Introduction to Machine Sewing Course Intensive: 3 Daytime Sessions

Session 1: Tote Bag with Front Pocket & Reinforced Straps

• Threading and operating a sewing machine
• Sewing straight lines, corners, and curves
• Using seam allowances
• Pinning, cutting, and pressing fabric
• Finishing seams with a zigzag stitch

Session 2: Essential Techniques for Garment Making

• Marking fabric
• Straight darts
• Inserting an invisible zip
• Creating pleats (box, inverted, and knife)
• Hemming and alternative seam finishes

Session 3: Zip Top Lined Pouch

• Understanding notches, grainline, and seam allowances
• Inserting a zip
• Topstitching
• Hand slip-stitching

Sessions 4-6: Fully Lined Holdall Bag

• Constructing and reinforcing strap handles
• Inserting a channel zip
• Making and attaching piping
• Creating an inside patch pocket
• Assembling and lining a structured bag

All materials are provided for the first three projects. For your final holdall project, you'll need to bring your own fabric and notions.

• 1m of outer fabric (we advise a heavier weight fabric, such as canvas, denim, dunweave)
• 1m of lining fabric (any medium weight cotton will be suitable, plain or printed)
• 3m of strap webbing (any width)
• 3.5m of 20mm cotton bias binding
• 1 x 51cm length close ended zip

All items are available in our shop, and our team is happy to help you make your choices. Please allow 30 minutes to an hour to design your bag and select your fabric and colour combinations.

Our classes are non refundable. Due our small class sizes it is very difficult to transfer your booking to a different date. If you cannot attend a class and are able to notify us at least two weeks before the class starts, it may be possible to change the date* but this is not guaranteed so please give us as much notice as possible to increase your chances. *Limited to one change only.

In the event that we need to cancel a class, we will provide as much notice as possible and offer either a full refund or an alternative booking date.

Please note: Attending the first session is essential as it establishes foundation skills for the entire course. If you cannot attend due to unforeseen circumstances, a paid catch-up session must be completed before rejoining the course.

At Ray Stitch, we'd love to welcome stitchers of all ages, but to ensure the best learning experience for everyone, we're unable to accommodate anyone under 12 in our workshops.

Young people aged 12-16 are very welcome in our classes but must be accompanied by a responsible adult (18+) throughout the entire session. The accompanying adult must book and pay for their own space in the class and participate alongside the young person. Students aged 17 and over can attend classes independently.

If you're planning to book for a young person, we recommend emailing us first so we can help guide you to the most suitable class for their age and experience level.