Know Your Overlocker - get the best from these amazing machines

Know Your Overlocker. Revolutionise your sewing and get quicker, neater results on jersey knit fabric — sewing knit fabric

Bookings

Saturday 02/08/2025, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

£75.00

Know Your Overlocker aims to teach you how to get the best from your Overlocker.

Learn how to thread your overlocker, and find out how to use it to its full potential. This class will transform your sewing.

Know Your Overlocker – Course description

Overlockers are amazing machines that can stitch, trim and neaten seams all in one operation as well as hem garments and add decorative finishes. Yet so few owners fully understand them or use them to their full potential. Most people who have overlockers only use them for neatening edges but they can do so much more.

Other functions include sewing in elastic and lace trims, creating decorative seams on sports and casualwear, rolled hems on evening wear, and making home furnishings. Not to mention being able to sew up jersey fabrics quicker and more neatly than your normal domestic sewing machine.
But overlockers are more complicated than normal sewing machines. They require a good understanding of how changing the tensions creates different stitch types. So I’ll teach you to understand how the tension settings affect the stitch type and quality, how to recognise and obtain correct tension. We’ll also look at different stitch functions and their applications. So you really do get to know your overlocker and discover just how versatile they are.

Here’s what a recent student said:

“Obliterate Overlocker Overwhelm!

Jen is an excellent and patient teacher, allowing plenty of time to accommodate any Overlocker overwhelm!

I was concerned about my often challenging brain fog and learning new things can be a real challenge at times. However, the pace of the class, a great teacher and learning in a small group made all the difference .

I would also say, to the fearful, the class is where to watch how, and then make your mistakes in the practical, as the learning continues in practicing the technique at home. This in itself alleviates the pressure to get it right first time.

Morning session is the initial task of “making friends” with your machine, then Jen teaches one technique at a time – a demo, then the practical, when Jen goes from student to student troubleshooting any issues and answering questions.

I never once felt rushed and believe Jen sincerely enjoys helping, even the most nervous of students, to learn.

So don’t be afraid dear fellow procrastinators, sign up and join that class you’ve been putting off! You won’t regret it!

May 2025 (students’ name can be provided)

What will I learn?

-Know what all the parts do
-How to thread it and obtain the correct tension
-Sewing woven & knitted fabrics
-Basic edging and seaming operations using 2, 3 & 4 threads
-Flatlock and blind hemming
-Rolled hems
-How to add decorative elements to your clothes

This course is for you if:

you own an overlocker but are scared to take it out the box
you struggle to thread your overlocker
you’re not sure how to obtain the correct tension for a project
you would like to use your overlocker for more than just neatening edges

You may want to return the for the ‘Upcycled Style’ workshop. Learn how to upcycle garments and revitalise your wardrobe sustainably.

Please check here before booking as once purchased, tickets are non-refundable.

Course arrangements

You must be able to bring your own 4-thread overlocker to this class. Remember your power cable/foot control, instruction manual, spare needles, and tools (long-nosed tweezers, small screwdriver or allen key to remover/change the needles. You’ll also need: 4 reels of thread in different colours, fabric shears, and a notebook & pen. Also, please bring samples of a variety of fabrics. You’ll need a midweight cotton such as calico, curtain lining or sheeting, something heavier such as cotton sateen curtain fabric, and jersey knit (an old T-shirt) and silky polyester, such as an old scarf or blouse. Please cut your fabric into pairs of pieces approx 3″ x 8″ (8cm x 20cm). You’ll need at least 30 ‘pairs’ of pieces.

Artisan Stitch operates a ‘Covid-sense’ policy in accordance with the Scottish Government’s guidance for businesses and workplaces. Protection measures including wearing of face-masks are in place to safeguard the health and well-being of staff and attendees. If you have any questions or concerns, then please contact me for clarification BEFORE you book.