Mending textiles is a popular and effective way to reduce waste and pollution. Every culture has its unique methods, and we are excited to introduce you to Boro, the Japanese art of mending. This tradition utilizes the sashiko stitch, a simple yet beautiful technique to renew fabric.

The repetitive movements of sashiko stitching can also promote mindfulness, offering a chance for your body to reset and activate its natural healing and renewal processes.

Join us to learn and share this experience with like-minded individuals.

**WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:
**
- The philosophy behind this mending technique
- How to design and create sashiko patterns
- Preparing the fabric for stitching
- Introduction to special tools used in sashiko
- Mastering the sashiko stitch

All equipment and materials are provided, but feel free to bring your own fabric or garments to mend. This short workshop will quickly deepen your textile skills, equipping you to confidently tackle larger projects.


Sashiko embroidery / Japanese mending

Josephine  Doorley 

Ann Robertson

Very relaxed but productive and informative workshop. What a lovely tutor and fantastic organisation. Looking forward to signing up for more classes. 

Calli Snowdon

Great course, demystified something I’ve been interim for years. Tutor was fantastic

Graziella Capuzzo

Too basic course, for me. Everyone were definitely nice and welcoming people. I feel I could have found the information provided by the tutor, especially at the beginning, on an introductory book, or video online. I was hoping for a basic project, no matter how simple, to be taught how to complete, during the session. We only leasurely practiced for the entire duration.

Fiona Christie

A really enjoyable small number class last night at the Drill Hall, Monika has a lovely relaxed teaching style and is generous with her knowledge and materials.  Will definitely return for other classes 

Sarah Hall

Great value class, I learned the techniques, about the materials and tools and a bit of the history behind Sashiko. Nice and relaxed atmosphere where our tutor answered questions and was on hand to show the techniques again if we couldn't quite remember. I managed to make something unique and now have the skills to do more. Recommended, no matter what your stitching skill level is, you'll learn something.

Mindful Stitching and Mending: Explore the Art of Japanese Techniques

Do you have a sewing machine at home but you don't know where to start? Thinking of getting a machine but aren't sure if sewing is for you?  

Then our Sewing Machine Workshop is exactly what you need. This workshop is designed to walk you through the basics, build your confidence and get you started on the exciting journey of sewing! Do you want to learn more about sewing and mending clothing using a sewing machine? 

You could mend some of your items during the workshop or make a zip pouch to practice various sewing techniques. 

The small workshop size ensures valuable one-to-one teacher and participant time, allowing maximum engagement and assistance.



We will cover:

-how to thread your machine, wind the bobbin, and change the needle

-looking at the different types of seams and finishing techniques

-practice how to sew straight lines, curves, and turn corners

-guide to mend your garments  or make a zip pouch

-how to maintain your sewing machine and prevent costly service charges.

-continue with your own craft projects.

All equipment and materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring along your own sewing machine if you wish to.

Sewing Machine Skills

Margaret Ritchie

An enjoyable class, with a skilled, helpful and friendly teacher

Rebecca Nurlu

I had such an amazing time at my basic sewing skills lesson. The equipment used was perfect for a beginner and I walked away from it with the confidence to use my sewing machine at home (setup, settings and more). Not only was my instructor absolutely lovely and very patient, the class format meant I acquired the skills to work on a variety of tasks. In my class I walked away with a very cute large pencil holder (which I now use as a travel makeup bag) and also fixed two items I had brought in. I think I’ve already saved in tailoring fees what I spent on the class! Looking forward to attending another class soon. 

Scott Dawson

Great tutoring and a very accessible class

Sewing Machine Skills - Make a pouch with us!

Liz Sutherland

Thoroughly enjoyed this course - well paced, supportive teachers, small group, excellent machines and materials….didn’t feel at all intimidated by my total lack of experience as teachers and student group so encouraging - hoping to do another course on quilting very soon.

Ruth  Ross

I very much enjoyed the evening. The instructor was very nice, patient and thorough. I was pleasantly surprised to come away with something I had made. I would recommend this course to anyone wanting to learn how to use a sewing machine.

