Your child will be making a pair of pyjama bottoms on their sewing course, using cotton fabric. It is advised that they are worn as loungewear rather than sleepwear. This is because children’s sleepwear that we buy in shops has been manufactured with industry standard methods to comply with child product safety guidelines, which isn’t possible with the home sewing techniques we will be using. Your child’s finished pyjama bottoms will however be a lovely comfy pair of loungewear bottoms!
Please read through the brief health and safety guidelines with your child before the start of the course.
The purpose of this is purely to introduce your child to the importance of health of safety in a sewing workshop, and to indicate to me that you are aware of the risks involved in using sewing equipment and machines. Rest assured that comprehensive demonstrations and guidance on how to stay safe while using the equipment and machines will be given throughout the course. There will be two members of staff present during the course who will supervise the group of children, however it is the child’s responsibility to listen and apply the correct methods of using the equipment and machines as instructed to them. if your child is not following the teacher’s instructions and is unable to maintain safe practise of the equipment and machines, then their emergency contact will be called to collect them, and no refund will be able to be given.
Sewing machine:
Take care not to trip when moving around the machine.
Apply a little amount of pressure on the pedal, as shown by your teacher, so that you do not sew too fast.
Keep hands free of the needle
Keep hands on the sewing plate rather than moving up towards the casing, where skin could reach contact with the bulb which will be very hot and could cause burns.
Stay sitting up straight rather than leaning towards the machine, to avoid the take up lever striking your head.
If your child’s hair length is below their chin, please ensure they are able to tie it back out of the face during the workshop.
Your child should avoid wearing clothing which has loose dangling parts, such as hoody drawstrings or long necklaces. If they do, they must tuck them inside their clothing while working.
SCISSORS, PINS, NEEDLES
Hold the scissors correctly and keep hands clear of the blades when cutting.
Hold scissors by the blade when moving around the room.
Keep fingers clear when pinning fabric to avoid piercing your skin.
Do not hold pins in the mouth while working.
Only use the scissors, pins, and needles for their intended use as instructed by the teacher.
IRON
Hold the iron by the handle and do not touch the hot metal plate
Keep hands clear when pressing fabric to avoid skin contact with the hot plate
Do not change the heat settings of the iron-ask one of the tutors
Always leave the iron stood up right at the ironing board when walking away
Be careful of the cables plugged in so as not to trip on them
In the event of injuries
In the rare case that your child does injure themselves while working, basic first aid will be given by one of the teachers present. For example, if the surface of their skin is slightly pierced with the tip of a pin. If the injury is more serious and cannot be treated with first aid, then their emergency contact will be contacted for the child to be collected. If necessary, a member of staff will contact 999 for an ambulance first, then the child’s emergency contact. Please rest assured that serious injury in a sewing workshop is extremely rare.