Vintage sewing machines

I had to go to Witney, Oxon yesterday for unrelated (to sewing / pattern cutting) reasons, but called in to the shop owned by the nice Saunders brothers - one of whom I bought my Bernina domestic machine from aeons ago, and the other who is a service engineer for sewing machines who I met when working for the college here in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
Neither were actually around (holidays / day off!), but it was great to see their collection of vintage sewing machines (photos below) displayed on an upper shelf in the shop - their 'museum' as the sales lady said... May their shop(s) long remain in this apparently thriving, beautiful town, where the famous pure wool Witney blankets used to be made, though the factory closed in 2002.

Speak soon! Bobbie
 

Lovely technology!

Sorry for no blog since Christmas! Due to various computer machinations, I haven't been able to access the account from which I send this blog since Christmas. (Don't ask....!)

Anyway, here we are in February, and the winter hasn't been too bad for us here in central England so far. Luckier by far than many other areas of the UK, and other countries - the blue sky we've seen loads of makes all the difference! 

So the classes are going pretty well this year so far - a good few new students here at my home studio, and I'm also teaching a pattern cutting class at the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury, which is great - the students are so motivated. 
This class concentrates on making personal blocks before learning pattern making techniques,  i.e. making a block to fit your own body shape, first off. I do show the students how dart manipulation works though, even before they make their own blocks, as it's good to have a visual image in your head of where you're going. I use a low tec model made from mounting board (!), as not every teaching room has a smart board to use. If you do have one, then a clever pattern making program called  Lectra, really comes into it's own. But these programs are expensive for smaller institutions, and need a lot of practice to get proficient (and that from a colleague who uses it all the time in the course of her job). 

But in the end, the learning is the objective, and  technology can be used wonderfully to speed things up, once the understanding is there. In any field of the arts, a computer and it's software are tools to be used in the process of creativity, and as a person who dislikes the tedium of mechanical processes once I know how to do them (!), technology that does the job is a relief! And then you can get on with the designing....

I'm not saying that the process of making is boring or unsatifying, but once you know you can do it, there has to be more of a challenge, and time saving technology can help you with the challenges!

Thanks are more than due to my resident tec expert, the wonderful Jon Seagroatt my husband, without whom I wouldn't be typing this! 

By the way, don't know if I ever mentioned here the latest Pattern Magic book on stretch pattern techniques by Tomoko Nakamichi - the stuff in that book is beautiful as ever -this is the third in the series....and if you're really into experimental shapes/ideas this book is fabulous. Have a look! 

Gift Voucher - course details

Hi Everybody!

Just posting here the flyer for the Gift Voucher that you can buy  for classes in pattern cutting and / or sewing, which details the type of courses you can choose from. The classes are arranged around your lifestyle, so that you can come when you choose (weekends excepted).

Drop a few hints to someone who has yet to buy you something for Christmas, or treat yourself to something you've always fancied doing! :-) No special equipment needed initially, and pattern paper / sewing machine is provided unless you have your own.

Beautiful spacious studio (scroll down the blog for photos), and separate sewing room in a village setting, 10mins drive from Banbury in Oxfordshire. One to one tuition, or come with a friend and reduce the hourly cost. Please ring or email for costs, and to arrange - details on the flyer - and scroll down the blog to see the gift voucher itself.  This can very easily be personalised to include the name of the recipient, and amount of classes booked as a gift.

Bobbie

Gift Vouchers!

Hi Everyone,

Not long now until Christmas, and if you are totally stuck for a present idea for anyone who's interested in pattern cutting, sewing(machine and hand), or other fabric techniques (quilting, appliqué, trapunto, embroidery, knitting etc.) you can solve a problem by giving a gift voucher for classes at my new studio in Cropredy, Oxon. 

These are one to one classes so you get my undivided attention, and therefore make quicker progress than in a group class. The studio is light, airy, spacious (see previous photos in the blog), and pattern paper, use of industrial or domestic machines and tea, coffee etc are included in the price. 

Buy a whole course, or as many individual classes as you choose to suit your budget. Please forward this blog to those who might need a reminder of what you'd like for Christmas, or email or phone me on 07941 619992 for prices if you are the buyer!

Speak soon,

Bobbie 

Please contact me for personalised gift vouchers with the recipient's name and number of classes given, ready for printing out. 

Details of instore demos at Banbury Sewing Centre1st November 2014

Hi Everyone, 

Just to tell you that the details of my instore demos at Banbury Sewing Centre have been confirmed today. They will happen at 11am, 1pm and 3pm and will last 20 mins to 1/2 hr. 

The themes will be 'Sewing tips and tricks', 'Use of hand tools, couture finishing and hand sewing methods', and 'Basic pattern cutting intro'. 

If you've ever wondered about the correct way to put in a set in sleeve, inserting an invisible zip, how to make neck or armhole facings look beautiful, how to make a shank when sewing on a button, making buttonholes and more, come to Banbury Sewing Centre in Parson's St. in Banbury on the 1st November, and see how it's done! Nothing is too difficult, it's just knowing the right way to do it, and a little bit of practice....

Learn how to do all these things yourself, with me in the studio in Cropredy, just 10 mins drive from Banbury - an attractive, light and spacious environment in which to work. Short introductory courses, and other more advanced courses to start by arrangement with you. 
Scroll down this blog to see images of the studio for yourself. 

Bobbie 

Hi everyone,

Just to let you know about an instore demo I will be doing at Banbury Sewing Centre www.banburysewingcentre.co.uk on Saturday1st November, just 2 weeks away!
There is a dual purpose to this is - firstly to show people the kind of things they could learn with me at Atelier Classes in my just refurbished studio in Cropredy, just 4 miles from the shop, and secondly to show new visitors to the shop the great selection of sewing AND knitting equipment, fabrics and wools that they can buy there.
The demos will cover different themes - 3 or 4 throughout the day on such things as: sewing tips and tricks including techniques for different fabrics, use of the Janome 525s sewing machine, (stocked at the shop amongst others), use of hand tools that you never knew the purpose of (!), and hopefully some basic pattern cutting demos too.
So please come along - we'd love to see you, and hopefully we can forge some new links which will benefit all, myself, Banbury Sewing Centre, AND you too 
Spread the love….!

Short Courses

Hi Everyone,

I'm planning to run short courses of 4-5 weeks in the run up to Christmas (not THAT far away, I have to tell you!), and I would like a little pre-finalising feedback, if you could just spare a minute?

My question is simple: If you couldn't use a sewing machine, and wanted to join a class to learn and to make something really simple, what would that simple thing be? A wrap, tote bag, napkins, cushion cover?? Or is that not so important as the learning? 

Even if you are not local to me, and couldn't come for classes, I'd still appreciate an opinion. 

I'd really appreciate your answers as it would help me to make the courses relevant and useful. Please email the address at the top of the blog here, comment on my Facebook page, or ring / text me on the phone number. A one word answer would be enough - THANK YOU in advance.

And I am planning to promote this in conjunction with my local fabric shop, so that there may be some discounts but will let you know the details when they are confirmed.

The photo here is of a fabric shop front in Tilburg, Netherlands where I was recently - look at the lovely old sewing machines....

Bye for now,

Bobbie