In this online course you can work through the modules and lessons at your own pace. Re-watch modules as needed and dip in and out of whenever you need a little reminder.
If you like our tutorial please do drop us a line at hello@bobbinsewingschool.com or better still leave us a review on Google or Facebook. Thank you
Author Archive | Alison Warner
Lampshades for everyone

Make yourself a stunning no sew laminate lampshade, these are great for updating and changing your décor quickly and easily and once you’ve made one you will want to go home and make more! In this class we will show you how to achieve a professional finish using a laminate lampshade kit. you will get to make a 30cm round drum lampshade.
Skill level- Beginner
Topics we aim to cover
- Measuring correctly
- Cutting Accurately
- Achieving a professional finish
What you will need to bring
Included in the cost of the class is the 30cm Drum lampshade kit
You will need 50cm of 140cm wide fabric, a lightweight craft cotton works best for your first attempt. Please don’t bring any heavy weight upholstery fabrics. We don’t sell fabrics in our workshop but we do have a limited amount of remnants if you don’t have time to find anything.
Tutor
Aly Warner or Jenny Frazer
Stitch a House Portrait

Using Free Motion Machine embroidery during this workshop you’ll learn all the different stages of making a house portrait and will walk away with your very own framed stitched portrait of your own house or favourite building. Why not make one as a special gift such as a wedding present a new home or special Birthday or indeed just for yourself. This course would be most suited to people who have done machine embroidery before (like our beginners workshop!)
All materials are included
We will require an image of your building to be e mailed to us one week prior to the class to allow initial preparation for the class, please send this to hello@bobbinsewingschool.com
Tutor Meg Harris
Jolly Deer Wall hanging
This cheery Deer is bound to make you smile, make one for your home in your own chosen fabric, use a lightweight furnishing, craft cotton corduroy or light wool he could look great in tweed. Make him with a red nose for the festive season. This is the perfect class if you enjoy or want to have ago at toy making. We provide a pattern and instructions for you to use again and again.
Skill level- Confident Beginner
The topics we aim to cover
Shaping and sewing in 3D
Hand finishing
What to bring to the class
50cm of your chosen fabric at least 115cm wide, thread to match
40cm x 40cm of contrast fabric for the antlers ( we have a box of fabrics you are welcome to sort through and use) or twigs look great as an alternative
Two buttons approx size of 20p for eyes and two for nose (we have jars of buttons you can look through)
We supply stuffing and felt for noses
We have sewing machines for you to use but if you would like to bring your own that’s fine
Maximum number on class -5
Tutor
Aly Warner
Coco Dress or Top
Never sewn Knits before? then this is the perfect starter – Make your own Coco, the perfect Breton top or knit dress with multiple variations. Coco is easy fitting, with no zips, buttons or other fiddly bits. The perfect introduction to sewing knit fabrics on a regular sewing machine, We supply you with the pattern which includes user-friendly instructions so you can go away and make lots more
A year-round staple that’s so easy to wear, Coco makes a great spring marinière top, summer tunic, autumn funnel neck or cosy winter dress. Designed for low-stretch knit fabrics, the classic style features a boat neckline, choice of top or dress lengths, three quarter length or long sleeves, with side splits at the hips on the top version. Make it your own with optional sixties funnel roll neck, rolled cuffs and patch pockets.
Skill level- Confident Beginner /Intermediate
The topics we aim to cover
- To teach you the skills you need when dealing with stretch knit and Jersey Fabrics
- Learn what measurements you need to take
- Cut out a commercial pattern
- Read a pattern
- Understand terms used
- Cut your fabric correctly
- Methods of putting your garment together
- Tips on which seams to use and where
- Correct pressing techniques
- Professional finishing hints and tips
What to bring to the class
Fabric:
– Dress with funnel neck + cuffs – 2.3m x 150cm wide (2 1/2 yards x 60in) OR 3m x 115cm wide (3 1/4 yards x 45in)
– Plain dress – 2m (2¼ yards) x 150cm (60in) wide OR 2.7m (3 yards) x 115cm (45in) wide
– Top with funnel neck + cuffs – 1.8m (2 yards) x 150cm (60in) wide OR 2.7m (3 yards) x 115cm (45in) wide
– Plain top – 1.5m (1¾in yards) x 150cm (60in) wide OR 2.2m (2½ yards) x 115cm (45in) wide
If you prefer your Dress knee length please add 20cm to the total for wide fabric and 50cm for narrower fabric
- Matching thread
- Ribbon (30cm x 6-8mm wide) or stay tape
- Stretch or ballpoint needle for your sewing machine
- Matching thread
- Ribbon (30cm x 6-8mm wide) or stay tape
- Stretch or ballpoint needle for your sewing machine
- Matching thread
- Stretch or ballpoint needle for your sewing machine
We have sewing machines for you to use but if you would like to bring your own that’s fine
Maximum number on class -4
Tutor
Aly Warner
Beginners 3 day Get into Sewing Course
This complete beginners sewing course will set you of on new crafting adventures
Day 1- We will complete the How to Use a sewing machine class and make a tote bag to keep our sewing projects in along with a cute pin cushion.
Day 2 – We will create some useful samples that can be referred to in the future, these will include seams hems and hand and machine sewing techniques.
