Miss Libby Rose Tweets

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    come and visit us at the 'first Saturday' market - next week - eeek - busily making products #ff @fabricscraps @surreydocksfarm

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    morning tweeps! these gals are fab! brilliant artists and hopefully I'll be styling outfits b4 the next big show -worthy of a #ff @sojoyco

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    Keep living... Don't settle - Steve Jobs.. nice talk gotta love TED talks! - http://ow.ly/2iuCq

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Classes
Sewing Equipment

At all of our events we come fully equipped with fantastic things to use to create your perfect piece of work, from a simple cushion or apron to a fully tailored skirt.

Domestic Sewing Machines.

We have 10 domestic sewing machines from the simplistic early  Bernina’s to the more complex and facy new Janome’s and those inbetween. We also have a couple of semi industrial machines that have a stronger threshold, and are still cool for zips and delicates as well as heavy denims etc.

Domestic Overlocker + Rolled Hemmer

For the most professional finish, we use  overlockers and Rolled Hemming machines. These exciting machines use 3-4 threads to edge fabric before sewing seams together.
The use of this is briefly touched on in stage 3 of the Absolute Bginners Class.

You can also sew seams together with it, whilst cutting them and securing the edge so the fabric doesn’t fray producing a professional finish to your seams.

I should think if you all look inside your garments there will be an overlocked edge.

Industrial Overlocker + Rolled Hemmimg machine
Fabulous hard working overlocker, this machine is for the more advanced sewer, and produces the same finish as above.

Heavy Duty Steamer
We have a fantastic heavy duty steamer that will steam out all the creases and give a nice professional finish to your piece. We also have a few domestic irons if you would prefer. Ironing boards and Sleeve ironing boards are used alongside these.

Scissors- for paper and for fabric
- One of THE most important things to remember and scream at people about is there are separate scissors for fabric and for paper. Fabric scissors must NEVER be used for paper.

Thread clippers
-Little scissors sometimes attached to the machines for clipping threads.

Pinking shears
-Sadly these babies are not just for a pretty zigzag edge finish, they are also a useful tool. They are used for finishing seams and raw edges, they are supposed to do a similar job to an over locker, if you don’t have an overlocker they are a cheap (not quite as effective) alternative.

Chalk
- This is used for drawing round a paper pattern and transferring all the information on to the fabric. The chalk is easily brushed off leaving no trace.

Fabric pen
-Exactly the same use as the chalk except these babies have disappearing ink in them- for all those sewing spies out there!

Metal/ wooden ruler and Pattern masters
-For measuring straight lines, metre rulers  for a straight edge finish. The Pattern Master is a fantastic tool for drawing curves and seam allowances.

Stitch unpick/ Stitch rippers etc
- This little useful tool is for undoing stitches, whether for inserting a placket or for undoing annoying mistakes. Rippers are also used for opening up buttonholes. They come in two sizes the smaller one is a general tool for us lazy ladies, but officially difference is the smaller one should only be used for undoing stitches and the larger one for undoing seams and button holes.

- The ball acts as a guide through the fabric and the hook and sharp bit cuts through the stitches and the fabric if needed.

Set Square
-Used for measuring again but also for finding and marking the bias. (The bias- a slanting direction across the grain of the fabric.)

Cutting table
(x3) -
Where we cut fabric and paper patterns.

Pattern paper
-We use dot and cross paper at the studio, but you can get graph paper too. Pattern paper is for drawing up and working out your pattern in the pattern cutting process.

Pattern card
-Once you are pleased that your pattern is perrrfect and works like a dream it is time to transfer the pattern onto card. The reason for this is that card is less easily damaged or ripped.

Tape measure
-Flexible plasticized fabric marked with cm’s and inches usually found round Beth or Libby’s necks, also used as cool ties!

Dressmaker’s pins
- Silver, spikey and pinney! These ones have a flat head and are used to hold the fabric together as you sew.

Different dressmakers mannequins
­- We have a variety here, men, women and adjustable ones. It is also possible to get legs, arms and heads!

Rouleau or Loop turners
-These are lovely tools that help if you’ve sewn a tube of fabric that needs to be turned right side out, you attach one end of the fabric to one of the ends of the turner and push it through.

 
Make Do and Mend

Mend and Make do to save buying new!

Mrs Sew n Sew was the pioneer in the make do and mend movement of the wartime 1940's. She was thrifty with a needle and rallied the gals together to show how you still could live a life of fashion on a budget of rations.

make do and mend

Why not take a leaf out of Mrs Sew n Sew's book and have your own eco sewing and craft party? Rally the guys and gals together and have a 'make do and mend' workshop. Create hats and accessories out of fabric scraps, or have a swishing party!

Gather your friends at someone's house and get ALL those bits and bobs you haven’t thrown away sorted and ready to wear.

