Learning to Sew at EKC Canterbury College

If you’re looking to start a fun hobby or learn a new skill, a great place to start is on one of our Creative and Design courses.  

One example is our popular ‘Sewing for Beginners’ programme, teaching you how to create patterns and make a garment in just a few weeks. 

We spoke to three learners on the course, to hear about their experiences, what they’d advise and why you should study with us. 

Rebecca Law: 

How are you finding the course so far? 
I’m really enjoying it, the teacher’s (Gemma) is really knowledgeable, and she comes from a theatre background so it’s fascinating to hear about the costumes she’s been making. 

It’s been a great way to meet other people with similar interests, and it’s been really interesting transforming this set of measurements into a wearable garment. 
 
 
What inspired you to start this course?  
I learnt to make clothes over lockdown and then I had two kids and haven’t had the chance to get the sewing machine out again. I saw this as an ideal opportunity to sort of renew and refresh those skills. 

Being in the evenings it’s handy as I work full-time. I’ve got two young kids at home so being in the evenings once a week over six weeks was ideal. 
 
 
What advice might you give someone interested in the course? 
I think anyone should go for it, if they’re a bit unsure, it does make all the difference knowing the teachers are really approachable and friendly and informative. 
 
What has it been like to return to education? 
It’s great. Everyone’s lovely, friendly and they’re all interested in learning to become a dressmaker, so you’ve got that shared interest so it’s easy to strike up a conversation. 

I guess there was a nervousness around knowing if I would be able to make a dress, to be able to do what was required for the course, but that was soon put at ease with my lecturer and everyone else in the class being in a similar position. 
 
 
Can you sum up the course in three words? 
Enjoyable, informative and creative. 

Kelly Teal: 

What inspired you to start this course? 
I thought it would just be nice to be able to tailor my own clothes, to make them look and fit better. 

The timing of the course is great. I work full-time, so I can leave work and then come straight here.  It is a three-hour course, so it may seem like quite a full-on day, but it’s been enjoyable, and it fits in perfectly. 

 
How are you finding the course so far? 
Our Lecturer Gemma has been so informative. As it’s a Beginner’s course, we’re going through making a pattern from scratch, right through to sewing our own garments. It’s been quite interesting. 

We’ve just done the one garment, so we got a choice to make either a jacket or a dress, and I’ve gone for a dress. We’ve also done various techniques, drafted the pattern, and then we had to go out and buy the fabric.  

There was also a mock-up of the pattern to make sure that everything fit, and then we’ve done other techniques, such as putting zips in, hemming, and binding. We’ve learnt a lot. 

 
What advice might you give someone interested in the course?  

I’d just go for it. I mean, what have you got to lose, really? Sewing’s a really good life skill that not many people seem to have anymore. 

I am hoping to learn more of the skills that I’ve gained during this course and use them at home. I’ve got a good foundation now in sewing so I would recommend studying here. 
 
What has it been like to return to education? 
It’s been good and I’ve quite enjoyed it. It’s been nice to meet people from different backgrounds. Most of us have got day jobs, so it’s just good to be around different people who’s going through different things.  

Returning to education was a bit daunting at first. Obviously, you never know what you’re going to come across such as obstacles and doing something new is always quite nerve-wracking. 
  
Can you sum up the course in three words? 
Interesting, informative and challenging.  

Amy Trememheere: 

How are you finding the course so far? 
It’s really informative and I’m loving it. I didn’t know much about sewing, so I’m very impressed that you’re making a new template from scratch. It’s a really useful course and I didn’t know anything about how to use a sewing machine either, so I feel a bit more confident. 
 
I’ve enjoyed the size of the class, in addition to how accessible Gemma is. The fact you can just ask questions on the go, and she will come around and talk to you one-on-one has been nice. 
 
How are you finding this course fits around your life? 
It’s perfect, actually, because I finish work at half five. I live five minutes away, so it’s really easy to get here. It’s not too long either, and I think six weeks is probably the perfect amount of time because it’s not too much of a commitment. 

What has it been like to return to education? 
I haven’t stepped foot in a college for like 15 years, so, it’s been a nice change, and actually it’s made me think I’d like to do something like this in the future. Maybe a course once a year, because it’s been good to do something that’s not just looking at a computer screen in addition to learning a brand new skill. 

Everyone here is kind of similar to me with their level of sewing knowledge and everyone’s really friendly. 
 
Can you sum up the course in three words? 
Creative, technical and approachable. 

If you’re inspired by our learner’s stories, why not explore our Creative and Design courses today and see what you can gain as an adult learner.  

You can also explore our wide range of adult courses in a number of subject areas.