🌟Our Children’s Sewing Course is a progressive programme for young sewers who are already comfortable using a sewing machine and would love to take their sewing further.
This isn’t a collection of individual projects where we make something and move on. Every project has been chosen to introduce new techniques, practise skills already learned and gradually encourage children to become more confident and independent sewers.
They’ll make some fantastic things along the way too!
🧵 Skill Level: Children should already be comfortable with the basics of using a sewing machine
⏰ Duration: 22 × 3-hour sessions, every other week
👧 Age: 10+
🪡 Group Size: Maximum 4 children
We love teaching children to sew, but what we really love is seeing the point where they stop automatically asking “What do I do next?” and start thinking “I know how to do this!”
That is what this course is really about.
We’ll use a fantastic range of projects to introduce new skills and techniques, while constantly revisiting things they have learned before. As their confidence grows, we’ll gradually step back and encourage them to read instructions, use their Sewing Portfolio, make decisions, spot problems and work out what they need to do next.
Our groups are deliberately kept to a maximum of four children. That means there is plenty of individual teaching and support when they are learning something new, but also room for us to let them work things out for themselves when they are ready.
We start with getting to know the sewing machine and the basic sewing language we use, There is a lot packed into this course!
Children will develop their existing machine skills while learning techniques including accurate measuring and cutting, seam allowances, different seams and seam finishes, zips, interfacing, wadding, gathering, elastic, binding, buttonholes, pattern reading, fabric choice, dressmaking, upcycling and much more.
We’ll also start looking at why we use particular techniques rather than simply teaching children to copy a set of steps.
They’ll work with sewing patterns, learn how to choose the right materials for a project and gradually tackle more challenging construction techniques.
And sometimes things will go wrong — because that is part of sewing too! Learning how to work out why something hasn’t worked and what we can do about it is just as valuable as learning how to sew it correctly the first time.
Want to see the projects we’ll be making and how the skills develop along the way?
Every child will build their own Sewing Portfolio throughout the course.
It contains useful technique sheets, sewing terminology and reminders of the things we have learned together, giving children somewhere to look before immediately asking us for help.
As the course progresses, we’ll refer back to earlier pages and encourage children to use their Portfolio as their own sewing reference.
And it doesn’t stop being useful when the course finishes — it is theirs to keep and use for future sewing projects.
Behind all those projects is a full curriculum and detailed lesson plans.
We know what skills we want to introduce, when we want to introduce them and how later projects build on things children have already learned.
But that doesn’t mean we want our sewing room to feel like school!
We want children to chat, create, experiment, ask questions, make mistakes, unpick things, try again and be incredibly proud when they finally hold up something and say, “I made this!”
Our full curriculum and lesson overview is available for parents and carers to see if they would like to know more about the progression behind the course.
We don’t expect children to finish the course knowing everything there is to know about sewing — we’re still learning too!
Our aim is to give them the skills and confidence to approach sewing differently.
Instead of seeing a pattern or a project they love and thinking:
“I couldn’t make that.”
We want them to start thinking:
“How would I make that?”
Towards the end of the programme, children will have the opportunity to plan and work on a project of their own, bringing together the skills, techniques and problem-solving they have developed along the way.
Children are very welcome to bring their own sewing machine. Learning on their own machine can be really useful because they become familiar with its settings, feet and controls.
They don’t need to have one, though — our shop sewing machines are always available to use.
What they need to bring will vary depending on the project. We’ll always let parents and carers know in advance when children need particular fabric, a pattern, old jeans or anything else for an upcoming session.
Please bring their Sewing Portfolio to every lesson, as we’ll use it throughout the course.
We’ll provide the sewing equipment needed during the lessons, including sewing machines where required, cutting mats, rotary cutters, rulers, irons and the other equipment we use in the sewing room.
Each child will receive their own Sewing Portfolio, and we’ll provide the technique and reference sheets that are added to it as they progress.
Some materials and smaller items will be included for individual projects. When children need to bring or choose their own fabric or other materials, we’ll let you know in plenty of time.
This course is suitable for children aged 10 and over who already have some sewing experience and are comfortable with the basics of using a sewing machine.
They don’t need to know lots of techniques or have completed lots of projects — that’s what we’re here to teach them.
Parents and carers are very welcome to stay for the first lesson, or part of the lesson, while their child settles into the group.
If your child may require additional support during the lessons, please contact us before booking so we can have a chat about their needs and whether we can provide the right support within our small group.
If your child has discovered sewing and is ready to find out just how much more they can do with it, we would love to welcome them.
Current course dates, availability and prices can be found through our online booking system.
If you’re unsure whether your child has enough sewing experience for the course, please don’t worry about guessing. Just contact us by mobile or WhatsApp and have a chat with us about what they have done before.
đź“Ť The Fabric Vault, 8 Tudor Row, Lichfield, WS13 6HH
đź“ž Any questions?
Call or WhatsApp us on 07394 558778
