The Goodlife Centre - Practical Workshops in Central London

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/clothes-making-altering-workshop-6-mornings-5/
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Do you want to jump into making your own clothes but have never used a pattern? Do you wish to copy a beloved piece of clothing? Would you like to learn how to adjust your own pattern to fit just you?

Learn how to take body measurements, read and alter a commercial pattern to fit, lay out and cut fabric and construct a finished garment to a high standard using one of our Janome 525s or Bernina 1008 series sewing machines.

During the sessions of this small group of learners you will gain confidence and improve any sewing skills you already have.

If you have never used a machine, we can guide you through making a simple garment from a purchased pattern. Bring your own pattern or use one of our small selection.

If you have sewing experience but want to start creating your own patterns, you can learn how to create a bespoke piece of clothing. You can also bring a piece of clothing to alter or fix.

We supply the basics and the calico you will use to make a ‘toile’ (an inexpensive mock up) to save you ruining your chosen final fabric.

Along the way, talented tutor and seamstress will teach you lots of techniques and tips to ramp up your sewing passion. This is a perfect class if you have been teaching yourself so far, or if your last project was made a long time ago at school.

Suitable for: Suitable for beginners, enjoyable for those with experience. A good level of English and basic math skills are useful.

Next start date: Check our website for more dates: https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/clothes-making-altering/

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/diy-in-a-day-basic-electrics-36/
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Suitable for absolute beginners

A one-day introductory workshop to help learn the first principles of DIY electrics in the home.

This short home electrics workshop covers the most common requests that homeowners, landlords and tenants want to know more about in their homes. Explained in simple terminology, and with practice on fiddly -but unplugged in – electrical fittings, learners can leave feeling less wary about this familiar but invisible energy and confident about safely tackling the essential electrics at home, without requiring any ‘Part P’ certification.

First principles are explained in a clear and simple way, without complicated formulas or equations.

Learn how to assemble a simple lighting circuit with an inline switch, using inexpensive hand tools. This forms the basis of understanding how the wiring behind your switch plates and ceiling roses fit together.

See how to test and avoid faulty wiring when performing simple repairs at home. Look under the ‘bonnet’ of your consumer unit (Fuse box) and understand what it’s connected to and how to turn the supply off and on. Understand the basic wiring system in your home.

Practice changing switches to dimmers, look behind socket plates and understand how to change ceiling pendants.

Stay safe in your home by finding out what you can and can’t do yourself without any certification.

If coming to our workshop in Central London is not possible, then why not try our on-demand basic electrical course online?

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-machine-sewing-1-day-88/
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If you would love to run up some new clothes or just fix a seam but are daunted by all those controls on a sewing machine, our one-day workshop will demystify them all and send you home with newfound confidence and a simple item you will make during the day.

Experienced tutor Ian McQueen will guide you through how to recognise all the parts of a machine, thread the bobbins, and sew neat rows of stitching on basic materials. How to read rulers and tape measures and cut fabric accurately. Make hems, seam allowances and French seams.

We have various user-friendly machines for you to try which will help you choose if you are planning on purchasing one soon. Bring lots of questions and we will supply everything else.

Our classes are small and each person has a machine to themselves for the day.

This is an excellent confidence booster and a great primer for all of our project sewing courses.

Bookable via our website ➡️ https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-modern-upholstery-weekend-39/
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KEY PROJECT: MODERN FOAM with DEEP BUTTONED CONSTRUCTION FOOTSTOOL

All of our upholstery classes are for absolute beginners. It doesn’t matter which one you choose to take first. Each technique that is offered is part of all the processes that every upholsterer has to learn.

We have created a wonderful project to learn the classic form of deep buttoned upholstery – but made with a time-saving modern method using sheet foam.

Banish those fuddy-duddy club chair ideas and say hello to upholstery with a new twist; bright colours, shiny fabrics and funky feet.

One of the modules that professional upholsterers are examined on is the process of deep buttoning. The correct height of foam is selected and applied to a base. Holes are made in the base and foam. We have a traditional button press you will use to make your own buttons in whatever fabric you choose, in the same fabric as your footstool or bring 10cm of a contrasting colour. The top fabric is then folded and pleated and the button is knotted to hold the folds together. It is fitted with ‘Cabriole’ legs to complete the project.

You will learn enough know-how to take away a skill to make your own headboard, banquette (I love that word) or anything else you can imagine. It’s easier than it looks and comes together in such a satisfying way.

The dimensions for our footstool are 540mm x 360mm and we have allowed enough time and materials to make 9 deep buttoned holes. This size is about the smallest unit possible to learn the process of deep buttoning as an upholstery technique.

We provide everything for the workshop, from the wood frame to the set of natural beech wood legs that are included for you to paint or stain as you wish. We will give you guidance if you want to know different techniques for the wood.

Bring about a metre by a metre of fabric of your own, or use one of our luxurious upholstery fabrics at the centre. The use of all tools and materials is included. We also have a selection of tools and materials that we use in our workshops for sale at The Goodlife Centre for you to continue your new hobby at home.