Sewing Essentials Course

Start your sewing journey with our sewing short courses in Sydney!

Sewing Essentials is a beginner-friendly course designed for those with little to no sewing experience. Whether you're brand new to using a sewing machine or looking to refresh your basic skills, this course will help you build strong foundations in a fun and practical way.

In these hands-on sewing classes, you’ll learn how to confidently use a sewing machine—including setup, troubleshooting, and stitch options. You’ll explore different seams and hem finishes, how to attach two types of pockets, and how to select and understand commercial patterns. You'll also learn how to properly lay a pattern onto fabric for cutting, with guidance on working with different fabric types like stretch, velvet, and one-way prints.

To consolidate your skills, you’ll complete three beginner-friendly projects: a pincushion, a lined zippered pouch, and a pair of beautiful cotton pillowcases. Along the way, you’ll develop good sewing habits and gain the confidence to continue your sewing journey at home.

You’ll find this course not only enjoyable but also incredibly rewarding as you build a skill that lasts a lifetime. And be warned—once you’ve made your first creation, you might just find yourself addicted to sewing!

Learning outcomes

By the end of this sewing course, you should be able to:

• Set up, maintain, and make adjustments to your sewing machine
• Perform a range of basic sewing techniques
• Understand and follow simple commercial patterns
• Complete a series of beginner sewing projects

Upon completion of this course, you might like to enrol in our Sewing Extension Course

Course content

What will be covered in this sewing course?

Session 1: Get to know your machine

• Safe sewing practices
• Parts of the sewing machine and how they work
• Machine setup and adjusting thread tension
• Machine cleaning and maintenance
• Stitch types and settings (e.g. zigzag, stitch length)
• Speed control and basic practice on calico

Session 2: Seams and finishes

• Learn six common seam types and their best uses for different fabrics
• Explore six hem finishes and when to apply each one

Session 3: Pockets

• How to sew two pocket types: a basic unlined patch pocket and a lined patch pocket

Session 4: Patterns and cutting

• Reading a commercial sewing pattern and understanding pattern markings
• How to match fabric with patterns effectively
• Cutting techniques and fabric considerations (e.g. nap, stretch, one-way prints)

Sessions 5 & 6: Final projects

• Project 1: A pair of cotton English-style pillowcases with internal flaps
• Project 2: A fully lined zippered pouch with boxed corners

Please note:
If you're enrolled in a 6-week evening class, you'll complete one lesson per session. If you're attending a 3-week daytime class, you'll cover two lessons per session.

Intended audience

Who is this sewing course for?

This course is ideal for absolute beginners or those with limited sewing experience who want to build confidence with sewing machines and basic projects.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

You’ll need to bring the following items to your first class:

• 50cm of calico (at least 120cm wide)
• One packet of two clear plastic Singer bobbins (if using a College machine—see below if bringing your own)
• Yellow glass-headed quilting pins and hand sewing needles
• Two reels of quality sewing thread in different colours (not white, cream or black)—brands such as Gutermann, Aurifil, or Mettler recommended
• One pack of 12mm bias binding in any colour
• One 8” (20cm) nylon dress zip (not metal or invisible)
• One pair of good-quality fabric cutting scissors
• One pair of small thread snips or clippers
• One pair of cheap paper scissors
• 120” (300cm) tape measure
• Notebook, ruler, pen, and pencil
• A good sense of humour!

Sewing machine:
You’re welcome to bring your own machine (if portable), along with the manual and two bobbins specific to your model. Please do not bring your own machine if travelling by public transport.

Needles and bobbins:

• Machines on campus use standard domestic needles (look for 130/705 H on the pack). Size 80 or 90 is ideal for sew-all thread.
• Bobbins for College machines must be plastic, top-loading (drop-in). Look for packaging that specifies suitability for Singer or Janome drop-in machines. Avoid “universal” bobbins.

Additional information

Please note the following:

• Your tutor will email class notes one week before the course. Please print and bring them to each session.
• Additional fabric will need to be purchased for your projects. The tutor will advise you on what to buy.
• For full-day classes, a 30-minute lunch break will take place halfway through. You’re welcome to bring your lunch or visit one of the nearby cafes on Darling Street.
• Please wear closed-in shoes for safety.