Would you love to learn how to make your own clothes or sew for your family, but don’t know where to start? Then this is the best place to start your clothing sewing journey.
On this course over 4 weeks, you will learn how to make your own, well fitting Pyjama trousers with pockets using a woven non stretch fabric and learning to sew with stretch fabric and make a drop shoulder t-shirt that fits you perfectly too!
The course fee includes 1 X Tilly & the Buttons PJ Trouser Patten & 1 x Claire Watson Drop Shoulder T-Shirt Pattern which is yours to keep.
We will break about half way through each session for refreshments, as sewing is thirsty work for mind and body therefore it’s only natural that there will be plenty of tea, coffee and cake to keep us going!
This course will run over two weeks, made up of four, 3 hour sessions
Session 1 & 2 – Pyjama Trousers:
We will show you how to read, interpret and alter the Tilly and the Buttons Jaimie Pyjama trouser pattern to your size and take you through each step of laying out your pattern, pin, cut and sew the pyjama trousers with the inclusion of a side seam pocket. After all, who doesn’t like a pocket! We will also teach you how to adjust the pattern as we go so that once you have finished your PJ’s your pattern will be ready to use again for a perfect fit especially for you!
- Learn to interpret a pattern, select the correct size, lay and cut out your pyjamas correctly.
- Prepare and start stitching together your pyjamas to get to first fit stage – Make adjustments to your pattern.
- Learn how to assemble and stitch in seam pockets.
- Learn how to sew your pyjama trousers together, finishing off seams, creating a casing for your elastic, and turning up your hems to finish your pyjama trousers beautifully.
Materials required for Session 1 & 2:
- You will need to bring your own sewing machine, power cable, manual and equipment like: pins, tape measure, fabric scissors, seam ripper, Large safety pin, small snipping scissors, marking pen or tailors chalk, sewing machine needles and bobbins for your machine. If you do not have a sewing machine, you are welcome to use one of ours during the lesson time.
- Fabric for the pyjama trousers – If the fabric is 150cm wide; you will need 2.30m or If the fabric is 115cm wide; you will need 2.50m.
- 2.5cm wide elastic for the waist & matching thread, we recommend Gutermann 100% Polyester sew all thread.
Fabric options:
Cotton, viscose, cotton lawn, cotton gauze, brushed cotton, viscose twill, silky satin are all suitable options, but be aware the slippery fabrics like satin and silk will be more challenging to work with for a beginner.
Below are some suggested fabrics that will make your pyjama trousers comfortable to wear depending on the time of year.
- Suggested fabrics for Autumn/Winter: brushed cotton, flannelette.
- Suggested fabric for Spring/Summer: 100% cotton, cotton lawn or viscose.
Session 3 & 4 – Drop Shoulder T-shirt:
You will learn how to adjust the Claire Watson – Drop shoulder T-shirt block to create your own pattern, specific to your body measurements and learn how to layout, pin and cut out your t-shirt. You will gain the knowledge of valuable skills, tips and techniques to use when sewing with stretch fabrics too.
We will also cover attaching a neck band, finishing off seams and turning up hems that give you a professional finish that will leave you with a garment that looks and feels fabulous on.
- Create your own pattern from the Claire Watson – Drop-Shoulder T-shirt Pattern, inserting darts if needed that is specific to your body measurements.
- You will learn how to lay and cut out your top, as well as gain knowledge on needles, and tips for stitching together the top to get it ready for first fit.
- Learn how adjust your pattern and make necessary amendments to your pattern and top to get a great fit.
- Stitch your top together and learn to attach a neckband, using a normal sewing machine and stretch stitches, as well as over locking settings on your machine to finish off the seams and hems to give you that professional finish.
Materials required for Session 3 & 4:
I recommend a stretch jersey fabric is best for this project. Cotton Jersey, viscose Jersey, Cotton Lycra, Polyester stretches are good choices. However, if you wish to use a different fabric, please get in touch to let me know so I can check suitability.
- You will need to bring your own sewing machine, power cable, manual and equipment like: pins, tape measure, fabric scissors, seam ripper, Large safety pin, small snipping scissors, marking pen or tailors chalk, sewing machine needles and bobbins for your machine. If you do not have a sewing machine, you are welcome to use one of ours during the lesson time.
- If the fabric is 140cm wide – you will need 1.50 x metres.
- If the fabric is 112cm wide – you will need 2m metres.
- 2 x spools of 100m Gutermann sew all polyester thread for the main stitching on the sewing machine.
- Sewing machine needles for Jersey or stretch fabrics – I recommend Schmetz Jersey needles depending on weight of fabric 80/12 or 90/14 would be good.
IMPORTANT TIP: Pre-wash and and iron all your fabric prior to the class as these fabrics will shrink on the first wash!! If you intend to tumble dry your clothes then be sure to tumble dry the fabric too, to maximise any further shrinkage prior to cutting and sewing.
Max in a class: 5
Course Length: Four, 3 hour sessions
Price: £185
I also carry a stock of fabrics and haberdashery should you wish to purchase on the day (card payment facility available). or you can also browse and buy fabrics at our online fabric shop.