FAQs

If you don’t find your answer here, then please feel free to contact us

How can I book a place?

Please contact us by phone or email to book a place on a course or workshop and we will send you a Zettle (Paypal) invoice with a payment link. For this we need your name, address with postcode and a contact number. Your place in a session is only guaranteed once payment has been received.

If a class is fully booked we can put you on a waiting list or let you know when the next one is available and hold you a spot.

How can I pay for my course or workshop?

You can pay with your card on phone wallet by using the payment link.

If you prefer to pay in person with cash or card this must be done in advance not on the day.

Please see our terms and conditions page for further details including our refund policy

I want to learn to sew, where do I start?

For a complete beginner, a good option is our Intro to Sewing workshop. Its a 1 day workshop  which will teach you the basics of sewing with a machine and lets you dip your toes in before signing up to a longer course. If you know you want to make clothes you can start with the Beginners Garment Construction course which is also suitable for complete beginners and those wanting to refresh old skills.

I want to start making my own clothes. What’s the best option for me?

Beginners Garment Construction and Improvers are our beginner/beginner+ dressmaking courses for people who want to start making clothes. In beginners we will give you a refresher session on machine skills and we’ll teach you how to make darts, insert a zip, use interfacing, measure yourself properly, use a pattern– and lots more!

Improvers Garment Construction builds on the skills learned in part 1  and may be a suitable starting point if you have made a skirt before or can use a machine but feel your skills are a bit rusty.

What level am I?

If you’re not sure just send us an email or call and we’ll help you to work it out.

Do I need my own sewing machine?

No, you do not need to have a machine

If you have your own machine Great!, bring it along. we find most people prefer to learn and develop their sewing skills on their own machine as all machines have their own quirks.

If you don’t have a machine don’t worry we have a selection of machines available for beginners to use so you don’t need to invest in one until you are hooked on sewing.
Machines can also be made available for  students travelling on public transport.

Please let us know in advance if you require a machine.

How many people will there be in my class?

We have a maximum of 4 people in our studio for courses and workshops.

How can I find out more about classes?

On the ‘Workshops & Classes’ page you can see the what we do by level or by upcoming events
You can see our social sewing groups on our  ‘Sewing Bee’
If you want 1 to 1 or small group tuition check out our Private Tuition page

Where are you based and how do I get there?

All session are held at our studio based in Aidan House in Gateshead.
Aidan House is accessible by both bus and Metro and is just a 10min walk from the Gateshead Interchange.

There is free parking in the car park and off street parking with blue badge parking spaces just outside the entrance.

For more information on our location please check out our find us page

Access & Accessibility?

We are located on the 3rd floor in room 316, there are blue badge only bays available to our clients right by the doors to the building.

Access to the building is gained via an intercom by typing 316 and enter.

Attendance

Please be on time to class, as we aim for classes to start and end right on time. If you arrive more than 15mins early we may have other clients in.
There are no makeups or refunds for missing all or part of a class.

Equipment & Supplies

All of our classes include the use of studio equipment, however, not all classes include student supplies, please see the specific workshop/course page for details of what is needed.

Private Tuition

Fees can be paid lesson by lesson or in a block of lessons. Lessons that have been purchased will not be refunded after the lesson has commenced. If you cannot attend a lesson notice must be given by 24 hours before or you will be charged for the session.

I want to buy a gift voucher for someone. Do you offer them?

Just let us know what you want to buy; course, sewing bee or private tuition and who it is for and we will sort out a digital gift certificate. The certificate itself has no value, we link your paid invoice to a record of gifts purchased, so if the certificate cant be found later its not not problem. The giftee just needs to contact us and confirm who purchased the gift.