29/04/2012 by admin.

If there is anything you would like to ask about your sewing projects please follow the link  and I will happily answer your questions.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Posted in Sewing Courses, Learn how to sew, Tailoring, Sewing | No Comments »

23/04/2012 by admin.

Are you  going to a special event - a wedding maybe,  a ball, a special dinner.  Have you been searching the stores only to find they don’t have what you want….. and even when you do find what you are looking for chances are it is the wrong size or the wrong colour.    Have you ever considered making that special outfit for yourself.  You could make a beautiful boned bodice and wear it with a skirt or trousers.  Maybe even make a matching bolero jacket for those of you who do not like to show the tops of your arms.  Boned bodices are currently extremely fashionable and are the basis for making  almost all bridal gowns, prom dresses and evening dresses and can even be worn as a separate top complimented with a matching skirt or contrast trousers.

You will spend the two days learning the techniques required to produce a boned bodice. You will  learn about the interfacings and interlinings required to produce a professional finish. You will learn how to apply piping and how to make rouleau loops which are used for threading through the back tie fastening. At the end of the workshop you will leave with a pure silk couture boned bodice. You can chose from size 8 to size 18.

You must be able to use a sewing machine to attend this course.

All materials, interlinings and pure silk outer fabric included in the course price  £195

Thursday 26th and Friday 27th April 2012

Posted in special occasion wear, Sewing Courses, Uncategorized | No Comments »

11/04/2012 by admin.

Are you  going to a special event - a wedding maybe,  a ball, a special dinner.  Have you been searching the stores only to find they don’t have what you want….. and even when you do find what you are looking for chances are it is the wrong size or the wrong colour.    Have you ever considered making that special outfit for yourself.  You could make a beautiful boned bodice and wear it with a skirt or trousers.  Maybe even make a matching bolero jacket for those of you who do not like to show the tops of your arms.  Boned bodices are currently extremely fashionable and are the basis for making  almost all bridal gowns, prom dresses and evening dresses and can even be worn as a separate top complimented with a matching skirt or contrast trousers.

Come along to the Birmingham School of Sewing for a 2 day course and learn how to make a boned bodice.   You will spend two days learning the techniques required to produce a boned bodice.  You will learn about the interfacings and interlinings required to produce a professional finish. You will learn how to apply piping and how to make rouleau loops which are used for threading through the back tie fastening. At the end of the workshop you will leave with a pure silk couture boned bodice. You can chose from size 8 to size 18.  You must be able to use a sewing machine with confidence to attend this course.

Date:  Friday 17th - Saturday l8th August  - 2 day course           Time: 10.00-4.00pm each day        Cost: £195 (All materials included)

Posted in School of sewing, Learn how to sew, Boned Bodices, Bridal | No Comments »

13/03/2012 by admin.

Hi Everyone

I sew everyday for work, either preparing workshops or making up samples, designing and making bridal gowns and prom dresses. I literally have piles of beautiful fabrics that I have been promising myself I would one day make up. .

Spring is just around the corner.  In some cultures the first day of spring signifies the first day of a new year.  Why, perhaps because this is the time of year when everything starts anew.  The weather begins to warm up, flower start to grow ……

It is almost spring. I have decided that today is the day for me to start using my fabrics.  I plan to make myself a complete wardrobe of new clothes although this does bring up two issues.  Firstly; I will have to beg, steal or borrow the time from somewhere……. and secondly; I really do need to lose weight.  I have been putting off making items of clothing because of my weight loss for far too long.  I have decided that I can put it off no longer.  I will make garments that can easily be altered.

There, I am ready to begin.  I will make a traditional tailored jacket and here is my first piece of fabric.

I am afraid the picture does it no justice.  Its a beautiful linton tweed with a red and gold lurex thread woven through it.

I have cut out and interfaced the fabric and also cut out the lining.  Interfacings are a necessary part of making a tailored jacket.  I am not surprised that many people decide not to use it, but it really does make the difference between a home made and a hand made jacket.  I first made a man’s tailored jacket about 30 years ago.  I applied all the interfacings using the tradition pad stitch method and the result was a perfect jacket with a perfect notched collar although I found it time consuming and tiresome. It completely turned me against tailoring until I discovered speed tailoring.  Speed tailoring does not use the time consuming hand stitched methods of applying interfacing and still produces excellent results in much less time.

