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Welcome to The Sewing Sanctuary, where creativity meets community! I offer sewing classes for all ages and abilities, designed to inspire and empower you to bring your sewing ideas to life. Whether you're a complete beginner or looking to sharpen your skills, I am here to guide you every step of the way.
I believe that sewing is more than just a skill; it's a way to express yourself and connect with others. My classes cover a wide range of topics, from basic stitching techniques to advanced garment construction. Join me in my cozy studio, where you'll not only learn to sew but also make new friends and share your passion for crafting. Come be a part of our sewing community and discover the joy of creating something beautiful!
The sewing room is bright, cheerful and well equipped with sewing machines and waist height cutting tables. It is situated in the heart of Harrogate with easy parking and close to the train and bus station.
About me
I have had a passion for textiles and fashion since the age of 11 when I used to make clothes for my Sindy dolls! Remember those?! I used to spend hours making them the best outfits to wear; so probably had the best dressed sindy doll in town! I enjoyed my needlework lessons at school so much that I decided to take it at A level and then go onto teacher training college to study fashion and textiles from which I gained a B.Ed(Hons ) degree. I subsequently worked in secondary schools in various areas of the country – 15 years at a local one in Harrogate. I have taught mainly GCSE and A level textiles.
I also have a city and guilds qualification in patchwork and embroidery which ignited a passion for the creative textiles and I love using techniques with water-soluble fabric and Angelina fibres. I also love silk and fabric painting and free machine embroidery.
Appliqué, patchwork and quilting are also amongst my passions and I've learnt many new ways to use fabric and components to produce pictures, cushions and wall hangings.
I enjoyed being able to teach textiles and dressmaking in schools but feel there is now a revival of interest from lots of people who perhaps didn’t do so well at school or who would like to spend more time creating with fabric. Since the BBC sewing Bee programme, I have been asked many times if there was anywhere in Harrogate that provides lessons. Now there is!
The rewards from learning how to sew are numerous – increased confidence and self esteem, pride in creating something original, improvement of patience and hand eye co-ordination, increased understanding of the working properties of different fabrics and how to care for them as well as an opportunity to meet new people and share ideas. It is amazing what can be done when people meet together to create!
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