ALL GROUP CLASSES ARE LISTED AND CAN BE BOOKED FROM THE HERE

We teach our classes in my lovely purpose-built garden studio in Walthamstow, E17. You will learn in a nice informal setting, in small groups (maximum of 5), with unlimited cups of tea and a huge stash of fabric for you to use.

My classes are much smaller than most other sewing classes, meaning you can ask everything you need and practice even the trickiest things over and over until you get it. I am encouraging, supportive and patient and very neurodiverse friendly. My classes may only run for an average of 5 hours a day but believe me most people start zoning out after 5 hours anyway and I don’t believe it is possible to cram more in even were we to go until 5pm. So we don’t! And it works! Everyone leaves grinning and happy and the feedback we get is brilliant.

STUDIO

My studio is well equipped and spacious, set in my lovely garden, with music and and chatter galore (of course we can always keep it quiet if that works better for you). The setting helps to put people at ease very quickly and creates an easy environment in which to learn. Myself and my team are all very supportive, patient and kind, and believe everybody can (and should!) learn to sew, and I honestly haven’t met anyone yet who I couldn’t teach to create something beautiful.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

I and all of my team, have a lot of experience in making and teaching, and have qualifications as well as many years of practical knowledge. Of course I believe you never stop learning and I myself am always expanding my skills. I know what kind of experience I expect in a learning environment, and believe I get it right, delivering a positive experience to my students. I believe in feedback and being adaptable, so all classes will have an element of being tailored to the students. I also firmly believe that you should come home from each class with something you have made, so you will!

SUPPORT

We often teach people who are neurodiverse, and we uniquely understand what children and adults need in a learning environment in order to feel comfortable. Some of our teachers are ND themselves and I myself have at least one ND son. We get it. The radio off, frequent breaks, reduce distractions, keep the classes small, reduce overwhelm, support, encourage and celebrate. It is second nature to us so you can rest assured you will love our classes.

Just wanted to say a huge thank you for teaching Z these last 3 weeks. She’s had an amazing time and has learnt so much. 

You are a wonderful teacher with lots of patience and understanding and just a lovely person. 

ALL GROUP CLASSES ARE LISTED AND CAN BE BOOKED FROM THE BOOKING PLATFORM

• SEWING FOR BEGINNERS – Learn to set up and use a sewing machine, make seams and hems, measure and cut etc. Small group (maximum 6) 5 hour class  BESTSELLER CLASS!
• DRESSMAKING 3 day workshop – Learn to read and adjust a pattern, and make up a garment. Very small class (max 4 people). 15 hr class BESTSELLER CLASS!
• MAKE A PAIR OF DUNGAREES – 20 hours of dressmaking skills, focusing on denim etc, getting to grips with top stitching, using hardware etc.
• ZIPS  – 10 hour class
• QUILTING WORKSHOP – Learn to measure, cut and stitch different quilt tops, learn to select wadding, stitch and bind. 6 hour/ 10 hour class or 15 hour classes available
• APPLIQUE & FREE MOTION EMBROIDERY WORKSHOP – 5 hour class
• BAG MAKING – 6.5 hour class, learn to use a heavier weight fabric and make a sturdy origami style shopper
• OVERLOCKER CLASS 1.5 hour class, usually only offered as a one to one
• KIDS SEWING CLASSES – We run weekly classes for children ages 8+ and also some weekend classes. Beginners and intermediate.
• KIDS HOLIDAY SEWING CLASSES – 4 hours a day of stitching fun, these classes will see young people making clothes, accessories etc after a thorough grounding in using the sewing machine
• SEWING MACHINE REPAIR – learn to service and repair your machine yourself!  Group and one to one classes

NOT ALL CLASSES RUN ALL THE TIME. PLEASE MESSAGE ME IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE ME TEACH A CLASS THAT ISN’T CURRENTLY ON OFFER

ALL GROUP CLASSES ARE LISTED AND CAN BE BOOKED FROM THE BOOKING PLATFORM

For all classes keep an eye on my schedule or even better, sign up for my mailing list here 

CLASS PROGRESSION

People often ask me about class progression – what order should they take classes in, and what is next after the beginners’ class? I have always left this really open as it all depends on what you want to achieve. For a lot of people being able to hem trousers or fix a dress is enough. For some people the dream is to make their own vintage-style dresses. Others want to learn to quilt, or aren’t yet so sure what they want to do with their new skills. And other people still want to learn how to do everything.

So progression is different for everyone, and after my beginners’ class all classes can be taken in any order. I highly recommend ‘Zips’ but after that (or even without that) you can do dressmaking, quilting, learn to make kids’ clothes, or applique. So that is why I’m a bit vague, because any route is good and all classes are accessible to beginners! 

PRIVATE LESSONS

For all kinds of reasons you may not be able to attend a group class, and I offer private classes at your home or in my studio. Please contact me on [email protected]

REVIEWS

“Jennie has been a fantastic teacher, getting me back into sewing after decades away from doing anything! She has been extremely patient in providing instructions and demonstrating techniques. I love her creative and can do approach – she knows all the technical ways to do things but is also able to adapt to whatever I’ve managed to muck up. I really appreciate her calmness in dealing with whatever arises, even when I’m panicking. I’ve done quite a few courses with Jennie, including making a kimono and dress which were great for building my confidence in following a pattern and re-learning lots of techniques. I keep coming back to Jennie’s classes because of her skills and expert but laid back teaching in her wonderful sewing room with radio 6 in the background providing a wonderful sound track” (Michelle)

+++++

“When I took up sewing 3 years ago, my attitude was “get a machine, watch YouTube vids and plunge right in.” Now, this is all very well, but for a beginner, there’s a lot to learn, and a lot that can go wrong. So after one too many afternoons sobbing over a snarled-up bobbin, an inexplicably bunny-hopping machine and a pile of ruined fabric, I decided to seek help.

That’s how I stumbled across Cheekyhandmades; small, relaxed group lessons led by the wonderful Jennie, in the garden studio of a fabric-hoarder’s dreams. 

I started with the 3-day dressmaking course; spread out over 3 weekends, 3 of us made the same dress. It’s the perfect way to start, covering everything from the very basics, like threading and using the machine and cutting out the fabric, through to making a toile, adjusting to fit, sewing the dress, unpicking the bits that went on back to front, re-sewing the dress right way round this time, and finally finishing the darn thing. 

Inspired by this, I went on to do many more classes: stretch fabric class, zip class, button class, kimono class, bags class, culotte class — I could go on. Jennie’s put on bespoke classes for me and a sewing buddy at our request, and even took us on a jaunt down Walthamstow market to introduce us to the fabric shops there (I’m now a regular in those shops, but they are a bit daunting to start off with).  

And I haven’t finished yet by a long shot — I’m looking forward to alterations class soon, and hopefully many others. 

Now, I have tried sewing classes elsewhere, and they were okay, I learnt stuff, they were helpful. But Jennie’s classes are special: relaxed, no-stress days filled with sewing, tea, conversation, music and cats. Lots of cats. 

I really can’t recommend Cheekyhandmades highly enough. If you’re thinking of giving it a go, just do it — you’ll be glad you did” (Kate)