Sewing Techniques
Sewing Expert Profiles
There are many sewing experts in the UK who willingly share their knowledge and skills through magazines, workshops and classes. Below you will find biographies of leading experts Ruth Cox, Wendy Gardiner, Lorna Knight, Janet Moville, Jennie Rayment and Alison Smith.
Wendy Gardiner
Wendy Gardiner who has been pivotal in the sewing industry for many years and is Editor of Sewing World magazine as well as co-manager of ISEW website.
Brief background: Wendy Gardiner has been in the sewing industry for over 26 years and during that time has been involved in publishing sewing magazines, books and DVDs. She is currently editor of Sewing World magazine, a monthly title for people who enjoy sewing with a machine. She is also a co-founder of ISEW, strongly believing in sharing sewing skills and knowledge so that more people can have a go and hopefully realise it is a fun thing to do!
Back to the beginning: Wendy started her sewing career at Butterick and Vogue Patterns in Havant as the UK Editor for their magazines. Whilst at Butterick, she became Publisher as well as Editor and Marketing/PR Manager, promoting sewing to other media as well as continuing to edit the pattern magazines. She continued to introduce new features, and write one-off publications for Butterick.
1990 - Newly married, Wendy decided to leave the Butterick nest and branch out alone as a freelance. She started with a commision to write four crafts books for Crowood Press and has never looked back. Since then she has been immersed in all that is sewing.
1994 – Wendy and husband Lez’s first son Jake was born. He quickly became used to travelling the length and breadth of the UK as Wendy continued to promote sewing; she helped launch the ASMD – Association of Sewing Machine Distributors, handled PR for many sewing related companies and edited a magazine for Simplicity patterns. Annually she organised major national competitions, bringing many sewing companies together to help promote sewing and encourage newcomers. These included the annual Hoffman Quilting Challenge, and a Travelling Fashion Show involving hundreds of schools.
1997 - Wendy took over as Editor of Sewing World magazine and has continued to develop the title to become the strong market-leader that it is today. She also introduced new regular contributors such as Janet Moville, Jennie Rayment, Lorna Knight and Gill Arnold to the magazine, nurturing and promoting these other amazing experts so that their incredible knowledge could be shared by everyone in the UK.
1998 – Charlie, Wendy’s second son was born amidst sewing paraphernalia. He too quickly became used to the magazine and indeed has frequently modelled for Sewing World!
Over the last ten years Wendy has continued to edit Sewing World magazine whilst also writing books and writing/starring in sewing DVDs. Her aim is to encourage more people to sew, particularly the younger generation, and to promote sewing as something that can be fun, inexpensive and easy!
Books/DVDs published: Wendy has written over twelve sewing and craft books. Recent titles include - Sewing Bible, Curtains and Sewing Bible, Slip Covers published by David & Charles, The Complete Book of Sewing by New Holland, The Encyclopedia of Sewing Techniques, published by Search Press and Start Sewing, published by Apple. Wendy has also written and presented a number of DVDs on various sewing techniques. A series of nine Sew Easy DVDs for Traplet Publications includes Dressmaking that’s Fast and Fun; Dressmaking 2, Tips and Techniques to add Pizzazz; Soft Furnishings; A guide to Sewing Machines – how to choose and use them, and Fabulous Feet - a comprehensive guide to all the sewing presser feet available and how to use them for best effects and then Style on a Budget, a tv-style presentation showing how to make-over a living room on a budget. In addition, Wendy has recently produced a DVD for Simplicity called Simplicity's Guide to Successful Sewing which has eight chapters taking you through all the basic sewing techniques to get started with confidence as well as produced a series of sewing clips for the ISEW website. All are very much hands-on productions taking readers and viewers step-by-step through many sewing techniques.
Contact details: Wendy Gardiner, Sewing World
Email: wagardiner@ntlworld.com, tel: 023 92 261338
Ruth Cox
Ruth has made her name teaching and writing about computerised machine embroidery, although until quite recently it was just a hobby. Now a freelance tutor and writer she has turned her leisure pursuits into a professional career.
Brief Background: Ruth has been sewing for over 25 years making fashion garments. She enjoyed making things from an early age and was proficient at hand embroidery and general needlecrafts. She was inspired to sew by a trendy school friend who could always manage to rustle up a fabulous dress in time for a party. When she bought her first computerised embroidery machine she enjoyed exploring the technology and creating unique designs. Her aim is to help as many people as possible learn to have fun with these fantastic machines and to push the boundaries of what is possible!
Back to the Beginning: Ruth had pursued academic subjects at school and university and took a Batchelor of Arts degree in languages and literature. She worked by day as an administrator and spent her leisure time taking courses in pattern drafting, tailoring and couture dressmaking. A year later she married and bought her first home, where her sewing skills came in useful to earn an extra income as a personal dressmaker.
