when are the classes?

On Tuesday evenings, between 6pm to 7.30pm, Crafty Birds holds group sewing sessions for teenagers to learn how to sew, learning a variety of skills which you can use to make anything from simple cushion covers to clothing you can actually wear! You book each session individually, rather than booking onto a set course of sessions. This means that you can pick and choose when you attend, to fit around your other commitments such as school homework and busy exam periods. You can just pick up where you left off at each session. Each session is priced at £17, which has a slightly lower hourly rate than other courses. This is to reflect the fact that you will provide your own pattern, fabric, and things like zips, buttons, interfacing, buttons, etc.

do i need any sewing skills to attend?

At your very first session with Crafty Birds, you will show your tutor the skills you already have. You will be provided with a sewing machine, threads, fabrics, a pattern and all required tools. If you have some sewing experience already, this is your chance to complete a small sewing project so that your tutor can assess your skills and know how and where they can develop your skills. If you have never sewn before, don’t worry, just tell your tutor and you can spend this session being shown how to work the machine and do some simple sewing for the first time. Whatever your skill level, you will talk through your skills with the tutor and decide what you’d like to learn in future sessions.

what can i make?

At the end of this first session, you and your tutor can talk about what you’d like to to learn in the following sessions, and agree on a project to make during the following sessions you book onto. Your tutor will show you ten different projects to choose from, but if you have your own project in mind, you may be able to work on that.

You will use a commercial pattern to make your project, which you will need to buy, as well as fabric, to bring with you in your following sessions. You can either buy this from retailers your tutor recommends or you may already have suitable fabric and the pattern at home. This can be explained and planned during the first session, and your tutor will email your parent with all the things we’ve discussed.

In the following sessions, you will receive one to one support from your tutor to work through the project you chose. Depending on the project, you can learn:

• How to use a pattern (template) and understand the specialist markings and symbols

• How to read the advice on the pattern instructions regarding sizing and fabric requirements

• How to use a lay plan to accurately cut fabric

• Pinning, marking, and cutting fabric

• How to use the sewing machine and different tools and equipment used in sewing

• Setting the dials and selecting the best stitch settings for your fabric, and how to solve common problems

• How to construct accurate and strong seams, and different types of seams

• The many different ways to “finish” the edge of fabric to prevent fraying

• To think logically-assembling various fabric pieces in a sequenced order

• How to manipulate fabric into gathers, pleats, darts, pintucks, plus more!

• Garment construction techniques, such as sleeve insertion, waistbands, pockets, plus more!

• Inserting fastenings, such as zips, button holes, plus more!

PROJECTS

Below are the ten projects we are currently running for teenagers. Based on your skill level shown in session one, your tutor will suggest the ones which will appropriately challenge you, and explain where to buy the pattern and fabrics for your next session, to start making it.