Description
Tuesdays: 30 April – 25 June
6pm – 9pm
(9 weekly classes)
Craft Central, High Street, Dunblane
Led by Stitchery Founder Cassandra Belanger, this is a 9 week sewing course for ‘beyond beginners’ and improvers, in making your own clothing. The focus will be on learning to sew with jersey fabric in order to make comfortable everyday staples, like the classic t-shirt. Using the Concord t-shirt pattern from Cashmerette Patterns you will learn how to work from a pattern, take your body measurements and choose the correct size for your body shape. You will learn about how to optimize the amount of fabric needed for the t-shirt through a lesson on zero waste / minimal waste pattern cutting.
Other topics include:
- Understanding and adjusting the flat pattern to fit your specific body shape
- Using a sewing machine for sewing with knit fabric (example jersey used for tshirts)
- Tips and tricks for sewing with knit fabric
- How to cut knit fabric using a rotary cutter
- Using an overlocker for sewing with knit fabric
- Using a coverstitch machine
- Sewing with elastic
- Sewing hems on knit fabric: zigzag stitch, coverlock, twin needle
You will also learn techniques and tips for a more sustainable making practice.
This is an intermediate level sewing course for ‘beyond beginners’ and improvers, which means it’s suitable for returning students, or anyone with previous experience of basic sewing and garment making. We have a Janaome 230DC computerised (with speed control) sewing machine and Janome overlockers (varying models) and a coverstitch machine available for student use; although you can bring your own if you like. And don’t worry if you might miss one or two classes: we’ve plenty of opportunities to catch up through our additional Sunday Stitchery Sessions or private tuition.
Course cost includes:
- 9 x 3-hour lessons
- Use of Janome 230DC computerized sewing machine each
- Use of Janome 6234XL overlocker (shared between students)
- Use of Janome 2000CPX coverlocker
- Concord t-shirt sewing pattern
- Handouts for resource pack
Course cost excludes:
- Cost of fabric and haberdashery
Student Testimonials
“This was a wonderful (re)introduction to the basics of sewing, presented with a really helpful step-by-step approach, and has given me the confidence to read and understand patterns, and use the techniques learned to sew a well-fitting item of clothing!”
“I would recommend this wonderful course to everyone! I found the classes really detailed but accessible. Cassandra is a lovely and extremely knowledgeable teacher. I’ll be signing up for more sewing with Stitchery in the future!”
About Your Tutor
Cassandra’s work is an invitation to a more sustainable future. It challenges home sewists, designers and educators to think through the social and environmental impacts of their practice, exploring issues such as zero waste, transparency, embedded storytelling, feminism, sizism, and body image.
Originally from Western Canada, Cassandra currently runs The Stitchery Studio in Dunblane, Scotland, which offers private tuition and pop-up workshops, educating both home sewers and designers on the topics of making a zero waste wardrobe, garment construction, machining skills, sustainable design processes, garment fitting and patchwork quilting, all with an approach to encouraging sustainable thinking and zero waste sewing. She is also the co-founder of the Zero Waste Design Online Collective that develops online education resources in the field of zero waste design and systems thinking in fashion.
People of all genders, sizes, and backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to attend this course.
More Info:
- Tea and coffee are provided but participants should bring their own lunch and utensils
- All of our classes are suitable for over 18s, younger crafters may be accommodated if accompanied by a participating adult but please contact us before booking
- If the workshop you were looking at is fully booked drop us an email and we’ll add you to the waiting list. We will add extra dates to our most popular workshops too, join the mailing list to be the first to know
- All of our workshops are held at Craft Central, High Street, Dunblane, FK15 0EE
- If you need to cancel or reschedule your workshop we need at least three weeks notice. Please read our cancellation policy before booking
- You can pay for this course in two instalments. If you do so a non-refundable 50% deposit will be taken at the time of booking and you will be invoiced for the remaining balance which is payable at least three weeks in advance of your workshop.
Pattern Credit: Concord T-Shirt by Cashmerette
