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.

Beginners Intensive Sewing Course, July 2024. This was a brilliant refresher for me, I hadn’t sewed properly for years, and it was a joy to have the benefit of Jen’s excellent explanations of the fundamental techniques, and to use the really good up to date machines. Jen provided three perfect beginner’s projects, ones that could easily be completed in the time spent on the course, along with beautiful fabrics and ample practice time so that I came way with three products to be proud of. Jen’s knowledge is both deep and wide, and the course was full of useful hints and tips. The studio is inspiring in itself! So I can’t recommend highly enough.

Recently attended Jen’s Beginners Intensive Sewing Course and had such a wonderful time! I had never even touched a sewing machine prior to this course and have since bought one and feel really confident using it. The course covers so much in three days but does not feel at all overwhelming. Jen is an excellent teacher and teaches in a way that is easy to learn from, everything is broken in to small steps but also there is a good opportunity for independence following the patterns provided. Overall I cannot recommend this course highly enough. Jen has extensive knowledge and clearly enjoys sharing her love of sewing and all things creative.

I did Jen’s 6 week introduction to dressmaking course in Jan and Feb, immediately signed up for the next block. Over the 12 weeks I learned loads, met some lovely people and loved it! Jen was a patient and knowledgeable tutor and went above and beyond for her students. Jen gave me loads of good advice and tips, including help on where to purchase new sewing machine (Pembertons in Stirling.) Highly recommend. Great range of courses on offer. Excellent value for money and free parking (very helpful for me, coming from out which Edinburgh.) I look forward to returning for more craft courses later this year.

Scrappy patchwork cushion class. It was really fun! No rulers or ‘taxing’ arithmetic, just organically sewing scraps of material together and once at the size you want, putting on batting etc and quilting. I was really pleased with my finished cushion! Sitting in my sunroom now, with my cushion taking pride of place.

Jen was a relaxed type of teacher and keen to pass on her knowledge and encourage beginners just to make mistakes and move on. Very nice studio too, with plenty of room for each of the participants!