Eleftheria  Minopoulou 

Amazing experience! I still can't believe that I made my own pouch with out any prior experience!  Now I m more confident to create my own projects!  Thank you very much! 

Sewing Machine Skills - Make a pouch with us or mend your clothing!

Jacqui

Very friendly teacher, no question a problem. She had the upmost confidence in us all and enjoyed our surprise, when we realised we could make something!

Leona  Douglas 

What a great course, Francine was the best teacher so patient helped everyone no matter what level they were at and showed everything step by step, I will definately do more courses as I feel so much more confident after this one, this is the second one I’ve done and this was the best by far 🙂

Celine Forez

Very happy with my pouch at the end of the class.
Tables are a bit wobbly and I think the class would benefit from printed instructions! But happy with how the final product turned out! Would recommend! 

Sian Hickson

The class was great and it was so satisfying to learn a new skill. Good value for money.

Katarzyna Langowska

Work course was truly the most engaging I’ve ever done.  Genuinely enjoyable and certainly useful.

Simona  Zhou

Loved this 3h workshop and it was lovely to be able to see the pouch at the end of the class and to take it home to show off  (despite all the imperfections) 😅. The teacher Jen was very experienced and patient, particularly with a beginner like me who never used a sewing machine before. 
I personally would have liked to have some keys notes to take home (or sent electronically) for future reminders/reference. But I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested to learn and gain confidence in starting machine sewing. It’s such a great skill to have to mend clothes, alter and create your unique pieces to save money and embark on a slow fashion movement. 🌿

Joanna Young

Excellent for learning the basics for using a sewing machine

Tom Pringle

Excellent! Does what it says in the tin, and more.
I only wanted to learn how to use a sewing machine to do simple hems.  I should point out that sewing machines have slightly intimidated me for decades so I would have been happy just to make the thing stitch straight lines.  But within no time our teacher had us all parctising our 'driving test' sewing backwards, forwards, changing direction and turning curves.  Then we were doing edges and zips and corners. Before I knew it we had all made a toiletries bag style zipped pouch.  Mine is a bit wonky, but I love it and I really surprsied at myself.  All this is down to the fantastic teacher who took care of every one of us, encouraging and guiding us every step of the way.  I would recommend the course to anyone wanting to learn this  incredibly useful, and sadly underrated, life skill. I'm now planning the course to attend. 


Rachel Ferguson

This is the second time I've done the class and I really enjoyed it. I ended up being the only attendee, so I was very grateful for the class still going ahead despite this.  As well as making a pouch we also repaired a hat. The teacher (I think her name was Jen but I'm not 100% sure!) was lovely and patient, I'd definitely go again!

Manel Bouazza

I am thrilled to have engaged in the course, the mentor is amazing! her instructions were so clear and straightforward that you can’t go wrong with them. It was an overall wonderful experience that I keep recommending to my sewing lovers friends. Keep up the great work!

Jessica Sweet

Great class! Detailed instruction from the very patient teacher and very friendly environment. Would repeat or take another offering!

Karolina Korthals

Great class teaching basic sewing machine skills. Highly recommend for beginners 

Clare Gibson

What a fun way to spend a morning! This class was pitched just right for a beginner like me. Francia was super welcoming, patient and made the learning fun.  I have now borrowed a sewing machine from a friend and will get experimenting!

Alex Cunningham

Great introductory class,  very clear teaching and a really inviting space!

Rosemarie  Downie

Had a very interesting time!!learnt  lots. Tutor was informative and patient!!looking forward to my next class 

Rachel Meacock

An excellent class which goes over all the essentials of learning how to use a sewing machine. Excellently paced and the small class size is great for getting feedback and catching any issues. 

Kaia Lichtarska 

Second class I took, it was amazing. I managed to alter a dress with the instructor's help. 

Kasia Zuk

I recently attended a sewing class and it was fantastic! The instructor was incredibly informative, patient, and super friendly. She made the whole experience enjoyable and easy to follow, especially for beginners. I had little to no experience with a sewing machine, but I felt completely comfortable and supported throughout the class. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who’s just starting out or looking to build their confidence with sewing. A great experience all around!

