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Almost everyone who inherits or invests in a sewing machine gets familiar with one or two of the feet that come with their machine and a few of the stitches it can do. Make Your Feet Dance is a series of short workshops in which you will be supported to use and learn what all the machine feet in your machine caddy can do. Alongside this, you will gain a better understanding of many machine stitches and when to use them.While you will not be making specific items during the sessions, you will be creating your own folder of sewn samples, notes and information to take home as an aide memoire when stitching at home.
The workshops will be delivered using in-house Brother SH40 sewing machines. If you prefer to use your own sewing machine, please contact us before booking. For all participants to get the most out of these sessions, sewing machines need to be of a similar spec. If your machine’s spec is different, we can discuss arranging a bespoke session for you.
Feet covered in this workshop series are:
Straight stitch and zig zag foot – using basic stitches for seams on different types of fabrics
Using an overcast foot and zig-zag foot to prevent edges fraying on a variety of fabrics
Blind hem foot to sew hems on garments
Buttonhole foot – how to sew a variety of automatic buttonholes on different fabrics
Button fitting foot – sew buttons on using your machine.
Zipper Foot – how to place and sew in zip fasteners; placing a centre zip
The series of workshops will consist of six sessions, each two hours.
All sessions take place on Sundays from 1-3pm.
The dates are October 19th & 26th and November 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd 2025.
1. Basic and zigzag stitching foot
Altering stitch length and widths
Discovering types straight and zigzag stiches
Locking in stitches
Changing sewing direction
Sewing an even seam allowance
Sewing different fabrics
2. The overcasting foot and Blind hem foot
Using overcasting to prevent frayed edges
Using overcasting as a stretch fabric hem
Discovering types of overcasting stitches
Using the blind hem foot to sew hems on thick and normal fabric.
Using the free arm to sew cylinders
Sewing a narrow hem using basic foot.
3.Buttonhole and button sewing
How to prep different fabric types to sew a buttonhole
Selecting which buttonhole stitch
Using the buttonhole foot to sew an automatic buttonhole.
What if my button is too big for the gauge?
Sewing buttonholes on stretch fabrics
Button sewing using the button fitting foot.
4. Using the Zipper Foot
Inserting a centred zip
Inserting a tabbed zip
5. Using the decorative stitches on the machine
Altering the stitch lengths and width for decorative uses.
Creating a sewn stitch index for your machine
Introductory play with applique methods.
6.Different stitch applications
Attaching elastic tape
Fagoting
Scalloped edge using Monogramming foot N
There is the potential to schedule an extra add-on sessions for those interested in learning how to set up and begin using the Walking Foot and Free Motion Quilting & Embroider foot. We will gauge interest from those participants who book onto the course.
Booking essential.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/machine-sewing-make-your-feet-dance-six-week-course-tickets-1680989638259
Busy on the day? Check out our other workshop offerings. Have a group of crafty pals? Why not book a bespoke crafting session to suit you: https://atbirkhillhouse.co.uk/crafting-birkhill/
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At Birkhill House CIC, Melrose, United Kingdom
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