Learn to sew with us

Join us for a fun and rewarding experience crafting your own custom made cushions. Designing and sewing your own home decor pieces is a wonderful way to add a personal touch to your living space. On this course you will create 2 cushions in 3 weeks exploring appliqué, piping, zipped and button fastenings.

You will learn:

• To add a zip to a cushion and construct a lapped closing 
• How to appliqué a design onto fabric
• How to create a piped edge
• To create buttonholes and sew on buttons

What you'll need to bring

• 1.5 meters of fabric. This can be the same or half a meter of 3 different fabrics. If you are choosing one fabric, please bring along enough fabric for an appliquéd design in a contracting colour
• 2m cord piping
• 2m complimentary cotton bias binding
• 16" plastic zip
• Matching thread. We recommend using a good quality brand such as Gütermann or Coats
• A sewing machine (if you don't have one you can choose to hire one from us for £10)
• A sewing kit including scissors or rotary cutter, a quick unpick, pins, tailors chalk or fabric pen, tape measure or ruler, spare needles for your sewing machine. Kit is available to borrow if you don't have your own.
• A zipper foot
• A buttonhole foot
• 3 buttons
• A 40x40cm cushion

£90. This course is aimed at confident beginners

Classes run for 3 weeks, on Tuesday 6th 13th and 20th January, from 6.30pm - 8.45pm at Saint Wilfrids Community Centre, Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB

This course is an ideal follow on from the Beginners Machine Sewing Class. You will learn how to read and understand commercial patterns and the techniques used for making your own clothes, whilst making a pair of long legged pyjama bottoms or shorts (pattern included in cost). 

You will learn:

• How to read a commercial pattern
• How to measure yourself
• How to insert an elasticated waistband
• How to hem trouser legs
• How to make a buttonhole

What's included?

• A commercial printed pattern with various nightwear designs which you can take home and re-use

What you'll need to bring

• 2.5m cotton fabric to make your project from. We suggest using a cotton lawn, seersucker, poplin or flannel
• 1m of 1/2" (12mm) wide elastic
• Matching thread. We recommend using a good quality brand such as Gütermann or Coats
• A sewing machine (if you don't have one you can choose to hire one from us for £10)
• A sewing kit including scissors or rotary cutter, a quick unpick, pins, tailors chalk or fabric pen, tape measure or ruler, spare needles for your sewing machine. Kit is available to borrow if you don't have your own.

£95. This course is aimed at confident beginners

Class runs for 3 weeks, on Thurs 8th, 15th and 22nd January from 7pm - 9.30pm at Saint Wilfrids Community Centre, Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB.

If you are new to sewing or have a machine but don't know how to use it, and fancy meeting some like minded people, this is the course for you! 

Get to know your sewing machine and learn some basic sewing techniques through a series of small projects that you can take home. This class runs over 3 weeks.

You will learn:

• How to thread and set up your machine
• What the various functions are on your machine
• How to insert a zip
• How to join pieces from a simple sewing pattern

What's included?

• A zip for your bag

What you need to bring:

• 1 meter cotton fabric to make your projects from or 1/2 meter of two different fabrics to make contrasting linings
• Matching thread with which to sew your project
• A sewing kit including scissors or rotary cutter, a quick unpick, pins, tailors chalk or fabric pen, tape measure or ruler, spare needles for your sewing machine. Kit is available to borrow if you don't have your own.
• A sewing machine (if you don't have one you can choose to hire one from us for £10)

£90. This course is aimed at beginners. 

Class runs for 3 weeks, on Tues 27th January, 3rd and 10th February, from 6.30 - 8.45pm at Saint Wilfrids Community Centre, Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB.

Sashiko and Boro are related traditional Japanese sewing techniques, often used for mending and reinforcement. Sashiko refers to the stitching itself, a form of embroidery with repeating designs, while boro describes the patching and piecing together of fabrics, often using Sashiko stitching to reinforce the patches.

During this 2 hour workshop you learn the traditional Japanese method of mending- using Sashiko embroidery thread and Boro patching. This is a hand sewing class. 

You will learn:

• Basic Sashiko stitches
• Tips and techniques for stitching
• Boro patching

What's included?

• Fabric and patches
• Sashiko thread
• A Sashiko Needle

What you need to bring:

• A sewing kit including scissors or rotary cutter, a quick unpick, pins, tailors chalk or fabric pen, tape measure or ruler. Kit is available to borrow if you don't have your own.

£40. This course is aimed at beginners. 

Class is on Thursday 29th January from 7 - 9pm at The GreenHouse, 11 North St, Ripon HG4 1JY

A great way to raise your sewing game is to finish seams in the appropriate way. There are many different methods, all of which depend on the fabric used and the garment type.  

We'll work through a number of popular finishes so you have the knowledge to finish your next sewing project in the best and most appropriate way. 

 You will learn:

• French Seams
• Hong Kong Seams
• Zig-Zag
• Flat Felled Seams
• Bias-bound Seams

What's included?

• Fabric for seam samples
• A choice of binding

What you need to bring:

• A pen and paper to make notes
• White thread with which to sew your project
• A sewing kit including scissors or rotary cutter, a quick unpick, pins, tailors chalk or fabric pen, tape measure or ruler, spare needles for your sewing machine. Kit is available to borrow if you don't have your own.
• A sewing machine (if you don't have one you can choose to hire one from us for £10)

£65. This course is aimed at advanced beginners. 

Class runs for 2 weeks, on Tues 5th and 12th February, from 7.15 - 8.45pm at Saint Wilfrids Community Centre, Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB.