Helen Purves

I attended the sewing machine skills class to get to know my own machine better. It was a great thing to do as it allowed me time to experiment with different stitches, stitch lengths, speeds and learn what the different feet are for. The teacher was very patient and encouraging. Making the pouch with zip was an excellent exercise to check your basic skills. I definitely feel more confident to do more complex sewing now and look forward to signing up for more classes and workshops. 

Learn sewing machine fundamental skills to create unique and exciting projects!

Sewing Machine Skills for Beginners- Make a pouch with us or mend your clothing!

If you wish to breathe new life into your wardrobe and make it more sustainable, this is your chance. Whether you need to mask a stain, repair a garment, tailor a dress, or transform trousers into a skirt, Monika will provide you with the skills to fall in love with your pieces again. Don’t forget to bring your accessories and leather items as well!

**How Does It Work?
**

Simply bring your own pieces of clothing to our studio and work with our designer, Monika, to alter, upcycle, and repair them. Monika will guide you through the entire creative process, from design to execution. Together, we will explore ways to redesign your clothes to fit your style and measurements. You’ll also benefit from learning alongside your classmates, having fun, and enjoying time in a friendly, relaxed social enterprise.
The small workshop size (4 people max.) ensures valuable one-to-one teacher and participant time, allowing maximum engagement and assistance.

**By the End of the Workshop, You Will:
**
- Have clothes that fit you and reflect your style.
- Have basic skills in alteration, upcycling, mending, and repair, along with special tools.
- Have the confidence to continue restyling, upcycling, and mending your clothes in the future.
- Develop self-reliant skills to improve the sustainability of your wardrobe.
- Contribute to reducing textile waste! By extending the life of your clothes for an extra 9 months, you can reduce their carbon footprint by 20-30%.

**What’s Included:
**
All of the materials and tools you need to upcycle or repair your garments.

**Few Examples of Garments and Accessories:
**
- Items that are too big or too small
- Broken zippers
- Clothes with stains, holes, or rips
- Knitted garments
- Items that are too short or too long
- Items you’re completely unsure how to handle

Please feel free to bring 4-6 pieces of your garments; there will be plenty of room to consult on the best way to alter them. This is a problem-solving class, so just bring items that aren't fitting you!
Join us to learn creative methods, gain new skills, and have fun in our creative studio space!

**Session Repeats:
**
This class series runs over 2 consecutive sessions, which are 1 week apart.


Clothing redesign and alteration

Fiona Jack

Excellent class - Monika shared useful practical ideas that will have me tackling clothing alterations in a more imaginative way. 
Lovely small group and good resources 

Clothing Redesign and Alteration

Anna Morton

I really enjoyed this course. I was a bit nervous about attending as I was out of practice using the sewing machine and not sewn for a while. 

Monika totally put me and the other attendee at ease and we went through lots of useful information to help guide our decisions. 

At the second day of the class, I brought some additional items with me to discuss and overall between the two sessions I altered a skirt and a top that had been hanging in the wardrobe not being worn for years! Both are now much better and more usable and I am looking forward to wearing them again. I would definitely attend further classes with Remode Collective. 

Anna

I really enjoyed this course. I was a bit nervous about attending as I was out of practice using the sewing machine and not sewn for a while. Monika totally put me and the other attendee at ease and we went through lots of useful information to help guide our decisions. At the second day of the class, I brought some additional items with me to discuss and overall between the two sessions I altered a skirt and a top that had been hanging in the wardrobe not being worn for years! Both are now much better and more usable and I am looking forward to wearing them again. I would definitely attend further classes with Remode Collective.

Shona   Ferguson

THanks Shona enjoyed despite timings not clear thus missed some of first session and was unclear if follow up session going ahead

Redesign, alteration,  self-tailoring - sustainable wardrobe

Kirsty Atkinson

This was such an informative and fun class, gave me loads of helpful advice and ideas for my sewing. Lots of focus on sustainability and affordability. Highly recommend!

Jennie Creitzman

Great teacher, facilities and Organisation, but not quite enough time and structure to complete tasks.  
Would still go back though :)

Hannah Copestake

Inspiring course! I feel so excited to start changing up my wardrobe and caring for my clothes better. Gonna try and book on another course soon!

