sewing for beginners

From students who’ve never switched on a sewing machine to those who haven’t sewn since school, our Mixed Ability sewing classes are a friendly mix of newbie and novice sewers and students wanting to boost their sewing confidence,

We want you to feel happy, relaxed and comfortable at the sewing machine and we know how daunting it can be to learning a new skill, learning to use new equipment and meeting new people. BEGINNERS are welcome in every class, although for September 2025 we are grouping newbies together in Tuesday and Friday Mornings, Tuesday and Wednesday Evenings.

We’ve discovered that lots of  students describe themselves as beginners but have slightly different starting points; those that are self taught and had no formal tuition, those not sewn since school or those taking up a new hobby. Thanks to our small classes, we can guarantee you plenty of time with the tutor so that you can build your skills and your confidence. You won’t stay a beginner for long.

Our classes are small with no more than 10 students which means that your sewing tutor will be able to give you plenty of support with your chosen sewing project. That might be refreshing your sewing skills and giving you a confidence boost. We’re proud of our friendly classes, it’s a space where everyone is welcome and supported, so just choose the class for when you are free.

If you’re really not sure – just pick up the phone and have a reassuring chat with Leonie, with three tutors and eleven classes and over 80% student retention having been in business for 15 years – we will be able to find the right class for you to feel comfortable in 🙂

who’s this class for?

Suitable for those new to sewing or those self taught but wanting to be taught professionally.

what will i learn?

Core dressmaking skills e.g. how to measure to fit your shape, read a pattern or how to achieve a shop bought finish

Understanding how to read a pattern.

Understanding how to use a sewing machine.

what do i need to bring?

We recommend you start with a Tilly & The Buttons Jaimie Pyjama Pant pattern and a starter kit to get you going. You need to supply your own fabric and a pair of bent handled fabric scissors. Full details will be sent on booking.

what equipment is supplied?

We provide a Janome sewing machine for each student and access to two very large cutting tables and two overlockers.