10 Week Course // Tuesdays, 1pm - 3.30pm // Cost: £385 (includes pattern) // Level: Beyond Basics // Dates: TBC
Instructor: Cassandra Belanger Founder of The Stitchery, Co-Founder of Zero Waste Design Collective and Founding Member of Sustainable Fashion Scotland // Location: The Stitchery Studio, 23 Acorn Street, Glasgow G40 4AN
Up your sewing game, broaden your options, and make something new and unique for your wardrobe!
About This Course
Led by Stitchery Founder Cassandra Belanger, this 10 week sewing course for ‘beyond beginners’ and improvers will help you take your clothes-making skills to the next level. The focus will be on learning to sew with jersey fabric in order to make comfortable everyday staples, like the classic t-shirt. Using the Concord T-shirt Pattern from Cashmerette Patterns you will learn how to work from a pattern, take your body measurements and choose the correct size for your body shape. You will learn about how to optimise the amount of fabric needed for the t-shirt through a lesson on zero waste / minimal waste pattern cutting.
Students will be walked through the process of making a garment with sustainability in mind. We’ll talk about fibres, textile production, and textile waste amongst other important topics.
All body shapes and sizes welcome. We are a LGBTQI+ friendly and safe space. People of all genders, sizes, and backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to attend this course.
Topics Covered
Understanding and adjusting the flat pattern to fit your specific body shape
Using a sewing machine for sewing with knit fabric (e.g. jersey used for t-shirts)
Tips and tricks for sewing with knit fabric
How to cut knit fabric using a rotary cutter
Using an overlocker for sewing with knit fabric
Using a coverstitch machine
Sewing with elastic
Sewing hems on knit fabric: zigzag stitch, coverlock, twin needle
Outcomes
Students will learn new skills as we cover topics and techniques, applying them through sample practices and the construction of their final garment in the fabrics of their choosing.
Skill Level
This is a beyond basics level sewing course for improvers, which means it’s suitable for returning students, or anyone with previous experience of basic sewing and garment making. And don’t worry if you might miss one or two classes: we’ve plenty of opportunities to catch up through our additional Sunday Stitchery Sessions or private tuition.
Course cost includes:
10 x 2.5-hour lessons.
Use of a computerised sewing machine each, (although you can bring your own if you like)
Use of Janome 6234X overlocker (shared between students)
Use of Janome 2000CPX coverlocker
Concord T-shirt Sewing Pattern from Cashmerette Patterns
Handouts for resource pack
Course cost excludes:
Cost of fabric and haberdashery.
A basic sewing supplies kit. Here is what we recommend for a well-stocked kit.
NOTE: Do not worry about buying any new fabrics, materials or supplies before Week 1 as they will be discussed in class.
Booking Your Place
To book your place on this course, you will pay a non-refundable Booking Deposit of £50 + fees through Eventbrite which goes towards the total course cost. The remaining balance of £335 is due no later than 14 days PRIOR to course start. Once you’ve booked a place on the course, you will receive the details to bank transfer the final amount. We divide course costs in this way to avoid additional external fees. Please familiarise yourself with our Terms & Conditions before making your booking.
In response to the cost of living crisis, we offer one subsidised seat per class to ease the burden on our community. If you are committed to learning and experiencing financial hardship, please reach out.
About your Tutor
Cassandra Belanger (she/her) has 14 years of experience working in sustainable design, textiles and garment construction with a Masters in Fashion + Textiles focussing on zero waste design. Her work is an invitation to a more sustainable future and education is at the centre of her creative practice. She is the Founder of The Stitchery Studio, Co-Founder of the Zero Waste Design Collective and Founding Member of Sustainable Fashion Scotland. She is the Resident Sewing Instructor at the Central Scottish School of Craft and previously a Fashion and Textile Lecturer at Glasgow West College. Her research interests centre around sustainable fashion and textile design education and fashion systems for a post growth economy. Her design and teaching practice explores issues such as zero waste, waste colonialism, transparency, feminism, sizeism, and body image. Cassandra is committed to decolonising her teaching practice.
More Info:
During class tea and coffee will be available.
All of our classes are suitable for over 18s, younger crafters may be accommodated if accompanied by a participating adult but please contact us before booking
If the workshop you were looking at is fully booked drop us an email and we’ll add you to the waiting list.
If you need to cancel, we need at least two weeks notice. Please read our cancellation policy before booking.
Any Questions?
If you have any questions please have a look at our FAQs page. If you don't find your answer in either of these places, then please feel free to contact us.
The Stitchery operates under a business model of full transparency. If you have any questions about how we cost our courses and what the breakdown of costs is, please feel free to get in touch for more information.
Non-Refundable Deposit
All of our courses and workshops require a deposit to book your place. Please note that the deposit is completely non-refundable.
Cancellation & Course Fees Refund
Because of the popularity of our courses and the limited number of spaces available, we've now introduced a Cancellation & Refund Policy. If you cancel your booking 14 or more full days before the start date of your course or workshop, you will be refunded the balance of your fees. This is equivalent to your full course fees minus your non-refundable deposit.
If you decide to cancel your place once the course has started, a refund is not guaranteed. In this situation we shall review the circumstances of the cancellation before deciding on appropriate solution.