Lorna Knight Sewing Academy

Teenage Fashion class (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Thursday evenings (School term times only) (7.15pm to 8.45pm) £8
For students aged 13+ this regular Thursday evening class allows young people to learn and develop skills to make their own clothes in a relaxed environment.

Pattern Drafting - Skirts (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Thursday 1st August 2019 (10am to 4pm) £85
This session is an introduction to the principles of pattern drafting. Students will make a skirt block, using their own measurements, and learn how to adapt it to create various styles. After this session students may wish to develop their pattern drafting skills and/or use their skirt block to make a new wardrobe of skirts which fit.

Bring Your Own Project (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Wednesday 14th August 2019 (10am to 4pm) £50 (Bring your own lunch)
Come along and make your own choice of project and have help on hand when you need it. Whether you are a beginner or more experienced I'll be there if you need me.

Children's After School Class (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Monday 9th September 2019 (4.30pm to 6pm) £10
Bring your young person along to sew. Materials included. (Booking essential)

Make a Cushion Cover with a Concealed Zip (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Wednesday 11th September 2019 (2pm to 5pm) £25
This popular session is ideal for those who want to learn either how to make a cushion or insert concealed zips and is suitable for beginners and intermediate sewers/sewists. Materials and equipment are provided on this session including a choice of cushion fabric to suit your decor at home, however, please supply your own cushion pad 16"/40cm. At the end of the day you'll take home a completed cushion cover along with some new skills and inspiration to make many more.

Brother Embroidery Machine Workshop (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Wednesday 25th September 2019 (10am to 1pm) £50*
This workshop is for people who already own a Brother embroidery machine or for those who are interested in learning more before they buy one. Learn to select and retrieve designs, combine and arrange patterns and text. You will also discover a range of stabilisers and understand how to use them. *(only £40 if you have bought an embroidery machine from us)

Sweet Pea Workshop (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Wednesday 25th September 2019 (2pm to 4pm) £30
Make a flower coaster and learn the process on sewing and 'in-the-hoop' design. After attending this session you will be able to embroider any of the amazing Sweet Pea designs available online.

Beginners & Refreshers (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Saturday 12th October 2019 (10am to 1pm) £25
All about choosing fabrics, reading and using patterns and sewing seams and hems. Once you know the basics you'll be able to make so much more on your own. All materials and equipment provided.

Children's After School Class (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Monday 14th October 2019 (4.30pm to 6pm) £10
Bring your young person along to sew. Materials included. (Booking essential)

Foundation-pieced Log Cabins (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Thursday 17th October 2019 (10am to 4pm) £50
Join our experienced visiting patchwork tutor, Rosemary Lowe, for a day of log cabin. You will make some blocks to take home to make a wall hanging, small quilt or cushion. An ideal session to learn something new or refresh those rusty skills and be inspired to make lots more. Please bring some suitable 100% cotton fabrics in your preferred colours. You can supplement these with the materials provided by us or use these if you are a complete beginner to patchwork.

Zip Tips (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 12 noon) £25
All the help you need to insert zips neatly and easily. Find the techniques for sewing in standard and invisible zips. A perfect workshop for beginners or if you want to refresh your skills. Materials, notes and refreshments included in the cost.

Make a Skirt (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 4pm) £70 + fabric
Whether you are new to sewing or just want to brush up your dressmaking skills come and make a skirt. Learn about pattern symbols, cutting out, seams, waists and hems. Bring your own fabric - pattern, thread and zip provided. (If you would prefer to choose fabric from our studio on the day please arrive a little early to allow time to choose. Cotton prints and denims from £6.40/m)

Leggings (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 2pm) £60 + lunch
Learn how to sew with stretch/Lycra knit fabric and take home a pair of leggings. Fee includes pattern and navy or black fabric.

Mending and Alterations (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 1pm) £45
Save the earth and save some money by coming along to this alterations workshop to find out how to alter and mend clothes. We will discuss replacing zips, shortening trousers, and adjusting waists through a mixture of demonstrations and hands-on activities.

