Sewing Courses

Lorna Knight Sewing Academy
Colstone Rock Cottage, Clerks Bank, Ipstones, Stoke On Trent, ST10 2LQ

Lorna runs various courses at venues in Newcastle Upon Lyme and at Bamber Sewing Machines in Manchester.

1 December - Sewing Machine Know How (10.30 am - 1.30 pm at the Manchester venue). Bring along your sewing machine and find out what it can do. Cover the special attachments and needles such as twin and wingas well as how to blind hem and applique.

4 December - Lingerie (10.30am - 4.30pm in Newcastle Upon Lyme). Learn to create your own nightwear, swimwear and lingerie. Find out how to handle lingerie fabrics, attach lace and elastics and add decorative Heirloom stitching.

15 January 2011 - Trouser Tricks (10am - 4.30pm in Newcastle Upon Lyme). Learn all the tips you need to make a perfect pair of trousers including measuring, fitting and making patterns alterations.

29 January 2011 - Couture Boned Bodice (10am - 4.30 m at Manchester venue). This is a day for all those planning to make a special gown in fine silk and  rich velvets. Learn how to make perfect seams, boning and interlining, contour canvas, linings, zips piping and waist stays.

Contact details -  www.lornaknight.com, email: sewknight@btinternet.com

Abakhan Fabrics
Mostyn, North Wales

Abakhan are delighted to announce that they will be running some of their more popular courses and workshops in the Liverpool store. These will include: dressmaking, felting, soft furnishings and Patchwork.

This all kicks off with a Craft day on 15 January with free demonstrations and events at all the Abakhan branches.

Contact details - www.abakhan.co.uk

Nicola Walsham
Sutton St James Village Hall, South Lincolnshire

 Nicola is a fashion designer specializing in pattern cutting and also a tutor of dressmaking and textiles.

13 and 4 January plus 20 and 21 January - Pattern Cutting for beginners. These one-day courses will help students learn to make a basic block with their own measurements. Make up a toile and learn fitting techniques. Cost £40 (10am - 4pm).

Ongoing Pattern Cutting. Meet every month for one day and learn pattern cutting techniques to make a jacket. This covers current block styles, collars, cuffs and pockets. £40 per day.

4 March - Beginners Sewing Course. Make lots of samples of seams, seam finishes, zips, pockets and learn basic machine use - £50.

18 March - Decorative techniques for Garments. Learn applique including shadow, machine lace making and braids - £55 inclusive of materials.

Contact details - tel: 01954 440522 or email: Nicola.walsham@btinternt.com or vist her website: www.nicola.walsham.com

The Papered Parlour
7 Prescott Place, London, SW4 6BS

Tucked down in an alley in Clapham - the Papered Parlour is a home-away-from-home where Claire and Louise run workshops, host performances and put on exhibitions.

 Contact details – tel: 020 7627 8703 or email: clair@thepaperedparlour.co.uk.

The Quilter’s Guild of the British Isles
St Anthony’s Hall, Peasholme Green, York, YO1

Friendship is sewn one stitch at a time

The Quilters’ Guild of the British Isles have announced that under its umbrella, the projects ‘A Gift of Quilts’ and ‘Quilts 4 London’, they have been granted the Inspire Mark, the badge of the London 2012 Inspire Programme. The London 2012 Inspire Programme recognises innovative and exceptional projects that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 ‘A Gift of Quilts’ is being organised by Jenny Rundle and Sharon Garrick and is aiming to make a quilt for each country participating in the Olympics, Paralympics and Special Olympics. Visit the website where you can find information on what can and cannot be included in any quilt made plus details of quilts already completed.

The group is also making quilts for the Special Olympics as the grandchild of one of the organising team is disabled. ‘Quilts 4 London’ is being organised by Irene Heathcote and Catherine Hill. This project is aiming to make a pennant for each participant in the Olympics and Paralympics. The group needs 14,000 pennants to give one to each Olympic participant. Visit the Quilts4London website above where you’ll find instructions and templates to download and pictures of pennants already made for inspiration.

Both projects have an amazing array of groups and individuals already involved from a village cooperative to a prison group, young quilters to family group and the Royal School of Needlework plus day centres, lace makers, braiders and the Association of wood turners (the last two groups are making braids and rods with which to hang the pennants). However, they are still seeking more people to get involved, if you can help contact them through the website addresses above.


Contact details – T: Liz Whitehouse, Chief Executive T: 01904 613242, email: chiefexec@quiltersguild.org.uk or visit the website: www.agiftofquilts.co.uk or www.quilts4london.org.uk

The Textile Workshop
578 Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham NG5 2GE

Courses range from Bag Making, Altered Wearable Art, Commercial Pattern Dressmaking, Make Fun Things With The Sewing Machine and Corsetry and Machine Embroidery.

Private tuition - ‘Make Friends With Your Sewing Machine’ lesson. Learn to sew with a local designer Hannah Wroe. Spend one and a half hours getting help with a sewing project of your choice or just to get  acquainted with your sewing machine £35.  A maximum 7 students in a class.

Contact details -  Hannah direct: 07799074426,   Hannahandbella@gmail.com or visit  www.hannahandbella.typepad.com or the website: www.thetextileworkshop.co.uk.

Liberty Sewing School
Heritage Suite, 3rd Floor, Regent Street, London W1B 5AH

To book sewing classes, contact Liberty’s Customer Service, price per workshop is £50 per person.

Lesley George, Fashion Designer and Textile Artist
21 Fawcett Road, Southsea, Hampshire PO4 OBZ

4 December - Butterflies and Flowers. Learn Lesley's Acetate/Acetone techniques to make free-motion butterflies and flowers to decorate your sewing projects and garments. Course costs £55.