January's Beginners Sewing Machine Workshop is Sewing with Fleece. Fleece is a non-woven fabric made from 100% polyester and is mainly suitable for outdoor clothing and other garments. Warm and soft to the touch, fleece is a good insulator and is also very easy to care for. Sewing with fleece fabric is different but not difficult and most sewing machines will cope quite easily with fleece. Once you get used to the thickness of the fleece fabric, you will find it's actually easier to sew with than many other fabrics. During this session you will have the choice of making a variety of hats, slippers, gloves and mittens and neck warmers for the whole family. Most fleece projects are fast to sew so you will make more than one item.

Who is this class for?

This class is for complete beginners and improvers alike. As we make something different each month many people attend the workshops regularly. I run these monthly 3 hour workshops every second Saturday of the month, with one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I've also created an event for the afternoon session.

What will we cover?

All new attendees will spend the first hour or so going over sewing machine basics and I've detailed worksheets that we follow during the first session and people work at their own pace. You will cover:

• How to Set Up Your Sewing Machine
• How to Thread Your Sewing Machine
• Practising Your Sewing Stitches

After working through this, the learner will then move onto making the fleece items. If you have come to a workshop before you can skip the Sewing Machine Basics and start on the fleece items.

My background is teaching (I specialised with teaching adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities when doing my PGCE and taught in FE Colleges for 10 years) so I'm very used to running workshops with learners at different levels and stages. I limit the sessions to 6-8 people to ensure that I'm not spread too thinly.

What to bring

Your own sewing machine. Please ensure your sewing machine is fully operational before the workshop and that you have the instruction manual. Refunds are not available if you can't take part due to your sewing machine not working.

New sewing machine needles - it is easier to sew fleece with new needles

Walking foot if you have one - some people find it easier to sew fleece with a walking foot but it isn't necessary to have one

Fleece - you can buy fleece buy the metre or as blankets. Some of what we will sew can also be made using felted upcycled knitwear (100% woollen knitwear that you put on a hot wash to shrink) do please bring if you have any.

Mug - I'll bring tea, coffee, sugar and milk. Please bring own decaffeinated or herbal teas

Spare extension lead - if you have one as I only have 4 so an extra 1 or 2 is useful

Don't worry if you have trouble finding suitable fabric or notions as I will bring some in that you can buy from me at cost on the day.

Venue:

After the arson attack at Strawson Hall, I've hired a lovely temporary venue: The 1st/2nd Horley Scout Hut by the Gas Works on the Gatwick Metro Centre on the Balcombe Road between the rail bridge and the Kings Head. You turn left at the metal fencing and it's right down the end next to the gas tower. Here is a link to a map:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Gatwick+Metro+...,+Balcombe+Rd,+Horley,+Surrey+RH6+9GA/@51.1762917,-0.1576213,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x4875f07431084665:0x9dea81ba37fc2193

Cancellation Policy

• Please note that I am unable to refund fees if you cancel your booking.
• If you cancel no later than 7 days before the course I will transfer your payment onto another one of my sessions of your choice.
• If you cancel after 7 days before the course date, there will be no transfer and no alternative course offered.
• I reserve the right to cancel courses if circumstances dictate, including insufficient enrolment, tutor illness or weather related circumstances. In this instance, I will offer you a choice of a place on an alternative course, or provide a full refund.

If you have any questions, please contact me, Gemma Payne at paynegemma@googlemail.com