Do you want it singly or in a group? Sewing tuition that is!

Author -  Caroline Jones

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Do you want it singly or in a group? Sewing tuition that is!

As you all may know, a part of my Fashion Revived business is tuition in dressmaking, patchwork and rag-rugging? 

Of these disciplines rag-rugging is easily taught to quite large groups, it's a simple craft requiring little demonstration but lots of imagination, once a student has got to grips with the tools used and the main technique they are away and can rapidly move onto designing and making their own rag rugged creations. In fact this craft is one I offer both workshops and talks on and I find that large groups at a talk will often pick up the techniques and then stimulate creativity through their own discussions amongst themselves.

Sewing, a discipline which encompasses dressmaking and patchwork as well as crafts like quilting and embroidery is a craft which requires rather more tuition, as there are many techniques to get to grips with before a student can begin let alone successfully complete an item for example a garment or a bedcover. 

I usually teach sewing to beginners as a 12 hour course covering 6 weekly lessons, this is very successful with student numbers up to about 4 or 5, I find that many student lack confidence in their abilities and my job as their sewing tutor is as much about persuading them that they can sew as it is about teaching them techniques. There are after all very many good books written about the techniques and craft of the different sewing disciplines but what most student lack is the vision to see that they are able to follow the instructions given in the good books. Teaching in a small group of say 4 student gives me the ability to spend a good proportion of the 2 hour lesson with each student, so they feel they've had good instruction, have learned something and importantly have got good value for their class fees. It also allows me to properly asses how each is doing so that I can ensure they all progress. In this way all my students so far have finished a course able to undertake basic dressmaking and patchwork tasks.

Some students are very lacking in self confidence and these benefit for more intense tuition, this is afforded by smaller classes, say 2 students or even one to one tuition, some of my students who've had this individual tuition have improved in their dressmaking skills but also in their life skills as their increased confidence in sewing has meant they are happier and more confident in everyday life. I also take a great pride in helping these student to get on with their sewing and being happier people for it, a win, win situation all around.

The other end of the spectrum is a sewing bee type class I'm hoping to start in the Spring, this will be an open class, available to all skill levels to attend when able, it should run fortnightly in Coleford when the weather improves, we'll see how it goes.

In the meantime if you'd like to know more about my dressmaking, patchwork or rag-rugging tuition please contact me at 

[email protected] or on 01594 861286