Take the next step towards making your handmade wardrobe and learn to sew this beautiful elasticated gathered skirt from French indie pattern brand Jalie.  The pattern is a below-the-knee or midi skirt, with in-seam pockets, elastic waistband and optional waist pouch. It has a huge size range from kids aged 2 all the way to 2XL in adults. 

You will learn:

• How to read a commercial pattern
• How to measure yourself
• How to insert an elasticated waistband
• How to hem a skirt
• How to French seam a skirt

What's included?

• A commercial printed pattern with skirt variations which you can take home and re-use

What you'll need to bring

• fabric to make your project from. We suggest using a lightweight woven fabric such as cotton,  cotton lawn, seersucker, poplin, chambray or linen. I will be in touch a month before class to advise on the fabric amount that you'll need. Please wash fabric before class.
• 1m 15cm of 1 1/2" (4cm) wide elastic
• Matching thread. We recommend using a good quality brand such as Gütermann or Coats
• A sewing machine (if you don't have one you can choose to hire one from us for £10)
• A sewing kit including paper scissors, fabric scissors or rotary cutter, a quick unpick, pins, tailors chalk or fabric pen, tape measure or ruler, spare needles for your sewing machine. Kit is available to borrow if you don't have your own.

£100 This course is aimed at confident beginners

Class runs for 3 weeks, on Tues 23rd Feb, 3rd and 10th March from 6.30pm - 8.45pm at Saint Wilfrids Community Centre, Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB.

Socks are one of the most discarded pieces of clothing we own, but are very easy and fun to repair and are also a brilliant garment to start learning how to mend.  

Come along to our 2 hour session where we will slow down and look at simple mending techniques to fix holes in clothing.

You will learn:

• How to seed stitch
• How to create a small woven darn
• How to be creative with darning
• Various ways to tie threads

What's included?

• Thread
• Needle

What you need to bring:

• a darning mushroom/darning egg or if you don't have one an orange will do!
• A sock with wear or a small hole
• Sewing scissors

£40. This course is aimed at beginners. 

Class runs on Thurs 26th Feb from 7 - 9pm at The GreenHouse, 11 North Street

Ripon. HG4 1JY

This course is an ideal follow on from the Beginners Machine Sewing Class. You will learn how to read and understand commercial patterns and the techniques used for making your own clothes, whilst making a pair of long legged pyjama bottoms or shorts (pattern included in cost). 

You will learn:

• How to read a commercial pattern
• How to measure yourself
• How to insert an elasticated waistband
• How to hem trouser legs
• How to make a buttonhole

What's included?

• A commercial printed pattern with various nightwear designs which you can take home and re-use

What you'll need to bring

• 2.5m cotton fabric to make your project from. We suggest using a cotton lawn, seersucker, poplin or flannel
• 1m of 1/2" (12mm) wide elastic
• Matching thread. We recommend using a good quality brand such as Gütermann or Coats
• A sewing machine (if you don't have one you can choose to hire one from us for £10)
• A sewing kit including scissors or rotary cutter, a quick unpick, pins, tailors chalk or fabric pen, tape measure or ruler, spare needles for your sewing machine. Kit is available to borrow if you don't have your own.

£95. This course is aimed at confident beginners

Class runs for 3 weeks, on Thurs 5th, 12th and 19th March from 7pm - 9.30pm at Saint Wilfrids Community Centre, Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB.

Learn how to make your own baby leggings in this workshop from sizes premie to 18 months. We’ll provide you with all of the materials to make your leggings, including some of our beautifully soft organic cotton jersey fabrics. 

Once you sign up we’ll send you an email with our fabric choices for you to make your leggings from.

You will learn:

• How to interpret and read a simple pattern (from an independent pattern company)
• How to sew with jersey
• How to insert elastic

What's included:

• Organic cotton GOTS certified jersey by Swedish company Elvelyckan Design
• Elastic for the waistband

What you’ll need to bring:

• Thread with which to sew your leggings (we will advise based on your fabric choice)
• A sewing kit including scissors or rotary cutter, a quick unpick, pins, tailors chalk or fabric pen, tape measure or ruler, spare needles for your sewing machine. Kit is available to borrow if you don't have your own.
• A sewing machine (if you don't have one you can choose to hire one from us for £10)

£60. This course is aimed at beginners. 

Class is on Tues 17th March, from 6.15 - 8.45pm at Saint Wilfrids Community Centre, Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB.

We’ll provide you with all of the materials you need to make a romper for your little one, including some of our beautifully soft organic cotton jersey fabrics. You don’t need any previous sewing experience to attend as we’ll teach you the basics of sewing with jersey following a simple pattern.

Once you sign up we’ll send you an email with our fabric choices for you to make your romper from.

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You will learn:

• How to interpret and read a simple pattern (from an independent pattern company)
• How to sew with jersey
• How to insert poppers
• How to attach a cuff

What's included:

• Organic cotton GOTS certified jersey by Swedish company Elvelyckan Design
• A selection of colourful poppers to choose from to complete your outfit

What you’ll need to bring:

• Thread with which to sew your leggings (we will advise based on your fabric choice)
• A sewing kit including scissors or rotary cutter, a quick unpick, pins, tailors chalk or fabric pen, tape measure or ruler, spare needles for your sewing machine. Kit is available to borrow if you don't have your own.
• A sewing machine (if you don't have one you can choose to hire one from us for £10)

£60. This course is aimed at beginners. 

Class is on Tues 24th March, from 6.15 - 8.45pm at Saint Wilfrids Community Centre, Coltsgate Hill, Ripon HG4 2AB.