Beginner Classes
At the North Florida Sewing Center, we encourage everyone to learn needlework arts. Sewing, crocheting, knitting, needlepoint, weaving, and other needlework arts are not only practical and essential life skills, they are also very rewarding hobbies and can even turn into lucrative occupations. At the Sewing Center we teach and use these skills to help others, making the use of these activities even sweeter and more enjoyable. We call this “Stitching for Good.”
Here is a list of the classes we offer for beginners.
Beginner Sewing Machine Class – For those that don’t know how to use a sewing machine well, we recommend starting with this class. In just three hours, we teach you to thread and work a machine, sew straight lines, use an iron, pin cloth, and thread a drawstring. You will sew stay-stitching on pockets, sew flannel inserts, and make yourself a small drawstring bag. You are learning skills while actually contributing to the production of items we need for the washable pads we distribute.
The Beginner Sewing Machine Class is offered multiple times per month for ages 12 to adult. Minors should sign up with an adult chaperone. Most classes are limited to 4 students at a time. All supplies are provided.
Children’s Beginner Sewing Machine Class – This is an abbreviated version of the adult class where children learn the basics of machine sewing and sew the stay-stitching on pockets in about two hours.
Children’s Beginner Sewing Machine Class is for those age 8-12. All children must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Classes are taught by request to up to 4 students and their adults at a time. All supplies are provided.
Beginner Sewing Machine Class in Spanish (Clase de Costura) – In this class, instruction is given in Spanish and includes everything taught in the Beginner Sewing Machine Class offered in English. Age 12 to adult. This class is taught 2 or 3 times per year by native Spanish speakers. All supplies are provided.
Practical Sewing Skills – This is the class that previous generations would never have needed as you would have learned from your family. It’s all hand sewing. Learn to thread a needle and tie a knot. Learn how to hem your pants and mend a tear or open seam. Learn to put on a patch. Learn how to sew on a button. And learn other random “adulting” tidbits like how to put a drawstring back in your sweatpants or how to keep Velcro from snagging everything in the laundry.
Practical Sewing Skills is a 90 minute class for those age 12 to adult. We can teach up to 12 people at a time. Minors can sign up but must be accompanied by an adult. This class is taught several times per year. All supplies are provided.
Beginner Crochet Hats- This class teaches you basic crochet stitches. You will start a hat using the double crochet stitch. In two hours, you master the skills you need to go home and finish the hat. NFSC supplies the yarn and crochet hooks for those making hats to donate. We donate the hats to people who are unhoused, low income, or chemotherapy patients.
We are always looking for new class ideas and volunteer instructors!
We teach Beginner Sewing Machine classes to adults and children age 12 and over!
Sometimes we are able to offer shortened classes specifically for children age 8-11.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Gandhi