I will keep you up to date with the progress I make tomorrow.

I am starting work earlier and earlier and leaving later and later.  It was busy today and I could only “steal” enough time to sew the front panels together, back panels together and two piece sleeve panels together.

Posted in Tailoring, Jackets, Sewing | No Comments »

07/03/2012 by admin.

Birmingham School of Sewing welcomes Emma who joins us to teach embroidery workshops. Emma graduated with a BA (Hons) Degree in Textile Design in 2004 and has since worked as an artist/designer and has exhibited her own work in many venues across the UK. For Emma, a key part of the process is using reclaimed and recycled fabrics. She combines these with layers of embroidery and print to create unique one of a kind pieces. Past projects have included freelance fashion design workshops for adults and children and mask and costume design. Emma makes and sells her own work in the form of framed pieces, small print runs and gifts and accessories. She also produces commissioned work to order.

Emma will be running the following embroidery workshops.

Embroidery workshops

Learn the Art of Perse Applique
The day will be split into two sessions: £65 for the morning session and £45 for the afternoon, book the morning session for the embroidery and both sessions if you want to make it into a cushion.

Perse Applique -Morning Session
During this session you will create an original fabric collage. If you decided the book for the afternoon session you will create your design for a cushion. During this workshop you will:

• use a traditional technique of fabric collage “Perse appliqué”
• how to use bondaweb for quick results
• basic free hand embroidery techniques that you can try on any sewing machine
• using simple templates to cut shapes

You can bring your own templates or use the ones provided. This technique is a great way of using up those scraps of fabric too nice to throw away.

Tutor: Emma Duggan Date: Saturday 10^th March Time: 10.00-1.00pm Cost: £65 (all materials included) Why not book on to the afternoon session and turn your fabric into a beautiful cushion.

Create a Cushion - Afternoon Session
Create a cushion - during this part of the workshop you will:

• learn how to make a removable cover with an envelope closure
• learn how to produce made to measure cushion covers for any size cushion or pillow
• turn your own fabric into a unique, one of a kind cushion design!

Date: Saturday 10^th March Time: 2.00-4.00pm Cost: £49.00 (Materials provided)

Textile Brooch

A workshop in which you can learn a variety of embroidery methods and at the same time learn how to make a unique textile brooch. Perfect for a special occasion outfit or gift. During this workshop you will:

• Create lace-like fabric using dissolve away
• Be introduced to freehand embroidery stitching
• Get creative with recycled odds and ends of fabric
• Be introduced to cut out work with lace and other fabrics
• Have a finished unique design ready to wear!

You will take home your beautiful finished brooch.

Date: Saturday 31^st March Time: 11.00-2.00pm Cost: £65 (all materials included)

For further information or to book a place please contact:

www.birminghamschoolofsewing.co.uk
email: sheilamay@birminghamschoolofsewing.co.uk
tel: 079200 31744

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

30/01/2012 by admin.

Creative Pattern Cutting
(Part one) Pencil Skirts for Beginners

Have you always wanted to make your own skirt patterns without having to buy commercial patterns. Do you struggle to find that perfect fit when looking for skirts. On this half day workshop you will learn the basics of drafting your own skirt block. You will draft a skirt block in your own size or a size 12 and make a paper pattern to take away to use for your future skirt making.  You will also make a toile (mock up) of your skirt pattern so that you will  be able to check for fit.  During this workshop you will learn how to:

• Take the measurements necessary to draft the block
• Draft a basic skirt block for a pencil/straight style skirt
• Make the skirt pattern
• Label the pattern pieces
• Make a toile - to check the fit of your new skirt pattern

You must have made garments or used a commercial pattern to be able to attend this workshop.

Date:   Saturday   4th February 2012               Time: 10.00-1.00pm                             Cost: £65 (all materials included)

If you would like to learn how to construct a skirt from your pattern you need to book on the Dressmaking Courses - Basic Skirt Making Workshop.