1992 Ruth started working for a software company in a sales and marketing role. She had to demonstrate and sell software to people who frequently had little or no experience of using computers and hi-tech equipment. She continued to sew in her spare time and followed her interests in fashion, design, and creative arts. Four years later twins Alex and Daniel arrived on the scene and, after a spell of maternity leave, Ruth returned to work in software sales, but found considerably less time for leisure pursuits! With two young children to look after, most sewing time was spent making dressing-up costumes and personalising garments.
2001 Tempted by Janome’s Memory Craft 10000 Ruth enjoyed learning a whole new aspect of sewing and design. Mainly self-taught, she found a frustrating lack of books, courses or guides available for computerised embroiderers, so began to document what she had learnt so that it could become available to others.
2003 Responding to an advertisement in ‘Sewing World’ for a book reviewer, Ruth quickly became part of the team and started to write articles on books, web-sites and fashion patterns, whilst continuing to work part-time in software sales. Aware that little was being written about computerised embroidery she persuaded the editor to run a series of articles and these have continued to be a regular feature in the magazine. Contributions from the major manufacturers in the embroidery industry ensure that the articles are up-to-date and brand independent.
2006 Janome UK invited Ruth to teach courses on their suite of software. Ruth finally took the plunge and became a freelance tutor undertaking training for Janome, teaching at residential courses, continuing to write for ‘Sewing World’, and doing demonstration work on behalf of Madeira and Gütermann Sulky.
2009: Ruth took on a full time position with Janome UK to sale and promote their range of sewing and overlocking machines. She continues to write two columns for Sewing World magazine, reviewing books and the pick of the patterns.
Contact Details:
Lorna Knight
Brief background: Lorna set up The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy in 1999 to deliver sewing workshops in a full range of sewing topics in the Midlands and Edinburgh. These included lingerie and bra making courses and furnishing topics too. She also enjoyed making one-off designs for people, lingerie, wedding dresses and formal wear as well as more unusual requests like a gent’s punk rocker suit! Now with a young family, Lorna continues to teach at venues in Staffordshire and Derbyshire. She also offers one-to-one tuition tailored to suit the student, which can be short sessions, longer full days or regular tutorials. Lorna also contributes to Sewing World magazine, predominantly projects that are sewn on overlockers and that are often lingerie based.
Back to the beginning:
In 1987, with a degree in garment technology, Lorna started her career working for an Edinburgh designer Caroline Scott where she learnt what making clothes was really all about. By 1988 she was also teaching in schools as well as making clothes for herself and friends.
1996 – She became particularly interested in sewing lingerie and developed this with training and practise, she set up a mail-order business ‘Moonlight’ selling lingerie.
1997 – Lorna started running workshops for Terry Fox , teaching in particular, the skills used in the couture trade.
Subjects taught: Lorna runs a number of workshops in each of the following categories: Overlocking, Lingerie, Couture, Dressmaking, Pattern Drafting and Furnishings.
Contact details: Lorna Knight, The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, Colstone Rock Cottage, Clerks Bank, Ipstones, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 2LQ, tel: 01538 266002, email: sewknight@btinternet.com.
Janet Moville
Brief background:
After twenty five years of dressmaking and tailoring experience Janet decided to set up her own school and undertook a teaching qualification before opening The Modern Approach Sewing School in July 1995. This was inspired by the desire to take sewing into the 21st century, especially encouraging teens and twenties to get involved. Her daughter Louise attends a Monday evening class and has had a couple of garments featured in Sewing World. Janet also runs occasional courses at Linton Tweeds in Carlisle, The Sew and Sew Centre, Moreton, Wirral and Alston Hall Residential College in Longridge, near Preston.
Back to the beginning: Janet has had a love of sewing since childhood and has fond memories of watching ‘Blue Peter’ in the 1960s. Following the ‘experts’ advice she took great pleasure in making a ski outfit for her Sindy doll out of a pair of socks!
Her natural ability led her to become a dressmaker and tailoress, specialising in ‘Mother of the Bride’ creations under her business name; Personal Dress Designs.
1995 – Opened Modern Approach to Sewing School.
2000 - Janet has contributed articles to Sewing World magazine on couture sewing tips and techniques bi-monthly since March 2000 and continues to do so today. The articles are based on garments made by Janet for herself, and always include some unusual designer finishing touches and alterations that the rest of us can try out.
2005 - In May due to continued success and outgrowing her premises, Janet moved the school to a superb new location at the Astra Business Centre, Roman Way, Ribbleton, Preston. They have just celebrated their first anniversary.
