Save the earth and save some money by coming along to this alterations workshop to learn 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.

Can you believe that it is 7 years since we ran our first workshop in the studio? Hasn't the time flown? Please call in and join in the celebrations and collect a free sewing project on the day.  You may stay and enjoy refreshments and sewing chat or take it away with you to make at home.

This session is suitable for complete beginners as well as those who can sew but want to learn how to insert a concealed/invisible zip. (Fabric and zip included in the fee, but you will need to provide your own cushion insert)

Come along and work on your own project.  Sew with like-minded people and have help on hand when and if you need it.  Suitable for beginners or more experienced.

This session is for young people aged between 8 and 12 years - with an accompanying adult.  The intention is to encourage a sense of fun and enjoyment and give the basic skills so that after the session you are both inspired to do lots more sewing at home.  Please bring a basic sewing kit (if you have one - we have lots of equipment you can borrow if not) and some old jeans that you can cut up and make into a bag.  All other materials will be provided.

This session is for young people aged between 12 and 16 years.  Please bring a basic sewing kit (if you have one - we have lots of equipment you can borrow if not) and some old jeans that you can cut up and make into a bag. We will provide all other materials and show you how to make a useful denim shoulder bag.

After this workshop you will be certain that your clothes will never look home-made 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.

Have you ever thought about buying a baby lock overlocker? Well this is your best chance to see the full range and have an expert demonstration from Baby Lock educator Katy Inch. Refreshments and special offers on the day.

It is difficult to get a good fitting pair of trousers so the first part of the day is spent learning how to adjust a basic trouser pattern to make it more like your personal shape.  The remainder of the day is all about the techniques including pockets, fly zip insertion, a two-piece waistband, belt loops and hems.  You will make a standard sized pair of trousers to use as a working sample so that when you get home you will have all the knowledge you need to make your own pair in your choice of fabric.

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 £40 if you have bought a Brother overlocker from us and free if you've bought a Babylock overlocker from us)

All the help you need to insert zips neatly and easily. Learn the techniques for sewing in standard and invisible zips. Materials, notes and refreshments included in the cost.

This workshop is all about reading and using paper patterns and sewing seams and hems.  You will make samples to take home and refer to so you can make lots more at home.  Once you know the basics you'll have the confidence to develop your skills at your own pace at home and then come back and learn more when you are ready.  All materials and equipment provided.

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)

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.

If you avoid working with some types of fabric because you don’t know how to sew them, 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.
Contact Lorna at info@lornaknight.com to book your place.
(£37.50)

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.

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.

Learn how to sew with stretch/Lycra knit fabric and take home a pair of leggings. You'll be given a pattern and navy or black fabric, but if you prefer a different colour bring your own.

A chance to come along and learn how to do free motion embroidery. How to set your machine, what stabilisers to use, when to use it and useful accessories to help.

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.

If you have a Brother or Baby Lock cover stitch machine bring it along and find out how it works and what it can do.  we will work on chain stitch as well as two and three thread cover stitching and play with decorative finishes.  If you are interested in buying a cover stitch machine but want to find out more first, we will happily provide you with a machine for the session.  (10% off for customers who bought their cover stitch machines from us).