Valerie Jackman

What a great course.  The tutor was really helpful and shared so many fantastic ideas. I highly recommend this course. 

Paula Bell

Lovely tutor who was extremely friendly & knowledgeable & gave great advice. The course is two evenings over four hours. First class was talking through alteration methods which was informative & opened up a lot of ideas to be able to mend items brought to class. It did mean we were left with only 2 hours to do any alterations which felt too little. Feel like classes need to be longer or over more evenings. On a whole enjoyed the experience. 

Anna Eden

During our two sessions, we discussed about six different ideas, and also had the chance to hear about what others were working on. I also picked up some creative techniques for my future projects. These sessions were truly inspiring and brought to light fresh ideas that hadn't crossed my mind before. I successfully wrapped up two of the projects, but there's still a bit of homework to tackle. Thanks so much for the help and patience. 

Josephine  Doorley Petersson 

Helen Hughes

Fantastic: so useful and a very friendly atmosphere of teamwork and creativity.

Sew, Upcycle, Repair, and Redesign for a Sustainable Wardrobe

Pauline  Crerar 

enjoyed the small group atmosphere.  got loads of tips.

Debbie Bayne

Great workshop - lots of tips and techniques and I learned as much from seeing others’ projects as I did my own. Monika is very skilled and knowledgeable, and the small class size means everyone gets lots of attention. And, despite being a lifelong needle worker I found out about two tools I’d never encountered before! Excellent.

Teresa O'Dwyer

Monika’s knowledge, experience and simple effective suggestions, encourage confidence to transform garments. 

linda everett

Excellent course. I’ve learned several new skills and particularly enjoyed learning about darning. Monica was a wonderful teacher, patient and very engaging. Can’t wait to sign up to a future course. 

belinda dewar

Attending Remode session with Monika is a treat that is in store for you. I went along tired from a busy day to feel energised and intrigued at the end of it  by all that was taught and shared. So many interesting tips to learn from Monika who is gentle in her approach and never makes you feel silly with the questions you ask. The pace was perfect and the way she had planned the session was thoughtful and sensible. I took 3 items along to get some help and ideas to reshape - great ideas that I had never thought of.  It is a treat to have the small group and learn from how they can reshape and transform their items too. I have already booked to go to future sessions

Do you have items in your wardrobe that you like but somehow you don’t wear? Let's change that!

This workshop is designed to quickly walk you through the basics, build your confidence and get you started on the exciting journey of sewing and mending!

The small workshop size ensures valuable one-to-one teacher and participant time, allowing maximum engagement and assistance.  It is an easy to follow class with clear simple instructions.

Using a sewing box or sewing machine, easily creating new garments as well as mending or altering existing items is a sustainable and eco-friendly way of reducing garment waste and extending the life of our garments.

We will cover:
- introduction to sewing with the sewing machine
- looking at the different types of seams and finishing techniques
- how to make basic alterations and the hem
- introduction to mending: hand-sewing technics, dry felting, and many more.

If you have a special piece that you want to alter, redesign or repair, bring it with you and we will help you to achieve your goals.
All equipment and some materials will be provided but you are welcome to bring along your own sewing machine if you wish.

Please Note: We correspond only via email. Kindly check your email the day before the workshop for any notifications.



Basic sewing : A Lifetime Skill 

Parker- jorjah  Anderson-brown 

Absolutely fabulous. 
Posting on behalf of my daughter. 
She  did 2 courses with remode collective. 
She is very young(10) extremely keen and now full of inspiration. 
My daughter is autistic and has ADHD . Her teacher was full of knowledge (Rita) 
I would like to say a massive thankyou. 
Definitely will be back and excited to learn more . 
Thanks PJ 

Andrea Fraser

I very much enjoyed the course in basic dressmaking. It was good revision for me as I haven't sewn much for several years, and it has encouraged me to get going again, with more confidence. 

Julian Ellis-Brown

An excellent introduction to sewing techniques, I brought my own small project which I was able to complete within the time - highly recommend!

