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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.