Jeans Techniques (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10.00am to 4.00pm) £85
Find out how to make good fitting jeans and learn all the techniques to make jeans so recognisable: flat fell seams, great looking top stitching, front fly zip, side and patch pockets and of course, tips on sewing and 'distressing' denim.

Beginner's Workshop - Make a Cushion (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 1pm) £45
For beginners and refreshers or people just looking to enjoy a creative morning. Learn how to sew seams and hems, insert piping and create applique on this half day workshop and take home a cushion cover along with the skills to sew so much more.

Working with Difficult Fabrics (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (2pm to 5pm) £45
If you avoid working with some types of fabric because you don't know how to sew them successfully book on this workshop. Perhaps you have a length of expensive cloth that you are frightened to cut into or you are planning a special gown and want to learn more before you start. Find out how to handle and sew stretchy knits and lycra, sumptuous velvets, luxurious silk satins and fine, sheer voils and chiffons.

PE Design with Tricia (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Friday 7th June 2019 (10am to 4pm) £50 (bring your lunch)
Software training for machine embroidery with our expert tutor, Tricia. This session is about Fringing Effect and an in-the-hoop Needle Case (Not suitable for PE Design Plus 2).

Sewing Machine Know How (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Tuesday 25th June 2019 (10am to 1pm) £50* (*£40 if you bought a machine from us)
Learn how to get the most from your sewing machine. Even a fairly standard sewing machine will do great tasks. Bring your sewing machine along on the day and find out what it can do as it is and with specialist attachments and needles. (Bring your own machine or mention when booking if you'd like to borrow one)

Presser Feet Demonstration (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Saturday 3rd August 2019 (11am) FREE
Come and see what you can do with various feet and attachments to help improve your techniques.

Baby Lock Demonstration (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Saturday 3rd August 2019 (2pm) FREE
Baby Lock, best known for its Air Threading technology, produces some amazing machines including overlockers, coverstitch machines and a very clever Sashiko machine. Come and see just why they are so good.

Brother Embroidery Machine Workshop (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Wednesday 25th September 2019 (10am to 1pm) £50*
This workshop is for people who already own a Brother embroidery machine or for those who are interested in learning more before they buy one. Learn to select and retrieve designs; combine and arrange patterns and text. You will also discover a range of stabilisers and understand how to use them. *(only £40 if you have bought an embroidery machine from us or buy one after attending this session)

Get to Know your Overlocker (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Saturday 12th October 2019 (1.30pm to 4.30pm) £50*
Whether you are thinking about buying one; have just bought one or had one for years but never got to grips with it, this overlocking workshop is for you. We will look at maintenance, threading, tension adjustments and achieving balanced stitches. Also: rolled hems, lettuce edges and corners. (Contact me if you need to borrow a machine) (* only £45 if you have bought a Brother overlocker from us and free if you buy a Babylock overlocker from us)

Advanced Overlocking (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (2pm to 5pm) £50*
I sometimes run a Garment Techniques session and one on Decorative Overlocking but I have combined the best bits of these to form an Advanced Overlocking workshop. You'll learn how to speed up your construction when making sleeves, cuffs and bands and also use interesting threads and cords for decorative effects. A great way to take your overlocking to the next level! (* only £45 if you have bought an overlocker from us)

Speed Tailoring (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Tuesday 13th August 2019 (10am to 4.30pm) £85
Traditional tailoring can be difficult and time consuming so why not fill your wardrobe with clothes made with the Terry Fox Combination Tailoring method? This uses a new generation of woven interfacings which are fused in place with no need for pad stitching and hand sewing. You will learn the full anatomy of a jacket and make up half a jacket sample with interfacings, a notched collar, set in sleeves and sleeve wrap.

Chanel-Style Jacket (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Friday 20th September 2019 (10.00am to 4.00pm) £85
A Chanel jacket is not made with the usual interfacings and canvases of a tailored jacket. It is a fascinating method of construction and relatively quick to create. Come along and make half a jacket to learn the techniques involved then use it as a sample to help when making your very own Chanel-style jacket at home.

