Sewing Classes and Weekends
I’m running lots of classes this year for various sewing studios and shops. Join me for some fun sewing and to learn lots of new techniques
- 9th March – Eternal Maker, Siddlesham, Near Chichester
Beautiful Buttonholes 6 – 8.30pm – Many people avoid buttonholes but with today’s modern machines, they are easy peasy – when you know how! Learn to make simple buttonhole, then add to your repertoire with a corded buttonhole (useful for stretchy fabrics and lightweight voiles). Try an extra long button then a couture ‘welt’ buttonhole.
- 13th – 14th March – Made And Making, Hassocks, Sussex
Create your own Body Double – This is a two-day class. Take away the pain and difficulty of getting garments to fit you perfectly by making your own Body Double. Using a dressform, padding and detailed measurements you will recreate your own figure with my help. Mimic your own curves, bust point, hips and bum so that you can use your Double to create a perfect fit every time. Once you have made your Body Double you will test it out by making a simple garment, firstly tissue fitting and then sewing it to fit – you!
- 5th April – Eternal Maker, Siddlesham, Near Chichester
Pretty Cowl Neck Top – without a Pattern – 1 – 4pm – Come and make a patternless top with cowl neckline using just two measurements. Not only will you walk away with a beautifully fitting top but you will learn useful tips for sewing with stretch fabrics and twin needle hemming.
21st – 23rd April – Keep on Sewing Weekend Coventry
Have fun with feet, Expand and Explore your Sewing Machine – this is going to be such a fun weekend. I am joining Pam Neave and her merry crew to teach for the weekend Have fun with the various feet that come with your machine and expand your knowledge and skills trying out new techniques. I will take you out of your comfort zone as you try the different feet – finding out what they should be used for and then what else you can do! Not only does using the right foot for the job make all the difference, you will have a go at other techniques making lots of pretty decorated squares as you go. Then you will have the choice of combining your favourite samples into a creative cushion cover or hand tote or the start of a quilt block. It’s a fun class with a lot of ‘wow’ factor as you really get to grips with your machine.
- 24th April – Eternal Maker, Siddlesham, Near Chichester
Get to Know your Sewing Machine a little bit more – 10.30 – 4pm – Many of us are familiar with our sewing machines, but actually pretty much do the same thing all the time (a bit like the different programmes of a washing machine). Soo Join me and put your machine through its paces! Learn to use a walking foo and quilters guide (once you have, you will be astounded). Dip your toe into creative Free Motion sewing and be ready to add this feature to bags ,quilts or even clothing. Try a little bobbin work using specialist threads and learn the best way of adding trims to liven up your projects.
- 13th May – Eternal Maker, Siddlesham, Near Chichester
Learn to sew with Silky Fabrics Make a Camisole top – 10.30am – 4pm – Come and get to grips with sewing silky slippery elusive fabrics and make a simple camisole top whilst you do! I will guide you through the cutting out then choosing seams and seam finishes, how to make continuous bias binding, rouleau loops and finish a narrow hem with or without a rolled hem foot. A camisole is perfect under transparent tops or dresses or as nightwear. Y0u will need to buy a pattern and fabric (I recommend Kwik Sew 2589)
- 19th May – Midhurst Sewing School
Crazy Patchwork 10 – 1pm – Start your patchwork journey with this simple but so effective technique. You will learn to use a rotary cutter/ruler and mat whilst you create a patchwork panel with fussy cut centrepiece! You can then turn this panel into a cushion cover or bag front. Or make a few for the beginners of a lap quilt or use it as an applique on a jacket. It is fun and effective and a great way to use up fabric remnants. The cushion cover or bag instructions are also included.
Make a Disappearing Nine Patch and then use it to make a tote bag
Disappearing Nine Patch 2 – 5pm – This design looks a lot of hard work, but really it is deceptively simple! Patchwork and quilting is all about perfectly cut fabric pieces and perfect stitching. Try your hand at this simple patchwork technique that looks far more complicated than it is, so produces ‘wow’ factor results! You will use a rotary cutter/ruler and mat, quarter inch foot and learn how to match seams perfectly. With a bit of clever cutting and twisting you will turn a simple nine patch block into a disappearing nine patch! You can either make one block and turn it into a cushion cover or bag, or do a few as the start of a quilt.
- 8th June – Midhurst Sewing School
Free Motion Quilting – 10 – 5pm – If you have always wanted to ‘paint with thread’ try this class with Wendy Gardiner. You will learn how to lower the feed dogs so you control where the fabric goes, relax and doodle with stitch, work with stippling stitch, circles and then draw a picture combining applique with free hand stitching. Crate your own landscape or portrait. Be warned, once you start this, you will be addicted! Suitable for beginners new to free motion.
- 21st July – Midhurst Sewing School
Beginners’ Quilting – 10 – 5pm – Learn different methods of quilting your fabulous patchwork blocks, from shadow stitching, stitch in the ditch, using a walking foot with quilters guide to create perfectly spaced grids, to free motion stippling, echo stitching and pebbles. You will make a variety of samples which can be kept for reference or stitched together for a mat or small quilt.
- 2nd – 3rd September Midhurst Sewing School
Create your own Body Double – This is a two-day class. Take away the pain and difficulty of getting garments to fit you perfectly by making your own Body Double. Using a dressform, padding and detailed measurements you will recreate your own figure with my help. Mimic your own curves, bust point, hips and bum so that you can use your Double to create a perfect fit every time. Once you have made your Body Double you will test it out by making a simple garment, firstly tissue fitting and then sewing it to fit – you!
For further information on any of the above classes, do contact me: wagardiner@ntlworld.com