Friendly, Sewing and Creative classes For all levels of ability
Supporting you to grow your creativity
Welcome to our Alice and ginny community.
Alice and Ginny is a collaboration between textile professionals, Alice Butcher and Ginny Farquhar.
We began working together in 2001 and ran an up-cycled textiles business, Folkydokee Handmade, designing for and exhibiting at many fairs including Country living and House and Garden Fairs. We have co-authored three sewing craft books with publisher David and Charles, and since 2009 have been teaching sewing and creative skills at art centres, schools, fairs and private settings across the south of England.
With a combined 70 years+ of professional experience in the sewing and textiles field, our vast skills base supports learners with a variety of techniques and approaches, including learning to sew, dressmaking, soft furnishings, patchwork, textile repair, applique, natural dyes and more.
We love to support you with your projects at what ever stage you are at, with kindness and enthusiasm, helping you to grow in confidence and independence.
Foundation Program - Strip cushion
Starting your sewing journey
New to sewing? then begin here.
We have a tried and tested foundation program which helps you to gain sewing machine skills and learn basic core sewing techniques. Whilst working through specially designed projects, including a strip cushion cover with a lap zip, a stuffed heart decoration and an applique lined bag, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you gain confidence.
Over the past 17 years we have helped hundreds of people get started with sewing and have seen them progress to more complex projects.
Our foundation program is suitable for completes beginners and those returning to sewing and wanting a refresher.
Please note, we run this program on Sewcialise Wednesday evening class at Farnham Maltings and at Saturday Sewing at Phoenix Arts, Bordon only.
The foundation program comprises;
Sewing machine terminology and set up, including threading and winding a bobbin.
fabric knowledge and preparation
pinning and cutting
seams and seam neatening stitches.
a basic lap zip
sewing curves
turning corners
applique
buttonholes
slip stitch
running stitch
sewing on a button
We look forward to welcoming you to our famous Alice and Ginny ‘Strip cushion club’.
continuing your sewing journey
ALREADY SEW AND WANT HELP TO PROGRESS? READ ON
Dressmaking is very popular with our students. The opportunity to make beautiful garments in fabrics of your own choice, safe in the knowledge that what you are creating is totally unique to you and fits perfectly.
We understand the frustrations associated with making your own clothes and therefore, we take time to help you ensure a good fit.
Working from commercial or independent dressmaking patterns, we always encourage our dressmakers to make a toile (mock up) before cutting into their precious fabric. This enables any fitting issues to be corrected and modifications to be transferred back to the pattern.
The most common skills that are covered during dressmaking in our courses are:
Understanding how to read a dressmaking pattern.
Measurement taking and choosing the correct size for you.
Creating and altering a toile and transferring any alterations back to your paper pattern.
Fabric knowledge - choosing appropriate fabrics and correct quantity for your garment.
Fabric preparation, pinning and cutting out skills.
Choosing the appropriate seam and seam finishes for your project and chosen fabric.
Applying the correct interfacings and interlinings for your garment.
Understanding sewing terminology and learning sewing techniques.
Creating fastenings - buttonholes and zips.
Hemming techniques.
Machine and hand-sewn finishing techniques and pressing techniques.
Dressmaking
OTHER PROJECTS
Over the years many of our students have created a variety of sewn projects for the home or as gifts for loved ones. From simple patchwork table runners, to quilted bags and large patchwork bed quilts. Roman blinds, curtains, piped and frilled cushion covers, and box seat cushion covers are always popular too. We have supported students to create fabric hats, peg bags, soft toys, rucksacks, tote bags and more. As designer/makers we are experienced in approaching many different types of projects and in guiding our students in building the skills to realise and complete their chosen creations.
creative workshops
Want to explore creative textiles?
At Alice and Ginny within our classes we can support you with creative textile skills to make your projects unique; from free-motion embroidery, applique, slow stitching to creative up-cycling, mending and more.
We also host various creative sessions throughout the year. Past session have offered English paper pieced patchwork, slow stitching, hand applique, mending and seasonal crafts.
Do get in touch if you would like to book us for a session for your venue or group.
Ginny also hosts natural colour and fibre crafts sessions to explore and rediscover the beautiful heritage crafts of natural dyes, natural inks, spinning and weaving.