Day 3 – We will start the day finding out about pattern terms and then cut out and make up a pair of pj bottoms
Skill level- Complete beginner
AIMS OF THE COURSE
To teach you the skills you need to become confident with using a sewing machine and following simple patterns and make some simple projects
What to Bring to the class-
You may wish to bring your own Sewing Machine if you have one
All materials are provided for this course
Please bring a packed lunch tea and coffee provided
Classes start at 10am and finish at 3.30pm.
Tutor
Aly Warner
Date/Time | Class | Cost | Spaces |
---|---|---|---|
18/08/2022 - 20/08/2022 10:00 am - 3:30 pm |
Beginners Get into Sewing Course
Stable 2, The Vine, Stockbridge Hampshire |
£185.00 | 1 |
How to Use your Overlocker
The ever scary overlocker, if you own one and feel its missing its potential, bring it along to this class and we will spend some time discussing and practicing the different stitches and techniques available on your machine and then we will put them into practice and make a simple T shirt.
Class level – Intermediate, you will have sewn other easy to make garments and have good basic sewing knowledge. Have access to and be able to bring your own overlocker to the class along with the manual for the machine.
The topics we aim to cover are:
We aim to cover the points on the list below. Depending on how many questions you have, we may not get a chance to cover everything – please let us know if there is something specific you really want help with before you leave if we don’t cover it in the class.
We aim to teach you the skills you will need to improve your overlocker use. You will make an easy to wear Tshirt using your overlocker and samples that can be referred to in the future All fabrics are included for the class
Specifically you will learn;
- Overlocker techniques
- Stitches and how to change them
- Using stitch and tear interfacing
- Attaching a continuous neck band
- Working with different fabrics
- The Overlocker rolled hem
What you need to bring to the class:
- An Overlocker and any accessories you have
- Your overlocker manual (important)
Maximum class size 4
Tutor
Aly Warner
Free Motion Machine Embroidery Lampshade
Create a conversation piece for your home. Say goodbye to sewing rules and try your hand at rule-free doodling and sketching – in thread! You will spend the first part of the morning practicing Free Motion Machine Embroidery before working on your design and in the afternoon make up your final piece into a 30cm drum lampshade that can be used as either a pendant lampshade or added to a lamp base.
Skill level -This class is a confident beginners level, but we do recommend that you feel confident with a sewing machine and practice of a little Free Motion Machine Embroidery at beginners level would be an advantageous before undertaking this class but not compulsory as we lead you gently into it throughout the workshop.
The topics we aim to cover in this lesson are:
Setting up your machine for FME
Tools required for FME
Thread sketching
FME & Applique
Stabilizing / hooping
Fabric choice and preparing your fabric
Thread choice
Needle choice
Transferring designs
Where to find inspiration
Applications for FME
Great practice ideas
Resolving issues
Learning good FME habits
Making a lampshade from a laminate kit
All materials to practice and make up the lampshade will be provided by us for this class including a 30cm drum lampshade kit, please bring along any pictures for inspiration if you wish.
We have sewing machines you can use but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer
2 day Dressmaking
Two days of dressmaking suitable for anyone that can use a sewing machine and wants to add to their wardrobe. Many commercial patterns have tricky to follow instructions and the best way to improve is to keep adding to and practising your sewing techniques. The class is small and allows your tutor plenty of time to give advice and show techniques that will help you gain a successful result. Choose a pattern according to your previous abilities, bare in mind this is a short course of only 12 hours so simple dresses, tops and bottoms would be best .
Skill level- If you know how to use a sewing machine and have completed small craft projects and simple dressmaking you will be at a skill level to partake in this course. Please bare in mind your ability when choosing your pattern. As with all projects some take longer than others so you may wish to finish off at home.
AIMS OF THE COURSE
Read a pattern
Learn how alter a commercial pattern to your requirements
Understand terms used
Methods of putting your garment together
Tips on which seams to use and where
Correct pressing techniques
Professional finishing hints and tips
What to Bring to the class
You will need to bring a pattern of your choice, if possible please choose a multi size pattern. Commercial pattern sizing tends to work out smaller than dress sizes of ready made clothing so please check to ensure your basic measurements fall within the size range on the pattern. (When measuring yourself for this, bring a tape measure around your waist, hips and bust and pull tightly enough to get an accurate measurement don’t add anything for ease.)
Fabrics – Please choose the fabric quantities as advised on your pattern envelope according to your size
All notions requested on your pattern
Tutor
Aly Warner
Little Girls Sundress
Summer and pretty cotton fabrics go together like strawberries and cream. Make your little girls summer by creating gorgeous traditional sundresses. We have chosen a dress that has a shirred elastic bodice top – this will teach you a couple of extra skills rather than just creating a simple dress (a little more challenging) and allows for growing room!
The topics we aim to cover are:
- Learn how to cut accurately
- How to finish edges
- Using shirring elastic
- Attaching straps
- Different hems
Materials needed:
Ideally you should bring along a cotton/cotton blend fabric.
- Assuming fabric widths of 115cm
- Age 2 – 50cm fabric
- Age 4 – 90cm fabric
- Age 6 -130cm fabric
- Age 8 – 140cm fabric
- 1 x 10m reel if shirring/sewing elastic
- 1 reel of thread to match or contrast your fabric