Isabel Simpson

Really enjoyed  this class, would recommend to anyone wishing to start  sewing  . 🧵

Patrick Dunne

The workshop was very good. Very welcoming and helpful. I am as complete beginner but have signed up for a 4 week dressmaking course with remode as a result of this course!

Jen Harris

Friendly knowledgeable teacher and a good class size, small enough that you could get personal attention when you needed it but also good to have others there with their own questions etc. Definitely recommend this for anyone who's a complete beginner or like me just very very rusty!

Elise

really enjoyed the class. First time using a sewing machine and felt I got a grasp on the basics.  Also surprised by how much I enjoyed learning some new hand sewing stitches. The class was small and the teacher so lovely. Would definitely recommend! 

Juno Neal

I really enjoyed the workshop, Grace was lovely and explained everything really well, the project was fun and I had a great time! 

Alexandra Birch

My girls had a wonderful time and learned a lot! 

Basic sewing :  A Lifetime Skill 

Shona Kelt

Great 3 hours going over the basics, with a machine and by hand.  Small group so very easy to ask questions and make sure we all understood.   Great help/advise for mending clothes.  My daughter (16) got some material and did a fantastic job of fixing her jacket with the stitches she had learnt. 

Leona 

I learned how to thread the machine and how to do different stitches, teacher was very friendly, venue was okay but comfy seats would be good, used my own machine which was great.

Adrienne Zitt

Fab workshop, lovely atmosphere, and I walked home having learned basic stitches and mended a dress. Now keen to purchase a sewing machine for the first time in my life! Thanks Jen :-)

Antonia Clark

Francia was really welcoming and friendly and taught us LOADS in the short time we had. I’m so pleased to practice new skills and hopefully book in some more courses. 

Vicky  Dougal

Fantastic class and teacher.  Will certainly do another class

Rebecca Petrie

Francia was an incredible teacher. Very knowledgeable and supportive. She really made me feel like I could do whatever I set my mind to! I definitely would say I've been inspired to follow this new-found hobby through, go to another class and keep adding to my skills. So excited to one day own my own sewing machine!

Monica Mateiu

This company has some very shady practices. I was looking forward to the course, but five days before I had to cancel due to family issues and a work trip. Any other similar programmes would allow you to reschedule and join a future course, seeing as you've already PAID for it. Not Remode Collective. I asked to join a course at the end of June, giving them a month's notice. They refused to confirm, saying they'll first see if the course gets filled, and then accommodate me if it doesn't. And by 'accommodate' they mean they'll let me know 'a few days before the course starts'. So they prioritise new customers over the ones who've already paid, but not received the service they paid for. They take your money and if you have to cancel within less than 10 days, you don't get a refund or the choice to attend a future course that suits you.

Great workshop in basic skills, which helped me finally pluck up the courage to get my new sewing machine out of plastic and start practicing stitches. Highly recommend!

Joanna Squiban

I really enjoyed the Basic sewing class last night, Kerry was absolutely brilliant! Very fun and professional. I learned a lot of tips for mending my clothes and I would love to attend another class soon! 

Beck Elphinstone

Cerri gave us an over view of different ways in which to repair various items of clothing to prevent them going to landfill. We covered different mending techniques, practiced a few key stitches. We each brought an item of clothing to obtain advice as to how to go about fixing. I took a wholly jumper. Which I have now completed repairing. Result, I will wear it proudly tomorrow! Thank you Cerri! ❤️🪡🧵

Trent Jennings

Fantastic introduction to sewing and great explanation of when and how to apply stitches for clothing repairs. Will be exploring this more. Thanks

Caroline Murray

This was a brilliant course that gave me the basic skills I need to use a sewing machine.  Having only 4 people on the course meant the instructor had plenty of time to answer our questions and give us bespoke advice.

Faith Palmer -Barrett

The course is super basic and packed with tips so really good for beginners. I already do a lot of hand stitching but it was nice to be officially taught so I don't feel like I'm free styling every 
project so much.

Angelene McGinty

Really enjoyed this course - so much so , I'm hoping to sign up for the 4 week dressmaking course in the NY.  The instructor was very knowledgeable and I felt I took a lot of useful info away with me.  Nice class size (we should have been 5 but someone had to cancel so we were 4 which meant we had loads of time to ask questions etc).  Would definitely book with Remode again.  

