February's Beginners Sewing Machine Workshop is Sewing Buttonholes with your Sewing Machine.

Buttons can really add a finishing touch to something you've sewn but I know I tend to steer away from sewing buttonholes. They are not that difficult to sew but because I do not do them frequently I forget the process. This workshop is to help you get over any fears of sewing buttonholes, to brush up skills you might have forgotten or for you to try sewing buttonholes for the first time!

A buttonhole is basically a very tight zigzag stitch that’s sewn in two close lines next to each other and finished off on the ends. Depending on the type of machine you have, it may come with a standard buttonhole foot or an automatic buttonhole foot. Please check your sewing machine manual and bring all the feet that came with your machine. Please don't worry if you don’t have a buttonhole system on your machine, you can always create one by just zigzagging.

The photographs below show some typical buttonhole feet that come with more modern machines and what the buttonhole stitch setting might look like on your sewing machine:

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 learning how to sew buttonholes with their machine and practising sewing buttonholes on scrap fabric. We will then move onto making a choice of small items - Hanging Lavender Bags or a Pincushion & Thread Catcher. If you have come to a workshop before you can skip the Sewing Machine Basics and start on the planned projects.

My first career was teaching and then I set up my sewing based business Molly Moo and Jessica too. I have been running sewing machine workshops for over 2 years now. 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.

Buttonhole foot if you have one - don't worry if your machine hasn't got a buttonhole foot as you can still sew buttonholes on a sewing machine without one.

Scraps of cotton fabric - both the Hanging Lavender Bags and Pincushion & Thread Catchers are made from small pieces of cotton fabric.

Buttons - to go with your fabric scraps.

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. I'll bring in cotton fabric scraps, buttons, dried lavender and polyfill stuffing.

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