Young Sewing Machine Skills: Soft Toy Course

Over the 5 weeks we will learn the following skills:
- reading pattern instructions
- cutting out and laying out paper patterns
- understanding pattern markings
- pinning and cutting fabric using paper patterns
- sewing around curves
- adding features
- how to stuff toys
- sewing different fabric types

We will progress the toys each week at a speed to suit the individual learners, therefore the group will not always all be at the same point at the end of each session. This is partly because some of the animals are easier than others too!

This course is for young people with basic knowledge of how to use a sewing machine, recommended for children aged between 8 and 14 years old. Children over 14 are welcome to attend the adult Sewing Machine Skills course.

You should be able to thread up the machine, fill a bobbin and be confident to sew in a straight-ish line to come on this course. Hand sewing skills would also be useful but not essential for adding features etc. These can be taught within the course if needed.

Thread, stuffing, use of equipment and the pattern is included within the cost of the course. Children need to buy fabric to make their chosen animal with them to the first session as listed below:

Fabric ideally should not be stretchy or shiny but pretty much anything else will work fine. Eg: cotton, poly cotton, fleece, corduroy, poplin, denim, etc.

Pattern 1090: Dog, Bunny, Monkey, Bear, Lamb
All animals need 0.5m of two different fabrics (essentially one for head and one for body) except the lamb which needs small amounts of another colour as well for its hands and feet.
We can supply small bits of black felt or buttons for eyes etc, however if the toy chosen has a face (lamb, monkey & bear) please bring this along with you approx 23cm x 30cm or 9" x 12" in imperial.

Pattern 1549: Owl, Bunny, Raccoon, Fox, Deer
All animals need 0.5m of two different fabrics (essentially one for head and one for body) except the lamb which needs small amounts of another colour as well for its hands and feet.
We can supply small bits of black felt or buttons for eyes etc, however if the toy chosen has a face (fox and raccoon) please bring this along with you approx 14cm x 27cm or 5" x 10" in imperial.

Please specify which pattern your child would like to work from when booking so we can ensure we have the right ones in stock for session one of the course.

Your parents are allowed to stay if they insist but we feel they tend to get in the way and make the place look messy – so please ask them to drop you off! Karen has a full DBS check and experience of working in both primary and secondary schools – references are available on request.

You will take home all the skills you learn, the toy(s) you produce during the sessions and the pattern to use again to make more toys at home.