Ania Lipczynska

Andreas Makas

Was a really great experience! Definitely would move on to the more advanced courses. 

Rachel Watson

Great course, the teacher was very patient and experienced, explaining all methods and problems that we encountered. We left feeling more confident and like we had learnt a lot

Lidia Brocchin

This is a great course if you want to learn the basics skills of how to use a machine and not just that,  you can bring an item to be repaired including hand sewing, the class is small so a lot of individual attention.  Annika was really good.

Violet Pappe

Amazing! Everyone was so nice and teacher was very easy to follow. We did not have enough time to try the different settings.

Katarzyna Lichtarska

A great place and a nice experience to be able to learn practical skills. 

Nadja Mair

Very relaxed atmosphere and small group allowed teacher to tailor (no pun intended) the session to our individual needs. Am already thinking about which class to book next.

Sarah Hutchison

Amazing class, very helpful, and definitely teaches you a lifetime skill!

Liz Sheppard

Fantastic class and learned so much in one session. I used a sewing machine for the very first time, and also a couple of hand sewing stitches to enable me to finally mend a bag. Can't wait to sign up for another session. Thank you!

Eva G Mendez

Do you have 3 hours to spare to learn a life skill that can help make the planet greener? Basic sewing skills is an integral aspect of our culture. 

Give your child a chance to learn real-world skills while having fun! This hands-on workshop focuses on practical sewing techniques that kids can use right away to repair, create, and customize their own items.

With small group sizes, every participant gets plenty of one-on-one support, making it easy to learn step-by-step and complete their projects with confidence. Kids will leave with practical skills and projects they can proudly show off or gift to others.


What They’ll Do:

- Master the Basics: Learn to thread and use a sewing machine, plus how to mend by hand with simple stitching techniques.
- Creating something new—like a pencil case, cushion cover, or small accessory.
- Creative Details: Add personality to their projects with embroidery, beading, or decorating.

For Ages: 8-14 years.
Location: Our fully equipped studio, designed for fun, learning, and creativity.
By the end of the day, your child will know how to handle basic repairs, create unique items, and explore their creativity through textile art. Book a spot today for a day of hands-on learning and fun!


Creative Kids Sewing Camp

Peter Simpson

My daughter's did the Creative Kids Sewing Camp and it was absolutely incredible. Neither had used a sewing machine before and hadn't much experience with a needle and thread either, but after a day they had made a scarf, a pencil case and a backpack. By day two this had escalated to making their own teddy bear and kimono! Jen had picked out some amazing fabrics for them, and is an excellent teacher based on what they are producing in such a short time. Would recommend the course to anyone. A sewing machine will definitely be on the Christmas list this year!

Charlotte  Brink 

My daughter did the 3 day sewing course for kids durung the holidays and wow just wow. She came home with new skills, the sewing machine,  how to iron, dry felting, measuring,  embroidery,  tried hand stitching, fixing broken toys, etc. I love my new tote bag she made me, her skirt, cushion cover. I'm just amazed and delighted to see the joy, and how she made new friends. It's a welcoming warm studio, the teachers are very patient and kind. It's a lifelong skill to learn in a great environment and it even made me dusting off my own sewing machine and fixing broken things at home. Thank you Remode for giving my daughter a great experience,  I definitely recommend this sewing course 😊 

Laura  Inglis 

My daughter really enjoyed the kids sewing camp! She attended all 3 days and enjoyed them all. They achieved a lot each day and this gave her a huge sense of achievement. Thanks for running the course

One-Day Kids Sewing Workshop

Annie  Soane

My 10 and 11 year olds had a fantastic day at the one day kids one shop,  making really professional looking bags and having a really inspiring time.  Looking forward to signing them up for another course soon! 

Orla Ryan-Saha

India  Bain 

Fiona Buick

It was really fun and i made a jacket. There was lots of different kinds of fabrics to choose from.

Oksana Ananyeva

My daughter was very happy with the sewing workshop and was very proud of herself as she was able to create a wonderful blouse. Great communication from the team.

Sashiko embroidery / Japanese mending

Age Requirement