07735 503824. No previous sewing experience needed.
Come and learn to sew in my garden studio here in Stratford upon Avon. With a maximum of 4 students you will have plenty of one-to-one attention and will easily complete all five projects starting with absolutely no experience at all or just rusty. We certainly fill each two and a half hour session where you will pick up loads of new skills and build your confidence. Learning alongside other like-minded people you will learn so much and meet new friends. Just as importantly you will be able to switch off from the outside world and truly unleash your creativity (with gentle encouragement from me!).
These are the five projects you will learn to make:
Project 1: Reversible Tote Bag
Project 2: Pin Cushion with Oxford Border
Project 3: Envelope Cushion with buttonholes/buttons fastening (automatic ones)
Project 4: Flat, lined zip-up makeup (or similar) bag
Project 5: Piped cushion with Hidden Zip
You won't believe how beautiful your projects will turn out until you see for yourself! Come and learn, with expert guidance from me, how to transform a folded pile of fabric into fabulous projects for you and your home. We will start from the very beginning so please don't worry if you haven't done any sewing before! I've been teaching this course for a good few years now, so I know it is all possible. And when you are at home, you will have a set of written instructions (to download) to follow for each project.
We will discuss how to create the exact look that you are after and how to expand your skills by adding more advanced features to each project. And the best thing about in-person classes is being able to ask ALL the questions you want! The class sizes are small so there is plenty of one-to-one attention.. oh and we have a laugh too!
Feeling inspired? I certainly hope so. But if you're not quite sure and would prefer to have a chat with me about more details on the course, just get in touch via the Contact Page and I will be happy to help!
Each project includes a set of detailed easy-to-follow written instructions which cover every step of each project (you can print these out at home).
And, of course, I will be with you every step of the way!
Skills you will learn:
- Threading your machine (including filling the bobbin) and getting started
- Accurately measuring, marking and cutting your fabric with essential tools
- Sewing forwards and backwards
- Turning corners
- Your iron is your friend
- Changing and using sewing feet (normal, zipper, automatic buttonhole and piping feet))
- Choosing fabric and looking at how to place pattern in a project
- Inserting a zip
- Making your own covered buttons
- How to neatly start and finish off seams
- Stitch length and when to change it
- Hand sewing hem or ladder stitch to 'close a gap'
- Sewing a button on
- Sewing automatic buttonholes
- How to make and attach your own piping
- Learn to sew a hidden zip
- Gain complete confidence in ALL the basics so you can happily go on to design and make your own soft furnishing projects
- Be ready to sign up for Curtains, Roman Blinds or Box Cushion courses! Or Improvers 8-week course
Take a look at the Hints & Tips page for Free information on useful things like choosing a new sewing machine, threading a machine, just getting started, what kind of fabric to buy, where and how to buy fabric online these days and much more.