INTRODUCTION TO MACHINE SEWING - Sat 11 Oct - 10am-4pm

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INTRODUCTION TO MACHINE SEWING - Sat 11 Oct - 10am-4pm

£110.00

WORKSHOP LOCATION: Handworked. 64 Chapel St, Penzance, TR18 4AD. Google maps link here.

SESSIONS: 1

DATES: Saturday 11th October 2025

TIME:10am-4pm with 1 hour lunch break

MAXIMUM PARTICPANTS: 5

LEVEL: Complete Beginner

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TELL ME MORE

This class is designed to teach you all the basic techniques you’ll need to start using a sewing machine. Mastering these techniques will give you confidence to use a sewing machine and will also arm you with the basics to start dressmaking. In the morning we will be making little samples of all the techniques below, for you to store in the reference folder provided. In the afternoon we put all our newly learned skills into practise, by making a tote bag.

COURSE OUTLINE

Threading a sewing machine
Using pins
Sewing straight lines, curves and points
Techniques to finish the seam allowance
Hemming
Make a tote bag

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

Everything is included. You will receive the samples pre-cut ready for you to sew in calico.
A folder for your finished samples to live in.
We also provide everything you need to make your tote bag, or you can bring your own special fabric.
Tea and coffee!

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

A sewing machine in good working order.
Everything else is provided for the class. You are welcome to bring some fabric to make the bag if you’d like to use your own fabric.

WHO IS THIS CLASS SUITABLE FOR?

This class is suitable for absolute beginners who have never used a sewing machine before. We will be demonstrating every technique first and then you will have a go. This class is also suitable for people who are looking to get back into sewing but are feeling a bit rusty.

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER

Helen Shine is a pattern cutter and seamstress who has worked in the fashion industry in London for 12 years. She has cut patterns for several high-end designer brands, including Victoria Beckham, Mary Katrantzou and Karen Millen. She loves sharing the knowledge she has gained over the years with others, to help them on their sewing journey.

WORKSHOP LOCATION

This workshop is held upstairs at Handworked in Penzance.

Handworked is a gorgeous shop curated by Carole, that sells beautiful homewares, wools and yarns, colourful embroidery threads and lots more fabrics, which they hope will inspire you to make something lovely!

They also stock handmade papers, sketchbooks and creative supplies, alongside a range of books to both inspire and teach new crafts.

The class room/accessibility:

My classes are held up two flights of stairs, in the workshop above the main shop, and therefore is not suitable for guests with access needs unfortunately.

Address:

Handworked

64 Chapel St,

Penzance

TR18 4AD

Parking:

Harbour Long stay car park is a 10 minute walk along Market Jew Street.

A lot of the other car parks in Penzance are short stay car parks.

If you want to pull up outside the shop to drop off your sewing machine and then go off to park your car, I will be in the shop setting up from 9.30am.

TESTIMONIALS

I learned so much. I am thrilled not to be scared of sewing machines any more! I loved this class, I thought I wasn’t going to get as far as we did and I am happy/thrilled with the results and skills learned today.

Harriet Winfrey - Introduction to Machine Sewing

Sometimes, going on a course whilst on holiday is a wonderful way to spend your time, especially if you go home with a new skill or hobby that enriches your life. With the idea of Cottagecore, the Great British Sewing Bee and ‘make do and mend’ being very much in the limelight now, what better way than to learn how to sew using a sewing machine?

I was greeted warmly by one of the shop proprietors, Jane, who welcomed me into her Aladdin’s cave of crafting goodies. Helen, our teacher for the day, also greeted me as we made our way to our desks. Helen is the founder of Dot N Cross, who hosts sewing and pattern cutting workshops across Cornwall. Having worked for the likes of Karen Millen and Victoria Beckham, she has spent 10 years working as a pattern cutter in the London fashion industry before relocating down to Cornwall. Safe to say, she knows a thing or two about sewing!

A course with Helen is a wonderful way to spend a day. Running an assortment of courses for beginners to experienced alike, from making a shift dress to mending existing clothes and crochet to knitting, there are a lot of courses to choose from, whilst there’s also flexibility to arrange your own private classes focussing on something specific, should you want to.

See the full review here

Boutique Retreats - Introduction to Machine Sewing

Yesterday I attended a 1-to-1 Beginners Sewing course with Helen and I am absolutely delighted with the result. I bought along the sewing machine that I had inherited from a relative and Helen figured out how it worked and then proceeded to teach me how to use it. The objective of the day was to learn some of the basics and to make a tote bag. You can see the result yourself in the photo. I keep examining it and am so surprised how good it looks! Helen is an incredible professional with amazing skills and experience. She's also a lovely and accommodating person and I enjoyed her company as well as all the learning. I feel very lucky to have had her as a teacher. It is definitely my intention to return to continue to my journey of discovery.

Louise Harding - 1 to 1 Introduction to Machine Sewing

The best thing I learned on the Introduction to Machines Sewing class is that I can sew!! After years of thinking I can’t. The lesson was very thorough, and I really enjoyed the day. Thank you.

Susan Saunders - Introduction to Machine Sewing

I attended the Introduction to Machine Sewing class, I was just curious to give it a try and I had a really good day. I had a finished item to show for it at the end and I learned a lot. In future I’d like to learn to make a more complex bag.

Ashley Gilder - Introduction to Machine Sewing