Creative Pattern Cutting
(Part 2) Design Your Own Skirts
Create your own skirt designs and make the patterns for your creations. You will be taught how to transform a basic skirt block into a whole variety of fashion creations. You will use quarter scale blocks to produce the designs.  During this workshop you will:

• Create a variety of skirt styles
• Learn how to create yokes
• Learn how to design flounces and godets
• How to draft waistbands

You must have attended the basic pattern cutting skirts workshop or have experience using commercial patterns in order to attend this workshop.

Date:  Saturday 4th February 2012                                      Time: 1.30-4.30 pm                                 Cost: £65 (all materials included)

Posted in pattern drafting/cutting in Birmingham, pattern cutting for beginners, pattern drafting, pattern cutting | No Comments »

25/01/2012 by admin.

Sewing is enjoyable, relaxing and addictive.  Learn to sew or improve your sewing skills at Birmingham School of Sewing in Northfield B31.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

24/01/2012 by admin.

Tiara making Workshops  (Jewellery - no sewing involved)
Would you like to make your own beautiful tiara to wear to your prom.  Make it in a colour to match your dress using beautiful crystal and pearl beads. Come to a tiara making workshop at the Birmingham School of Sewing.  You will learn how to make a beautiful tiara (no sewing involved). At the end of the 2 hours you will take home your beautiful tiara and look like a real princess on the day of your prom.

The workshop tutor  is Debbie Lewis who is qualified and experienced in jewellery making.

Date:  Sunday 15th April 2012      Time:    12.30-2.30      Price:   £15  (All materials included).

Where: Birmingham School of Sewing
960 Bristol Road South
Northfield
Birmingham      B31 2PE

Tel: 079200 31744

Email: sheilamay@birminghamschoolofsewing.co.uk

Posted in Wear a Tiara to your Prom, Proms in Birmingham | No Comments »

24/01/2012 by admin.

Tiara making Workshops  (Jewellery - no sewing involved)
Would you like to know how to make tiaras for the bride and bridesmaids using beautiful crystal and pearl beads. Then come along to one of our tiara making workshops at the Birmingham School of Sewing.  You will learn how to make a beautiful tiara (no sewing involved). You will learn how to make flowers from beads and how to bind the tiara band. You will have a beautiful tiara to take home at the end of the workshop.

The workshop tutor  is Debbie Lewis who is qualified and experienced in jewellery making and currently runs her own business.

Date:  Saturday 11th February       Time:    10.30-1.30      Price:   £65  (All materials included).

Where: Birmingham School of Sewing
960 Bristol Road South
Northfield
Birmingham      B31 2PE

Tel: 079200 31744

Email: sheilamay@birminghamschoolofsewing.co.uk

Posted in Tiara Making Course, jewellery making course, Jewellery workshops | No Comments »

24/01/2012 by admin.

Textiles Workshops for NQT’s and Textile Teachers

Who should attend:
PGCE Textile Students
Newly Qualified Teachers
Non specialist Textile Teachers

Workshop times:
The workshop runs from 10 am till 4pm
Refreshments and lunch provided

Workshop Aims:
To introduce teachers to basic pattern cutting principles and pattern manipulation in order for them to be able to assist their students to manipulate their commercial patterns whilst producing garments for GCSE and A level coursework

Course Details:
This course is suitable for teachers teaching KS4 and KS5 and includes:

• Demonstration of equipment
• Taking accurate measurement
• Basic pattern cutting techniques such as slashing and pivoting of darts
• Drafts and simple patterns
• Varying silhouettes for bodices, skirts and sleeves

This is an intensive hands-on day.  You will leave with a portfolio of samples that you have produced during the day that you can use as exemplars in future lessons.

Workshop date:
Friday 3^rd February 2012

Workshop Cost:
£195.00   (All materials required will be supplied on the day and are included in the price).  Classes are small and informal and offer lots of one to one support.

Workshops are for a maximum of 6 people so it is advised to book early

Posted in Pattern Drafting for NQT's and Textiles Teachers, Pattern Cutting for Textiles Teachers and NQT's, Courses for NQT's and Textiles Teachers, Textiles Technology | No Comments »