Beginners 5 week sewing course

Charmingo Sews Academy is running a five-week sewing course for beginners at Unit 218, Queens Dock Business Centre, starting Sunday 15 November. It's built for complete beginners, nervous starters, and returning sewists looking to drop bad habits, so you don't need any prior experience to join in.

Over the five weeks, you'll master the machine and make a project in every single session. You'll start with a zip pouch and a large lined tote bag, move on to accessories and bunting, and finish with a bespoke apron to take home. It's a steady climb from the basics to something you'll actually use, and you'll have a finished piece to show for your time each week. Bringing your own machine is encouraged but not required, and you'll need to bring fabric for the final projects in week four.

The course is run by Charmingo Sews Academy, which bills itself as the largest independent sewing school in the north of England and is a women-owned business. Their waterfront studio in Liverpool's Baltic Triangle takes in three rooms: a 26-seat sewing studio, a 12-seat craft room, and a chill-out area with a coffee station, all with views over the city's docks. The minimum age is 13, so it's open to teens as well as adults.

Sessions run for two and a half hours each, five in total over the five weeks, with the first starting at 17:00 on Sunday 15 November. The cost is £310 per guest, with an optional full take-home sewing kit available as an add-on for £32. You'll find the studio at Unit 218, Queens Dock Business Centre, 67-83 Norfolk Street, L1 0BG.