Here at Canberra Sewing, we offer a wide range of classes that cover a huge range of topics to suit all abilities. Our teachers have years of experience in teaching a wide range of subject areas that cover on sewing and fitting garments to patchwork and quilting. We have small class sizes for the best participant experience and ensure that classes all have the relevant paperwork so you know what to bring and what to expect.
Class bookings for the classes below can be made on-line. Click on “More Information and Booking” at the end of each class description to register.
Full payment must be made at the time of booking for a place to be allocated.
If a class is full, or listed below as available for waitlist, and you would like to be added to the waitlist please click here for the waitlist form.
If you are interested in other classes please let us know at info@canberrasewing.com.au
Available Classes
Drop in Tuesdays with Kerry Turner
Cost: $20
Date: Tuesdays 10am – 2pm
This is a 4-hour session where you can “drop in” at a time to suit you. If you can only do an hour then that’s fine or stay for the whole session. This is a social session and is run at a time when Kerry is also doing her shop shift. This does mean that its not a teacher “supervised” class and you will get intermittent help and advice from a sewing teacher while picking up tips and tricks from each other.
These sessions will run every Tuesday from 10am to 2pm
The teaching area is available for student to come and have this time to sew and finish projects with no home or family interruptions. Tea and coffee is available (included in the cost of the session). We also have a great café next door where you can get some sweet treats or lunch if needed.
Each student will pay a very small fee of $20 regardless of how long you wish to stay for.
To manage numbers and owing to space we are limiting this group size to 6 students initially. There are no “no minimum” numbers for each session to run.
Please Bring your machine in working order with your project. You can hire (small fee please email the shop first) or test drive machines for limited times only.
Kerry’s “WIP” (Work In Progress), on Wednesday nights, with Kerry Turner
Cost: $35
Date: Wednesdays 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Come along Wednesday night’s 6pm-8.30pm make new friends or sew peacefully in a helpful and friendly sewing orientated environment. This session is after hours and therefore Kerry will be dedicated to assisting ll students on whatever project they are working on.
This is a great class to finish off projects you are having issues with; get advice on new projects; and get help with alterations and measurements and fabric cutting advice.
Uninterrupted sewing without stopping and starting, it will be your time! Tea and coffee available.
Bookings are essential – maximum of 6 per session.
Drop in Thursdays with Kirstie
Cost: $20
Date: Thursdays 10am – 2pm
This is a 4-hour session where you can “drop in” at a time to suit you. If you can only do an hour then that’s fine or stay for the whole session. This is a social session and is run at a time when Kirstie is also doing her shop shift. This does mean that its not a teacher “supervised” class and you will get intermittent help and advice from a sewing teacher while picking up tips and tricks from each other.
These sessions will run every Tuesday from 10am to 2pm
The teaching area is available for student to come and have this time to sew and finish projects with no home or family interruptions. Tea and coffee is available (included in the cost of the session). We also have a great café next door where you can get some sweet treats or lunch if needed.
Each student will pay a very small fee of $20 regardless of how long you wish to stay for.
Please Bring your machine in working order with your project. You can hire (small fee please email the shop first) or test drive machines for limited times only.
To manage numbers and owing to space we are limiting this group size to 6 students initially. There are no “no minimum” numbers for each session to run .
Child Sports Bag with Kerry
Cost: $80 (includes $30 kit)
Date: Wednesday 16th April 2025
Times for each day: 10am – 1.30pm (9.30am setup)
Class Focus: To learn how to sew and follow instructions. To learn patience while sewing a more challenging item.
Suitable for girls or boy’s colours can be tailored to suit both.
Level of skill required for this workshop:
Your young child needs to be age 10 or older and needs to have had some experience or understanding of sewing
This workshop will develop the following skills:
- Learning the machine zippers
- How to pin a circle and zip.
- Sewing in a zip changing to correct foot
- Unpicking
- Sewing circle ends on a bag.
- Securing straps and placing them in a straight line.
Love Your Overlocker with Lynne Johnson, commencing 7 May 2025 Morning Session
6 Week Course
Cost $300
Dates: Wednesdays 7, 14, 21 & 28 May, and 4 & 11 June 2025
Times for each day: 10am – 12pm (9:30am setup)
Focus: Learn to Sew on an overlocker.
Level of skill required for this workshop: Beginner to advanced.
Lynne’s classes are very popular and are ideal for beginners and experienced sewers alike, for both practical applications and decorative possibilities.
Lynne will introduce you to the creative World of Overlocking with this course and will cover all aspects of your overlocker and typical overlocker issues. By the end of 6 weeks you will have a thorough understanding of your overlocker and what you can do with it.
Love Your Overlocker with Lynne Johnson, commencing 7 May 2025 Afternoon Session
6 Week Course
Cost $300
Dates: Wednesdays 7, 14, 21 & 28 May, and 4 & 11 June 2025
Times for each day: 12.30pm to 2:30pm (12pm setup)
Focus: Learn to Sew on an overlocker.
Level of skill required for this workshop: Beginner to advanced.
Lynne’s classes are very popular and are ideal for beginners and experienced sewers alike, for both practical applications and decorative possibilities.
Lynne will introduce you to the creative World of Overlocking with this course and will cover all aspects of your overlocker and typical overlocker issues. By the end of 6 weeks you will have a thorough understanding of your overlocker and what you can do with it.
