Beginner Sewing Series

Have you always wanted to learn how to sew, but felt unsure where to start—or what even to make first? Our three-week Beginner Sewing Series with Alex Mannle is a gentle, confidence-building introduction to using a sewing machine, simple patterns, and finishing three practical projects you’ll actually use: a scrunchie, a roll-up pillowcase, and a flat-bottom zipper pouch. No prior experience is required—just curiosity, a willingness to learn, and a couple of Saturday afternoons set aside for yourself

It runs on Saturday, February 14, February 21, and February 28 from 12 pm to 2 pm.

In Class One, you’ll get comfortable with the sewing machine itself: how to thread it, wind a bobbin, sew a straight seam, and safely start and stop your stitches. Once you’ve practiced the basics, you’ll make a simple fabric scrunchie in four easy seams—a quick, low-pressure project that lets you walk out of your very first class with a finished make on your wrist or in your hair.

Class Two is all about building your skills and your confidence with fabric handling. You’ll sew a roll-up style pillowcase with fully finished seams, giving you lots of practice with pinning, ironing, and stitching in a straight line while learning what “finished” seams look and feel like in a real project. By the end, you’ll have a cozy, custom pillowcase and a much better feel for how fabric, pins, and the iron all work together.

In Class Three, you’ll meet some of the most useful presser feet and learn what each one does, so your machine starts to feel like a flexible tool instead of a mystery. You’ll put those new skills into practice by sewing a flat-bottom zipper pouch—perfect for notions, pens, makeup, or anything small you want to corral—so you leave with both a finished project and a new comfort level with zippers and machine accessories.

Registration Note: In this series, students will be working with sewing machines, scissors, pins, irons, and other sharp or hot tools, so participants must be old enough to use them safely and responsibly; please use your best judgment when registering yourself or a young person.