Sewing Classes

[kayzr]

I can not seem to find any sewing classes near me. They all seem to be quite far away and I thought I might be looking in the wrong place.

I live in Pickering, North Yorkshire incase anyone knows where to look.

Nope. There isn't a college here.

None here either

I learnt to sew at an adult education course about 15 years ago. It was fab. I live in east london and I wanted to have another go. The only courses were City and Guilds in Sewing Machine use (NOT making clothes) and Asian Fashion.

I dont mind making Asian clothes as part of a course but there would be little point in me doing a whole course in them. The skills learnt would be transferable but only if you had a bit of experience in the first place. It takes a while to work out how to use a pattern and use your machine etc. Surely it would be better to have a more general clothes making course that included Asian fashion, African fashion etc. Why be so specific? (this is not a political correctness gone mad post BTW)

I dont want a city and guild either. I want to sew not write notes and do homework.

Why are things so complicated [sigh]

because the government does not want you doing 'hobby' courses unless you pay the total cost yourself.

unfortunately what they class as 'hobby' can actually be a really good potential money earner.

Yep.

I even had to do a city and guilds in knitting! I just wanted to do something relaxing and it turned it into something fairly stressful.

Its pretty hard on the older people in my area. All there nice hobby courses have been turned into qualification ones. Does an 80yr old really want or need a city and guilds in hand embroidery? Or does she want a nice class to to go to on a monday morning?

The trouble is that the classes are closing due to lack of numbers. Its putting people off.

They are also very badly organised. The new policies seem to have been rushed in and the tutors dont seem to know what is required and dont like the idea anyway.

If I want a qualification I will go and do one, if I want to sew/knit I dont want to have to write an essay about it.

That sounds like a pain. I want to learn how to use a sewing machine properly so I can make clothes etc. I had enough of writing essays at school.

our local sewing machine shop runs courses - you could try that. I have an overlocker mouldering in the cupboard that I need to learn to use and plan to go down that route when I get organised!

I just thought - John Lewis do loads of one day workshops.

Not much use if you live way out, but may be useful if you are anywhere near a big town.