Reviews

I have participated in a number of sewing and textile art courses run by Jen. I started 4 years ago with a beginners sewing course followed by an improvers sewing course. I completed a beginners dressmaking course and much to my astonishment managed to successfully sew a skirt! My main interest is however in the textile art workshops Jen has run – mostly pre Covid times but I am delighted to read in the most recent newsletter that she will be offering more textile art courses this year. I highly recommend the free motion embroidery workshop. For experienced – and not so experienced sewers – it offers a new skill to add to the sewing skills toolbox – like drawing with a sewing machine! I’ve already signed up to the print, collage, stitch workshop in May and was delighted to read in the newsletter that there will be a couple of textile art courses in the summer school programme this year – am particularly interested in the print, stitch, quilt course.

Jen is a very skilled and knowledgeable teacher – of sewing, dressmaking and all things textile art. She puts even the most inept aspiring sewer (me) at ease, instills confidence, has a wealth of practical tips up her sleeve and is always calm and reassuring. She is not just an excellent teacher, she has a range of examples of her own sewing and amazing textile art on display in the workshop.

As a very rusty, never very good sewer, I hoped that this Beginners Sewing Course would revive my interest in a useful skill. I was not disappointed: Jen had a well planned structure to follow, with clear explanations and demos, with plenty of tasks for the students. The class size was small, so there was always help at hand, and Jen has a wealth of experience and tips to share. I liked the focus on good technique and discipline, and the reasons why something is done in a certain way. She had a good selection of fabric to choose from, and her equipment was in good order. She has given me the confidence to practise and become more competent. Very enjoyable, I hope to do another course in future.

Jen was brilliant! I knew absolutely nothing about sewing and I was convinced my finger would go through the needle in the machine. Through her teaching, tips and tricks, Jen made me feel confident. I couldn’t believe that I walked out with a complete tote bag after one day, and then a completed makeup back the next! If you’re looking to get started with using a sewing machine and have no idea where to start, just book Jen’s class.

I did Jen’s 2 day beginners sewing XL class in January. Although I’m not quite a beginner, I learnt a lot and really enjoyed the whole experience. Jen is really well organised and covered a lot of different techniques. I now feel confident to tackle some home sewing projects and have a better understanding of what my sewing machine can do. I highly recommend!

I enjoyed doing Jen’s “Cushion making course” a few years ago and have since made several cushions with piping and lapped zips which I am delighted with. I found the technique for sewing in the zip challenging so was delighted that the refresher day covered this and much, much more!

It was a brilliant day in a relaxed setting where we all asked questions and got individual help from Jen. She covered the topics in the course clearly and methodically and had all the necessary materials prepared (pieces of fabric, zips, sewing machines etc). She also gave us a link to the notes and diagrams which we used in the class which were on laminated sheets. This will be hugely helpful (along with the samples I sewed on the day) when doing a sewing project at home in the future, trying to recall how to do the things we were taught e.g, inserting a lapped zip, sewing a flat fell seam etc.

I decided to take my own sewing machine with me which is an old 1970’s electric Singer sewing machine which belonged to my mother-in-law. The dials on it are quite basic but I was surprised to discover the things it can do which I had no idea about e.g. blind hemming, and the use for the different pressure feet in the box, thanks to Jen.

I now feel armed to take on a simple sewing project e.g. making a pair of pyjama trousers and am keen to go back once I have more sewing confidence to do the 10 week “Clothing Skills Course” as I have lots of shop- bought garments in my wardrobe which I would like to alter to fit me properly.

I have no hesitation in recommending the “One Day Refresher Course” – Jen has so much experience of sewing but more importantly she makes learning fun and gives one confidence to go away and start sewing. Thank you!