Entry requirements: None! Courses at this level are for complete beginners. These courses suit people who have never used a sewing machine before, or have dabbled but haven't had the confidence or knowledge to make a finished product.

What you will learn:

• Switch on and thread up a sewing machine and understand what all the dials, buttons and settings do.

• Find out how each setting affects your sewing, and know when and why to select a different setting.

• Learn how to sew basic seams hems to make some simple projects or carry out simple alterations at home.

• Find out about the different tools and equipment you need to use in sewing.

• Learn about different types of fabrics, and how to make the best choice for a sewing project.

• Learn what a pattern is, and how to understand the different symbols to know how to cut and sew fabric to make something following instructions.

• Receive advice on where to purchase fabrics, tools, and sewing patterns.

Entry requirements: You must be able to thread up the sewing machine independently, control fabric to sew in straight and curved lines, and looked at a sewing pattern before. You may have cut and sewn fabric before to make samples or a finished product.

What you will learn:

• Increase your confidence in sewing fabrics together, to include more challenging components of a project.

• Start to explore fastenings, such as drawstrings, elasticated casings, and tie belts and belt loops

• Use an overlocker machine to finish the edges of fabric

• Extend your knowledge of patterns, symbols, instructions, so that you can expand the types of projects you make.

Entry requirements: You must be able to thread up the sewing machine independently, and change stitch type, length, and width. You have used a sewing pattern before to cut and sew fabric, to make a simple product such as a cushion cover, bunting, or drawstring bag; you understand all of the different symbols found on a pattern and their instructions.

What you will learn:

• Continue to develop your sewing skills, increasing your confidence to start trying more sewing processes such as gathered ruffles and pleating.

• Extend your knowledge of fastenings by learning how to sew a zip onto fabric accurately and securely, using proper methods and equipment.

• Develop your sewing skills to learn a wider variety of different type of hems for different products and fabrics.

• Start sewing with more challenging fabrics such as heavy satin, viscose, and cotton lawn.

• Continue to develop your understanding of the sewing machine, learning about the different presser feet and needles available, and know when and why to change them for what you are sewing, allowing you to sew with more fabric types and make a variety of projects.

Entry requirements: Sewing at this level involves complicated processes and many different pieces of fabrics. Therefore, you must have experience making a variety of different projects independently, for example, simple elasticated waist trousers, easy tops without fastenings, or pencil cases with basic zips. You must feel confident and informed when cutting and sewing fabrics, in order to be ready for this next level of challenge.

What you will learn:

• Start sewing with challenging fabrics such as chiffon, light satin, stretch fabrics, and denim.

• Extend your knowledge of fastenings, to sew invisible zips and button holes onto fabrics.

• Develop your understanding of patterns so that you can start adapting patterns to suit your own designs and measurements.

• Learn how to sew other types of hems for a professional, dressmaking finish.

Entry requirements: Entry requirements for level 5 courses are the same as those for level 4 courses. It may be useful if you have completed some sewing with chiffon, satin, or stretch fabrics, but it isn't essential.

What you will learn:

• Continue your exploration of challenging fabrics, with leather, silk, and beaded fabrics.

• Continue to adapt commercial patterns, and start drafting your own.

• Learn how to insert more challenging fastenings such as fly front zips and rouleau loops.

• Learn how to sew a wider variety of seams to suit very thick or very thin fabrics.

All courses will develop your sewing machine skills. If you’re a complete beginner, and never switched on a sewing machine before, you will be shown every step to get started, such as threading it up, setting the dials, and how to control the fabric and pedal.

If you’re an experienced machine sewer, you will have the opportunity to explore different types of presser feet, needles, and settings, to understand the wide range of possible outcomes you can make on your machine at home.

As well as learning how to use the sewing machine, you will also have the opportunity to learn a wider range of skills using lots of equipment and tools. These include the overlocker, pattern drafting tools, fabric marking tools, as well as the chance to explore lots of fabric types. We will cover the many different types of hems, seams, fastenings, as well as all the other transferrable skills you can use on many projects at home. You will leave each course feeling more knowledgeable and confident to choose the right fabrics and tools for your own sewing projects at home.

No! In our studio there are enough sewing machines for everyone to use one without sharing. We also have scissors, chalk, and every other tool needed to complete your sewing project. All we ask is that you bring your own pot of pins, which you can pick up in the supermarket or from Amazon, (as well as all our fabulous local sewing and fabric shops!) for just a few pounds. If you do have your own fabric scissors, you may want to bring them. If you have your own sewing machine, you are welcome to bring it to use.