Perfect Fit (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Saturday 28th September 2019 (10.00am to 4.00pm) £85
Are you fed up making clothes that don't fit as well as you'd like them to? Come along and learn the principles of adapting a commercial pattern to fit your figure and make a toile to fine tune the fit. The fee includes a commercial pattern and calico to make up your toile as well as lunch and refreshments. After the session you can make up the pattern in your own choice of fabric and use the fitting techniques for adapting all other patterns.

Inside Secrets(The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Thursday 10th October 2019 (10am to 1pm) £45
This seminar/workshop informs you how to combine fabrics, linings and interlinings for the very best results. Eliminate limp bodices, floppy collars, heavy hems, seam ridges, see-through dresses, seating and creasing. You will compile a picture dictionary with fabric swatches and samples to take home and refer to.

Shirt Making (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Wednesday 13th November 2019 (10am to 4.00pm) £85
This workshop takes you through the process required to make a shirt or blouse. It includes details on how to get a perfect yoke, collar, cuffs and seams enabling you to use these skills to make gents tailored shirts or softer ladies blouses or dresses after the course.

Jacket Fitting (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10.00am to 4.00pm) £85
If you are planning to make a jacket and want a great fit, this is the chance to bring along your chosen pattern and make a toile to get it right first. Whether you need to extend the shoulders, adjust the bust or shorten the length you'll learn the techniques you need for perfectly fitting clothes.

Couture Boned Bodice (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 4.00pm) £85
This day is for anyone planning to make a special gown. We use a formula suitable for fine silks to rich velvets and eliminate the problems of wrinkling, less than perfect seams and problems with boning. We also cover interlining, contouring canvas, linings, zips, piping and waist stays.

Couture Finishes (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10.00am to 4.00pm) £85
After this workshop you will be certain that your clothes will never look homemade again. Samples will be made of a zip that cannot go wrong; tailored hems with no visible stitches; beautifully smooth tailored darts; bound buttonhole, Hong Kong finish; cuffs and silk covered press studs.

Make your own Body Double (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 4pm) £85
If you own a tailor's dress form but would like it to be more like you, bring it along and make it your shape. We will use foam and wadding along with calico and a basic dress pattern. Future fitting will be easy after this session. (Adjustable tailor's dress forms are on sale at the studio, please ask)

Bra Making (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10.00am to 4.00pm) £85
Learn how bras are constructed including drafting the patterns, sewing seams, attaching elastic, covering cups and inserting wires. We will discuss sizing and fitting as well as choosing styles and materials. This is a great workshop to get you started so you will learn what you need to know to make bras for yourself and friends.

Pattern Drafting for French Knickers and Briefs (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 4pm) £85
You'll create the patterns and then make yourself French knickers in light weight silky fabric and a pair of stretchy bikini briefs. This gives you the chance to learn new techniques and take something home too.

Lingerie (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10.00am to 4.00pm) £85
Learn how to work with lingerie fabrics including soft silky fabrics and stretchy cotton/Lycra. Find out how to attach laces and elastics and have a go at some decorative heirloom stitching techniques. All you need to know to create your own delightful nightwear, swimwear and lingerie.

Curtains (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Wednesday 11th September 2019 (10am to 1pm) £45
Learn how to make basic lined curtains. On this short workshop you will make up a small, lined curtain sample with header tape, to use as an aide memoire when you make your owncurtains at home. We will discuss measuring, matching pattern, hems, tapes and alternative styles.

Roman Blinds (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 1pm) £50
Learn to make Roman blinds on this short workshop. We will cover the arithmetic involved in calculating the positioning of the rods and make up a sample so that you can see how easy they are to construct. Notes are provided and these, along with your sample, will help when you get home to make your own.

Bags of Fun (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 1pm) £30
After some brief instruction in pattern making and construction, make a hand bag, hold-all or shopping bag of your own design to take home. Materials for samples will be provided but please choose your own fabric for your bag - you may bring them with you or buy them from us on the day.

Machine Embroidery - Sweet Pea Waterlily Clutch Bag (The Lorna Knight Sewing Academy, ST13 7NX)
Date to be arranged (10am to 3pm) £50 + bring your own lunch
Come along and learn how to create an in-the-hoop design and make a bag. Materials and design will be provided and you will take home your completed bag. Bring a memory stick so you can copy the file and make more when you get home.