If you would like to run a make do and Mend Workshop with a group of colleagues or friends or even as a Craft team building exercise, please contact me, and I can set you up in your own space with all the machinery and equipment and expertise required for a fun 'make do and mend session'

Here are the options:-

'Miss Libby Rose: Make Do and Mend Afternoon or Morning Tea Session'

1) Alterations, mending and customising clothing and accessories is the name of the game.  In this sewing and customising workshop we will look at taking hems up, hems taken down, waistbands taken in, waistbands taken out, dress alterations, new zips, button holes, you name it, we’ll help you learn how.

2) Customising - revamp, re-work, recycle:
We will look at fabric flowers, corsage’s, making something out of old unused clothing, fabric scraps or anything you fancy - the only limit is your imagination!

Contact me for pricing and availability.

 

 
Brilliant Bags

This exciting workshop is all about making wonderful fabric bags

We have a range of beautiful patterns to create anything from fabric grocery bags to super cool classy clutch bags..

We can also help you to create or alter one of our (or your) patterns to make something totally unique.

The fabrics and the decoration is up to you…whatever you make in this workshop will be one of a kind. Make them fabulously individual, super cool cushions and brilliant bags. Add some images by applique.

If you would like to set up a Brilliant Bags workshop in your home with friends or with your colleauges as a 'crafty team building exercise' please contact me for further information.

 
A Few of My Favourite Things

'A Few of My Favourite Things' sewing class

Create and make a surprisingly easy summer dress or learn to take a pattern from an existing dress.

This is a fabulous sewing and design craft class.
You will learn how to re-make an 'ol' favourite' item of clothing that you love, you will learn how to re-design the dress (if need be) and  we will cut the pattern so you can re-make it in a fabric of your choice.

We would love you to choose an item that is vintage or falling apart something that you wear all the time and you simply can’t get that style anymore as the high street is totally dictating your wardrobe.
We will teach you how to make a pattern from an existing item of clothing so you can re-create it in whatever colour or fabric you want.

We will also have easy dress patterns to get you designing and making a shape that is just right for you!!

If you would like this class run in your premises then please do contact
Miss Libby Rose: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 
Absolute Beginners Sewing Class

Absolute Beginners: sewing Evening Classes at Surrey Docks Farm:

beginners sewing classes with Miss Libby Rose

Come along and join in the 'oh sew eco' sewing studio at Surrey Docks Farm, London, SE16 which is a 'stones throw' over the river from Canary Wharf.

S.E.A.R.C.H* will be running fabulous sewing craft classes for beginners on tuesday evenings - starting Tuesday 15th June.Eco sewing classes at Surrey Docks Farm

Absolute Beginners Sewing Classes are a fun and simple way to learn to sew. Tuesday evenings are Beginners Sewing project night! Each week we will tackle a different project, so chose a date with a project that will best suit you.... (these will be repeated if your date is not available)

In these classes you will learn:
~ How to thread up a sewing machine
~ How to use and alter stitch lengths, stitch width and the many types of standard and decorative sewing stitches available on sewing machines.
~ Learn about loading a bobbin, inserting a bobbin, the bobbin case and how the bottom thread of the sewing machine works to enable the stitch to be made.
~ We will also go through sewing machine tension.
~ How to change sewing machine needles and why different needles are used and how they are inserted.
~ We have a look at the sewing machine feet, such as the zip foot, piping foot and button hole.

In the second half of the sewing class we will start a small project (choose from the projects as listed below) which will get you used to choosing and cutting different types of fabric, laying fabric, chalking out (simply) from a pattern, and cutting.

The techniques learnt in this section of the class include: -
~ Simple sewing techniques, Seam allowance, pressing and machine control and generally getting comfortable within a sewing environment.

Absolute Beginners: sewing Evening Classes at Surrey Docks Farm

29th June: How to make a simple hat (beginners sewing)

6th July: How to make a clutch purse (beginners sewing)

13th July: How to make a cushion cover (beginners sewing)

27th July: How tomake an eco shopping bag (beginners sewing)

3rd August: How to make a clutch purse (beginners sewing)

10th August: How to make a cushion cover (beginners sewing)

17th August: How to make a simple hat (beginners sewing)

24th August: How to make an eco shopping bag (beginners sewing) or other type of handbag.

**** Please do contact me if you want to swap a project night for a date that suits you - the classes are kept very small so we may be able to swap around *****

The sewing lessons start at 6.30 / 7pm and last till around 9.30 / 10pm pending on the abilities in the class. Please do arrive promptly or phone if you are running late as we want to get as much as we can achieved in the evening session.

The Sewing classes are priced at £25.00 per session. If you would like to do two sessions (ie: there are a few projects you would like to learn, and would like to have the whole beginners session twice for clarity - we can offer a special price of £40. for two sessions)


Tuesday evening classes