Helen is an excellent teacher - superb knowledge and experience but realises that people need all the basics and the confidence to improve. In one day I went from learning how to thread a machine, to practicing using it, to cutting a pattern (an apron), to following the pattern stages to actually make a complete apron with hems and pockets - incredible!

Luckily Helen showed each stage before we tried to do it - this visual demo works with how I learn best (rather than trying to follow lots of written commands in unfamiliar sewing specific vocab). We did the pinning, ironing and sewing (and yes some unpicking and re-sewing) to make our aprons. They are a quality that is worthy of a lovely gift for someone!

The class was a great size - 6 people, and Helen was helping us all with energy, a smile, easy explanations and skills. She made me feel I could do make things - my absolute dream. I don't have a machine so I used the ones at Arts Centre Penryn... and now want to keep trying to keep these skills and improve on them so need to sign up to more classes.

I attended Helen’s workshop ‘Clone your Clothes’. It was a fantastic experience. I learned the basic of creating a pattern from a piece garment and feel confident that I can repeat the experience successfully on my own. Helen had the day well organized, she demonstrated a step and then we tried it while Helen went around to help out, explain some more and troubleshoot. It was a small group so it was easy to have help. All equipment provided was of very good quality, so we could just put our head down and work at learning. Thank you Helen! From your furthest away participant, Guylaine from Vancouver Canada!

Helen is an excellent teacher. I am delighted with my trouser block and look forward to using it to make trousers that actually fit. Highly recommend Dot and Cross courses.

I was intrigued to find out about how the workshop would work. I have never tried to clone my clothes but the idea became reality. Helen patiently took us through the basic steps and all 4 of us progressed steadily. Helen is an excellent teacher. I thoroughly enjoyed the day and would highly recommend it.

Thank you so much Helen for a most enjoyable day on your Clone your Clothes Course I attended in Helston this week. You made us all feel very welcome and it was great to share the experience with other sewers. I valued your expertise and clear instructions and your practical guidance has equipped me with new skills to create my own patterns from favourite items. I've also learnt some very useful tips on using tools and equipment to draft the patterns accurately onto Dot and Cross paper which I have not used before. Attending your course has giving confidence to craft patterns and create new items to wear. I can highly recommend your course. best wishes, Pat

Thank you so much for such a wonderful day on Wednesday. I absolutely loved it and I was buzzing for the rest of the day. Couldn't believe I'd made a functional item! 

My sewing machine has been ordered and I've been given bits of scrap fabric so that I can practice the principles that we covered before I get stuck into some simple items and definitely before I attempt curtains! 

I've passed your website onto friends already who have been impressed with the transition from zero to bag hero in 1 day, and I'll definitely be booking a course for the next step next year.

Thank you - your tuition, patience, and humour made it a fantastic day.

Helen is a great teacher with a wealth of knowledge and expertise. I learnt more about sewing in a one-to-one than I ever learnt at school or in group classes as an adult. I feel confident to get back into sewing, I’m so glad I found Helen to support me on my journey. Thanks so much x

Fantastic 1 to 1 session with Helen on a shirt making masterclass. It was the first piece of clothing I have ever made and we got very far, and had the knowledge to finish it at home! Helen was a brilliant teacher and has given me some really valuable knowledge!

I really enjoyed my trouser block course by Dot n Cross. Helen is lovely, as well as very experienced at pattern drafting, cutting, draping and toile making. She is extremely helpful and brilliant at passing her knowledge on in a clear way. Her tuition is supported by excellent documentation for future reference. I learnt a lot from the trouser block course and am looking forward to putting my learning to the test with a pair of shorts!

Had a brilliant day with Helen, learning how to use my sewing machine and making a beautiful apron. She was so patient and I really felt I had achieved something at the end of a fun day. Thank you Helen!

I’ve been meaning to message you to thank you so much for Saturday - firstly, for letting me step into my husband’s place unexpectedly, and secondly, just for how brilliant it was! I had the best time - you’re such a good teacher, and it was a really lovely atmosphere. I never get the chance to just sew for hours. What a pleasure! And I feel much more confident now. I’m so proud of the apron, and Martin loves it, too!

Really looking forward to the cloning class in November - see you then.

The trouser block workshops were excellent. Helen paced the sessions well and ensured enough time so I felt I was getting plenty of individual support. I learnt so much.

Recently attended a very enjoyable and informative workshop on garment cloning pattern techniques. Helen made us very welcome and gave us enough information and confidence and showed us all the techniques to copy our chosen garments. Thank you for a great new experience. Hopefully will be able to attend more in the future.

Helen is an excellent tutor. Everything was properly explained and all questions answered in a comprehensive way. I found the course most interesting and informative...I learnt a lot! A lot was covered in the time but no-one was left behind. I feel confident enough to go onto the next stage. Highly recommended.

The beginner's sewing course I attended was excellent! Having always been slightly scared of my sewing machine, Helen immediately put me at ease and took us through the process of making a tote bag. It was easy to follow and I was amazed at how we were all able to produce a brilliant, professional looking bag! Helen was extremely patient and helpful. I would highly recommend this course, to get to know your sewing machine and come away with a real feeling of achievement.

Recently attended 2 x one to one sessions with Helen with the aim of fitting a dress for my wife (who also attended). Helen immediately put us at ease and we went about correcting a toile I had previously made. Helen was very patient and answered all of our questions and went about explaining the pattern drafting process to create a new improved toile and set me my homework. On the second session I brought along the new improved toile and we further refined the fit for my wife's dress. I cannot recommend Helen enough. Her experience and knowledge is first rate and she gave me a whole new appreciation of the garment construction process.

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.

I gained an appreciation of pattern engineering and a better understanding of the subtleties of fit. Lovely hearing Helen’s experiences and dipping into her knowledge. Thank you, it was worth the journey from Devon.

I recently had a fantastic day pattern cutting with Helen after my husband kindly bought me a voucher for Christmas. I had had the benefit of Helen's experience before when we made a bodice block and my project this time was to make a summer dress based on a Tudor kirtle. Helen spent a lot of time beforehand researching the styles and seemingly endless possibilities of the look and function of the dress after I sent her some photos of the kind of design I had in mind. Helen has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience to draw on and talked me through the stages of how to move and remove darts and incorporate Princess seams instead and how to drop the sleeves to make the garment more historically correct. I learned so much and am busy finishing my toile ready for a further fitting session with Helen and more advice regarding the lining and lacing. Helen is very friendly and approachable and ensures that you are understanding the various steps and the whole process as you go along. I would definitely recommend Helen's classes to anyone from the first time sewist to those who have been sewing for a while and want to challenge themselves further in their projects.

I had the best time with you on this course, thank you so much!! I learnt so much about patterns and garment construction, and also just had an overall nice time chatting about sewing, thank you so much! I will definitely be booking onto another course soon!