Introduction to Free Motion Quilting with Leonie Fraser
Cost: $400
Dates: 16, 23, & 30 May and 6 June 2025
Time: 10am – 2:30pm (9:30am setup)
This course will encourage you to break away from straight lines with the walking foot to be more adventurous in your quilting, taking you through the steps required and boost your confidence and creativity.
Over the 4 sessions you will develop your knowledge, understanding and skills in free motion quilting. If you do all the sessions and homework, you can decide whether you will end up with cushions, a throw or a bed quilt.
You will choose your materials and will be provided with designs by Leonie that you can confidently complete at home. Leonie will also assist you to decide whether designs you bring to class are suitable for free motion quilting.
Level of skill required for this workshop:
This workshop is suitable for beginners, as you will be guided through many of the elements of machine quilting. You will need to be familiar with your machine, how to change the feet and drop the feed dogs. Your manual will be an essential piece of equipment.
Trace a Pattern from a Preloved Garment with Kerry
Cost: $100
Date: Monday 30 June 2025
Time: 10am – 2pm (9:30am setup)
Class Focus: To learn the rules to make pattern pieces successfully so you can make a similar garment
We all have that perfect fitting store bought garment that has been loved to death but we can’t bear to part with. This class will teach you to create a pattern from that garment so you can sew it over and over again – how good is that!
No more pattern alterations to make to new patterns – just well fitting garments that you will love in different colours and fabrics.
In this class you will produce a pattern that you can use to make endless copies of a “garment that you love”. It’s very hard sometimes to find the perfect fitting pattern. Sometimes you have an item at home, and you want to make more of them, or use it as a starting point. Starting from a “fit block” can sometimes be a long process and can be very challenging. Even working out proportions in design lines that suit you.
This is a one day 4-hour class in which I will demonstrate how to make a pattern, without taking the garment apart. You will start with a basic top no fitting to understand rules. We will also talk about what constraints a flat pattern has and how to transfer this across so you can sew the garment up and make it for you. Seam allowances, grain lines, fabric types, darts etc will all be covered.
A materials list will be supplied on registration.
“Yes” I Can Sew with Lynne Johnson
6 Week Course
Cost $300
Dates: Wednesdays 23 & 30 July, 6, 13,20 & 27 August 2025
Times for each day: 10:00am 12:00pm (09.30am setup)
Focus: To Learn to progress from a beginner sewer to a intermediate one, you will learn how to read lay and cut the correct size pattern you will learn all about pattern language and instructions and sizing.
Lynne Johnson is an experienced and sharing teacher who has many years of sewing experience.
This course will help the beginner sewer move on to the next step, it will look at the world of patterns and how to read them. Checking sizing, pattern markings and what size is best to cut do we need alterations. We will discuss the fabric and notions choices, on the back of the pattern. How to lay up the pattern, grain lines pinning and notches. There will be discussion of cutting tools and interfacing and marking tools. We will take about the order of assembly and the pattern and what seam allowances you will need to take and the importance of seams.
At the end of the course you will be able to move to more intermediate to advanced clothing patterns.
Beginners Guide to Sewing with Lynne Johnson,
6 Week Course
Cost $300
Dates: Wednesdays 23 & 30 July 6, 13, 20 & 27 August 2025
Times for each day: 12.30pm – 2.30pm (12pm setup)
Focus: Getting to know your domestic sewing machine
Level of Skill required for this workshop: Beginner to intermediate. Perfect for new sewers and those returning to sewing who need a confidence boost.
This course is aimed at the beginner sewer, or someone returning to sewing.. The course is suitable from a confident 14 year old up.
Each lesson is 2 hours long and the course has been designed to take you through all you need to know about getting to know your machine including threading, tensions, needle and thread selection and basic sewing machine maintenance right though to learning different seaming and sewing techniques that you can apply to several different projects.
There are four projects you will complete during this course (one of which is a fun homework project) including creating a Stitchery; making a needle nest and pin cushion; Cutting and sewing a thread catcher; and cutting and sewing a useful sewing organizer that converts into a sewing cover for your machine.
The course is designer for beginner sewists but may be also considered by someone who wants to refresh their skills.
Love Your Overlocker with Lynne Johnson, commencing 26 July 2025 Morning Session
6 Week Course
Cost $300
Dates: Saturdays 26 July, 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 August 2025
Times for each day: 10am to 12pm (9.30am setup)
Focus: Learn to Sew on an overlocker.
Level of skill required for this workshop: Beginner to advanced.
Lynne’s classes are very popular and are ideal for beginners and experienced sewers alike, for both practical applications and decorative possibilities.
Lynne will introduce you to the creative World of Overlocking with this course and will cover all aspects of your overlocker and typical overlocker issues. By the end of 6 weeks you will have a thorough understanding of your overlocker and what you can do with it.
Other Classes available for waitlist:
Please email us if the above class dates and times do not suit you, Please also let us know if you are interested in any of our past classes:-
All things Jelly Roll
Overlocking,
Beginners guide to sewing,
Free Motion Quilting,
Bag construction,
Quilted bags and clothes,
Quilting – Kaleidoscope or Pinwheel of other amazing quilts.
Beginners Quilting Class,
Pattern alterations,
Basic garment construction,
Making a garment fit,
Trace a pattern from a preloved garment,
Children Classes.
Click Here for Wait List Form if you would like to be contacted when one of the above classes becomes available