This introductory course is designed for complete beginners who are new to sewing machines. It is ideal for those considering purchasing a sewing machine, have recently bought one, or need a confidence boost before joining one of our longer Dressmaking or Textiles courses. Your tutor will guide you through the basic functions of a sewing machine, including threading the machine, checking tension and how to get the best stitches.
Your tutor will provide an overview of common types of sewing machine and their basic functions. You will learn threading and how to wind the bobbin, as well as selecting and understanding basic stitch types: straight stitch, zigzag stitch. You will also learn to perform basic troubleshooting and maintenance to keep your machine in good working order.
You will produce a simple pin cushion to practice the techniques.
None. This course is for complete beginners.
Please note that a number of sewing machines will be available for students to explore. We regret that students will not be able to bring their own along, but are welcome to come along with specific questions and items to discuss. It would be helpful to bring your instruction manual for your own machine if you have one, so we can discuss any differences.
It would be useful to bring any scraps of materials you may have for practice (an old sheet would be ideal) and a quarter metre of cotton fabric to make the pin cushion. A basic sewing kit will be available to use, or you may bring your own.
Learners looking to further expand their skills may wish to join one of our other sewing, fabric or textiles courses.