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Sew Wut!? Creative Machine Sewing for the Absolute Beginner (Video Course 9-13)

Completed by 43 learners

Ages 8-12

Self-Paced Course

This beginner sewing course takes the creative beginner step by step through proper sewing machine set up and safe machine operation and then efficiently walks them through creating and sewing a nice sized, lined, keepsake bag!

Lisa O.

Average rating:

4.9

Number of reviews:

(117 reviews)

4 pre-recorded lessons

4 weeks of teacher support

Choose your start date

1 year of access to the content

Enroll Now, Start Anytime

Go at your own pace

Your learner can start learning when they want and progress at the speed that works best for them.

Enroll Now, Start Anytime

Start when you want.

Learn at your own pace

Access course material for a full year.

Get hands-on support from teacher.

About Learning Overview Schedule Teacher Reviews

What's included

4 pre-recorded lessons

4 weeks

of teacher support

1 year access

to the content

Homework

1 hour per week. There are class and prep work videos in this course. All will be listed in the classroom.

Assessment

They are more than welcome to show me their work along the way!

Class Experience

This beginner sewing course takes the creative beginner step by step through proper sewing machine set up and safe machine operation and then efficiently walks them through creating and sewing a nice sized, lined, keepsake bag!   

No prior sewing machine knowledge is required.  

The ultimate goal isn’t the bag itself but to jump start the beginner's proficiency to independently use all of their sewing machine’s features. 

The 8 creative swatches, for the front and back of the bag, are necessary to complete, in order to help them learn to operate their machine, build their sewing confidence, spark their creativity, keep them motivated and ultimately prepare them to sew the entire bag, straps and lining together. 

(It’s a well thought out, creative, sneaky, pedagogically sound, practice plan! Shhhhh!) 

I’ve designed the tote pattern myself so learners can keep their focus on learning their machines and how to measure and how to sew, rather than being bogged down and discouraged by trying to learn to read a  pattern, with lots of instructions, at the same time they’re trying to learn about their sewing machines. 

This also allows anyone from around the world to take this course. 

The course videos are a total of 5 hours of content with over 450+ custom slides with custom videos, photos and graphics. 

What's going on in this course...

CLASS 1 (You'll receive classes 1 and 2 the first week): 

Everything they need to know about their machine and how to use it properly. (Video length 1:25:09)

Video for prep work for next class (Video length 00:32:59)

Class 2:

All about preparing their fabric and learning how to sew. (Video length 00:57:33)
Video for prep work for the next class (Video length 00:5:13)

Class 3:

Zippers, decorative stitches, applique and buttonholes (Video length 00:52:31)
Video for prep work for the next class (Video length 00:24:13)

Class 4: 

Measuring and cutting fabric (Video length 00:52:57)
Video for prep work for the next class (Video length 00:12:38)

Class 5: 

Sewing everything together into their keepsake tote! (Video length 0:50:02)
Show N Tell 

#creative

Learning Goals

This absolute beginner will learn machine usage and several foundational techniques and ends with them making a customized, keepsake tote, for their supplies, with all of their baby steps displayed right on it!

Syllabus

4 Lessons

over 4 Weeks

Lesson 1:

Classes 1 and 2

 CLASS 1 (You'll receive classes 1 and 2 the first week): 

Everything they need to know about their machine and how to use it properly. (Video length 1:25:09)

Video for prep work for next class (Video length 00:32:59)

Class 2:

All about preparing their fabric and learning how to sew. (Video length 00:57:33)
Video for prep work for the next class (Video length 00:5:13)

Lesson 2:

Class 3

 Zippers, decorative stitches, applique and buttonholes (Video length 00:52:31)
Video for prep work for the next class (Video length 00:24:13)

Lesson 3:

Class 4

 Measuring and cutting fabric (Video length 00:52:57)
Video for prep work for the next class (Video length 00:12:38)

Lesson 4:

Class 5

 Sewing everything together into their keepsake tote! (Video length 0:50:02)
Show N Tell

Other Details

Parental Guidance

Parents may need to help your learner, with several different things, during this course. There is a lot to this course so you’ll just have to be mindful of what your learner can and cannot handle, such as ironing and operating the machine. Parents, I've also built this course for you to use to be able to assess how well your learner is able to function independently and emotionally through a large course and project. This course will be available for 3 months after the ending date. I know life gets in the way sometimes so just know that that's fine so have your learner go at their own pace until they finish. I'm always happy to see bags after the end date!

Supply List

A detailed master supply list with photos in a PDF file will be attached to the learner's welcome email here on the Outschool student portal.  

Learners need a basic sewing machine and its accessories (button hole maker foot, zipper foot etc.) to complete this course.  They must have access to their machine manual or they will be terribly frustrated with this entire course. 

I have many parents ask me for machine suggestions.  

Here's my opinion for what it's worth.  

I definitely wouldn't purchase one of the tiny ones that only does a straight stitch even though yes you can sew on them, since my class is crash a course about machine sewing and I promise that your learner will love sewing by the time they finish my course!  

I always suggest that you purchase a name brand machine (like Brother or Singer) just in case your learner doesn't enjoy sewing and you can always offload a name brand easier.  Ask around, you may be able to borrow one too for this course. 

Learners need a basic sewing machine that has these features to be able to complete this course.
🧵 Zigzag foot
🧵 Buttonhole foot
🧵 Straight and zig zag stitches 
🧵 Preferably several decorative stitches. 
🧵 A manual (digital or printed)

External Resources

In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:

Youtube

Meet the teacher

Lisa O.

Joined May, 2020

4.9

117reviews

Profile

Teacher expertise and credentials

Bachelor's Degree in Music or Theatre or Arts from Bob Jones University

From age 12-55 I've been sewing and have sewed everything from my own clothes, to all of my bridesmaids dresses, to upholstering furniture and making custom costumes.  

I'll be focused on coaching your learner during this course, that's if I can see them working.