Almost everyone who inherits or invests in a sewing machine gets familiar with one or two of the feet that come with their machine and a few of the stitches it can do. Make Your Feet Dance is a series of short workshops in which you will be supported to use and learn what all the machine feet in your machine caddy can do. Alongside this, you will gain a better understanding of many machine stitches and when to use them.
While you will not be making specific items during the sessions, you will be creating your own folder of sewn samples, notes and information to take home as an aide memoire when stitching at home.
The workshops will be delivered using in-house Brother SH40 sewing machines. If you prefer to use your own sewing machine, please contact us before booking. For all participants to get the most out of these sessions, sewing machines need to be of a similar spec. If your machine’s spec is different, we can discuss arranging a bespoke session for you.
Feet covered in this workshop series are:
- Straight stitch and zig zag foot – using basic stitches for seams on different types of fabrics
- Using an overcast foot and zig-zag foot to prevent edges fraying on a variety of fabrics
- Blind hem foot to sew hems on garments
- Buttonhole foot – how to sew a variety of automatic buttonholes on different fabrics
- Button fitting foot – sew buttons on using your machine.
- Zipper Foot – how to place and sew in zip fasteners; placing a centre zip
The series of workshops will consist of six sessions, each two hours.
All sessions take place on Sundays from 1-3pm.
The dates are October 19th & 26th and November 2nd, 9th, 16th & 23rd 2025.
1. Basic and zigzag stitching foot
- Altering stitch length and widths
- Discovering types straight and zigzag stiches
- Locking in stitches
- Changing sewing direction
- Sewing an even seam allowance
- Sewing different fabrics
2. The overcasting foot and Blind hem foot
- Using overcasting to prevent frayed edges
- Using overcasting as a stretch fabric hem
- Discovering types of overcasting stitches
- Using the blind hem foot to sew hems on thick and normal fabric.
- Using the free arm to sew cylinders
- Sewing a narrow hem using basic foot.
3.Buttonhole and button sewing
- How to prep different fabric types to sew a buttonhole
- Selecting which buttonhole stitch
- Using the buttonhole foot to sew an automatic buttonhole.
- What if my button is too big for the gauge?
- Sewing buttonholes on stretch fabrics
- Button sewing using the button fitting foot.
4. Using the Zipper Foot
- Inserting a centred zip
- Inserting a tabbed zip
5. Using the decorative stitches on the machine
- Altering the stitch lengths and width for decorative uses.
- Creating a sewn stitch index for your machine
- Introductory play with applique methods.
6.Different stitch applications
- Attaching elastic tape
- Fagoting
- Scalloped edge using Monogramming foot N
There is the potential to schedule an extra add-on sessions for those interested in learning how to set up and begin using the Walking Foot and Free Motion Quilting & Embroider foot. We will gauge interest from those participants who book onto the course.
Note: We require four participants to run this course.