Subjects taught:
Janet offers a comprehensive range of classes for all ages, abilities and budgets from weekly classes, one, two and four day courses as well as individual tuition and specialist courses such as ‘Finishing School’, ‘One-to-One’ and ‘Bosom Buddy Personal Service where a personal dressform is made for the client. Tuition of your own choice of subject is also available at the school.
Contact details
For details and a workshop calendar for the Modern Approach to Sewing, contact Janet:
Modern Approach to Sewing
Unit A, Astra Business Centre, Roman Way, Ribbleton, Preston PR2 5AP.
Tel/fax: 01772 498862
Email: modernapproach@blueyonder.co.uk
Web: www.sewjanetmoville.co.uk
Jennie Rayment
Brief background: Jennie spends most of her time teaching and lecturing both in Britain and overseas. In between engagements, she makes samples, teaching aids and quilts created from her unique techniques as well as writing books on fabric manipulation. She is currently producing another one on simple projects for the overlocker. She currently teaches a choice of ten different workshops ranging from small quilts, cushions and bags to garments in addition to providing four lectures for workshops and seminars.
Back to the beginning: In late 1989, after a long career in catering, Jennie discovered patchwork. She rapidly became hooked on the subject, completed the City & Guilds Patchwork and the 730 teaching diplomas then began teaching for Adult Education in Haslemere, Farnham and Hailsham. In 1994 City & Guilds extended the course syllabus introducing texture as one of the modules so Jennie designed some innovative techniques for textured surfaces and fabric manipulation. Encouraged by her students, she wrote her first book ‘Tucks Textures & Pleats’.
In 1996 Jennie taught at the Quilt Festival in Houston, Texas which was the beginning of regular commitments to teach all over the States.
By 1999 two more books had been published, her international travelling had extended to many other parts of the world and Jennie’s first appearance on American TV had happened, consequently she ceased working for Adult Education and became a freelance international tutor and lecturer.
Subjects taught: Jennie runs a number of workshops in each of the following categories: Fabric Manipulation, Surface Embellishment, Machine Quilting, Overlocking, Garment Making and Furnishings.
Contact Details: Jennie Rayment, 5 Queen Street, Emsworth, Hants, PO10 7BJ, tel/Fax 01243 374860 (USA +44) (0) 1243 374860, email: jenrayment@aol.com, website: www.jennierayment.com.
Alison Smith
Alison Smith has successfully run her own dressmaking business for many years. She started her career as a teacher and has come full circle, now running her own school of sewing. 
Brief background: Alison started the Alison Victoria School of Sewing in 1992 after years of running her own business making Posh Frocks for private clients. The school has gone from strength to strength and is now housed at Fabulous Fabric, the retail shop Alison opened just 2 years ago to go alongside her successful sewing school. From 2006, in addition to the busy workshop schedule of classes available, Alison has been able to offer City & Guilds qualifications to those students wishing to have a formal qualification. Alison is also a regular contributor to Sewing World magazine.
Back to the beginning: Alison is a fully qualified textile teacher. She taught as Head of Textiles for many years at one of the largest comprehensive schools in Birmingham. Alison’s role was to teach up to A-level and to moderate examination work throughout the education authority.
Alison left teaching to have a family and start her own business making ‘posh frocks ‘ for private clients – Alison’s dresses graced the pages of many glossy bridal magazines. Alison’s love of teaching though, never went away and in 1992 after many requests from customers for Alison to share her skills the Alison Victoria School of Sewing was born. Within six months Alison found herself teaching not only at her own school but also for the Liberty Sewing School in London (this sadly closed about 7 years ago) and the Janome Sewing School in Manchester.
Alison has also appeared on television many times, most recently in the first series of Ladette to Lady on ITV 1.
Alison’s Sewing School soon expanded from her teaching room at home to an Arts & Crafts centre just outside Ashby de la Zouch. However just three years later Alison outgrew her room at the Arts & Crafts centre and is now based in the heart of Ashby de la Zouch with not only several teaching rooms but also a fabric shop – Fabulous Fabric
Subjects taught: The Alison Victoria School of Sewing provides a mixture of good tuition with plenty of hands-on practise for the students. Class sizes are limited to ensure individual attention. Students can take classes in a variety of skills with classes lasting one, two or three days. Topics covered are very varied from bras to ballgowns, corsets to trousers and much more in between. City & Guilds courses also taught.
Contact details: Alison Smith, Fabulous Fabric, 71 Market Street, Ashby de la Zouch, Leics LE65 1AH, tel: 01530 416300, email: Alison@schoolofsewing.co.uk, website: www.schoolofsewing.co.uk.
Ruth Cox, 20 Milesbush Ave, Castle Bromwich, Birmingham, B36 9UA, tel: 0121 748 5286
Email: ruthcoxtraining@yahoo.co.uk, Website: www.ruthcox.co.uk
