Machine Sewing Creative Gifts - Mansfield Central Library - Adult Learning

Are you ready to unlock your creativity, learn a timeless skill, and make something truly your own? Then this class is the perfect place to begin your sewing adventure. No prior experience is required just bring your enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. Whether you're creating for yourself, your family and friends or the home, we look forward to joining you on your sewing journey.

This course is designed for all, from the complete beginner who has never touched a sewing machine to those who feel they would like a refresher or to dust off rusty skills. You’ll begin by getting comfortable with your sewing machine, learning how to thread up and fill a bobbin and making something simple like a reusable gift bag. As you progress, you’ll develop core techniques such as straight stitching, seam finishing and basic construction methods. The course also covers how to select and prepare fabrics and interfacings, use simple patterns effectively and handle essential sewing tools with confidence.

Throughout the course, you’ll choose to work on a series of gift projects, such as bucket hats and beach bags for the holidays, festive stockings and reusable gift wrap, make-up bags and pencil cases, tablet and phone cases, aprons and oven gloves and much more. Make them coordinate or go for a riot of colour, it’s completely up to you to choose. Whether you're sewing for yourself, for gifts, or are possibly contemplating setting up a small craft business, this course will equip you with the techniques and confidence to take your sewing further

By the end of the course, you will:-

• Have at least three creative gifts to take home

• Be able to work safely and confidently with a sewing machine

• Have a good understanding of transferable skills for future sewing projects

• Understand the importance of using the correct needles, feet and thread for the project

• Understand how simple patterns are used

• Be able to create and finish different types of seams

• Have an understanding of different types of fabric and thread and be able to choose the correct ones for your project

Please bring to the course with you

• A drink, notepad and pen

For the first session you will need:-

• Half a metre of cotton fabric, something the same weight as a duvet cover, a pillowcase is ideal.

• Good quality matching thread, Gutterman is a good brand and sews well.

• Handy to have; scissors, tape measure, notebook and pencil

Later on, we will need, depending on your chosen projects:-

• 2 – 3 metres of different, assorted patterned fabric or a Fat Quarter bundle

• Assorted Zips; Number 3 Nylon only to match your fabrics. 30cm is a good length

• 1 metre of Iron On wadded Interfacing. Vlieseline H630 OR H640 Volume Fleece Batting is perfect

You may need some of the following depending on your chosen project:-

• 1 metre Vlieseline Vilene 6624 Interfacing Medium OR Vlieseline Vilene F220 Recycled Interfacing Medium, to reinforce fine fabrics and pockets

• 1/2 metre of Borsal-IN-R-Foam bag stabilizer, for very structured bags or storage boxes

• 1 metre of Insul-Bright - Insulated Wadding, for oven gloves, bottle coolers and lunch bags

• Sash cord for rope bowls and bags

Please do not choose fabric with stretch or heavy weight furnishing fabric

Duvet covers and pillowcases are a good source of budget friendly fabric and are lovely to sew.

If you are recycling fabric, then please make sure it is clean.

Most of the projects can be made from Fat Quarters. A Fat Quarter is cut fabric usually measuring 50cm by 55cm, it is variable! Very often sold in bundles of 4 or 5 coordinating patterns and a lovely way to match colours.

All of the extras will be discussed in the first week and will be dependent on your chosen projects so do not worry if you do not understand the terminology yet, all will be explained and there will be time to get supplies by the following week