June's Beginners Sewing Machine Workshop is How to Gather – Make a Gathered Skirt with a Fixed Waistband and Zip. Gathering is a technique that is used quite a lot in sewing and dressmaking in particular. After practising the techniques you will make a gathered skirt with optional bow using just your waist measurement. The finished skirt has a fixed waistband and zip and optional inset pockets.

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. The morning session for this How to Gather workshop is fully booked.

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 finished item of the month. If you have come to a workshop before you can skip the Sewing Machine Basics and make a start on the skirt straight away.

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.
• 2 metres of fabric - cotton and linen are nice for the summer. Mine was 115cm (45 inches) wide, but dressmaking fabrics of 92cm (36 inches) wide will also work if you want a less full skirt.
• Optional 1/2 metre of contrasting fabric (for waistband, pockets and hemming band)
• 21 cm (8 inches) long zip. If you think you might find it difficult to get the skirt on and off your hips you can choose a longer zip. but no longer than 26cm (10 inches) if you want to add in-seam pockets
• Zipper foot for your machine
• Sewing kit - tape measure, fabric scissors, pins, matching thread, spare sewing machine needles and empty bobbins
• 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 zips 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