After months (and by months I actually mean 2 years. At least.) of pining and whingeing for a sewing machine, I finally got one for my birthday. Yay!! Then I realised that I didn’t have the first clue how to use it. Boo! Luckily for me, I live in North London, where the twee, latte drinking, brunch eating, floral wearing, vintage brigade are located in full force, so it didn’t take me long to find a recommended beginners class nearby.
The Thrifty Stitcher in Stoke Newington runs a selection of beginners and intermediate classes on both weekdays and weekends. Classes are kept small so you’re never far away from a helping hand when your machine/ability malfunctions. With that in mind, I trooped along with fellow fashion blogger Sarah Betty on a Saturday morning ready to thread needles, step on foot pedals and get our sew on…
Now it might seem obvious, but I think it’s important to mention that the first rule when taking any kind of class or trying to learn a new skill is to try not to be hung over. And unfortunately, thanks to Sunny’s birthday at Drink, Shop & Do, I broke my own rule. Thankfully our teacher, Alex, was gentle and generous with both advice and tea and before I knew it, I was filling my bobbin with the best of them .
By the end of the class, we each make a cushion that we can take away as a squishy souvenir and proof that we were competent (or at least not as incompetent) sew-ers! This meant fabric choosing and even a hangover didn’t stop me from picking 2 of the busiest patterns on offer:
Take THAT subtlety! I laugh in the face of tastefulness.
And with a little bit of machining, ironing, unpicking (I only had to unpick stitches once…) and stuffing, I was the proud producer of a gen-u-ine cushion cover. The lovely Thrifty Stitchers even give you a cushion to put in it.
And look, who said my fabrics wouldn’t go?
A wee bit of blue ribbon solves everything.
(This wavy kind of ribbon is called Rick-Rack apparently.)
So… got all the gear but no idea? Then check out classes with The Thrifty Stitcher. They even give you biscuits.
threesmallapples 
Um this is exactly what I need! I have everything but the skillz!
Your first photo is like, sewing porn. I’ve only just started using my (~40 year old!) sewing machine again after a few years and have only made a cushion cover and a Kindle cover. I wish there were classes like this near me though!
I loved your cushion. You were easily top of the class, whizzing through it. Obviously you’re a natural!
xx