GOT AN URGE TO SERGE?
Gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to make a project from start to finish on your overlocker or serger
Learn to sew stretch knit garments entirely on your overlocker or serger with step-by-step guidance from Tilly Walnes. Together you’ll make the cosy and comfy Drew sweatshirt (the pattern is included in the workshop), using your overlocker to stitch, trim and finish the seams at the same time, resulting in a professional-looking finish.
Tilly shares her top tips and tricks for overlocking knit fabrics along the way, from choosing suitable materials, cutting stretch knit fabrics to avoid twisted garments, adjusting your overlocker’s settings to suit sweatshirt fabrics, working with ribbing, and attaching a stretchy neckband, hem band and cuffs. She even shares time-saving techniques for speedy serging, such as task batching and chain stitching, as well as advanced techniques for customising your sweatshirt with faux flatlocking and a ribbed V insert.
Already know the basics of threading your overlocker and adjusting settings? This workshop is the perfect next step to put that theory into practice while making a real life project.
Not yet yet got to grips with overlocker basics? Don't worry! Select the two course bundle which includes our bestselling introductory class Make Friends with an Overlocker, covering threading, settings, balancing tension, troubleshooting, and more!
What equipment do I need?
- Overlocker AKA serger (4 threads)
- Supplies for your Drew sweatshirt – listed here if you want to get a head start
- Sewing toolkit – a full list is included in the workshop
- Computer / tablet / smart phone and an internet connection to stream the videos
How long will this workshop take?
That’s up to you! The course is broken down into manageable, bitesize lessons that you can take at a pace that suits you. It includes 14 succinct videos, from 5 to 15 minutes long, plus extra written tuition. You may like to spread the lessons out over a few evenings, set aside a weekend for a binge overlocking session, or simply refer to the videos whenever you need them. There are no deadlines, so you can take as long as you like!
This online workshop contains fully captioned video lessons, written tuition and downloadable resources.
This online workshop contains fully captioned video lessons, written tuition and downloadable resources.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Module
1
GETTING STARTED
- Choosing suitable fabrics for a sweatshirt
- Different approaches to choosing your thread colour
- Other supplies you’ll need to make a sweatshirt
- Taking accurate body measurements and selecting your size
- Common fitting adjustments for a raglan sweatshirt pattern
Module
2
CUTTING STRETCH KNIT FABRICS
- Finding the grainline on stretch knit fabrics and laying out pattern pieces accurately to avoid a twisted garment
- Working with fleece-backed material and fabric that comes as a tube
- Cutting fabric using a rotary cutter and pattern weights
Module
3
GETTING READY TO OVERLOCK
- How to check your overlocker or serger is threaded properly
- Adjusting the settings to suit sweatshirt fabric
- A refresher on starting and finishing a seam on an overlocker or serger
- Sewing a test swatch to check thread tension balance and other settings (NB: for a more comprehensive introduction to threading and settings, please choose the two course bundle which includes our introductory class, Make Friends with an Overlocker or Serger)
Module
4
SWEATSHIRT CONSTRUCTION
- Constructing a speedy sweatshirt with raglan sleeves
- How to work with ribbing
- Pinning and stitching a stretchy neckband, hem band and cuffs to a garment
Module
5
USEFUL SKILLS
- Methods of aligning seam lines accurately and avoiding “fabric creep”
- How to save time with task batching and chain stitching
- Cleaning your machine to keep it functioning properly
Module
6
FUN VARIATIONS
- Constructing colour block sleeves
- Sewing exposed faux flatlocked seams for a sporty look
- Adding a ribbed V insert to the neckline
WORKSHOP BENEFITS
1
STEP-BY-STEP VIDEOS
Follow an in-depth programme, structured with our trusted format.
See the sewing in detail with our video lessons!
2
ON-DEMAND ACCESS
Learn at a pace that suits you, any time of day, with no deadlines.
Set your own timetable!
3
LEARN AT HOME
Take the workshop from the comfort of your own home, using your own machine.
There's no need to travel to a class or book a date in your busy diary!
4
GREAT VALUE
Revisit the lessons as often as you like, whenever you need a refresher -
for a fraction of the price of attending a face-to-face class!
WHO IS THIS WORKSHOP FOR?
LEARNERS
You want to get stuck into overlocking a real life project. (N.B. If you haven't yet learnt the basics of overlocking, select the two course bundle.)
STRETCH FABRIC NEWBIES
You’re new to sewing garments with stretch knit fabrics and would like some pointers
NERVOUS SERGERS
You find yourself using your sewing machine to sew garments from knit fabrics when you know you could sew the whole thing on an overlocker
SEWING LOVERS
You’re comfortable using your overlocker already but fancy picking up extra tips from Tilly while sewing the Drew sweatshirt together
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Tilly Walnes is a best-selling sewing author, teacher and founder of Tilly and the Buttons. She has been writing about sewing, designing and teaching for over a decade.
A contestant on the very first series of The Great British Sewing Bee, and named 'Most Inspirational Sewing Personality' in the British Sewing Awards, Tilly’s teaching is down-to-earth, encouraging and packed full of helpful tips. She loves sewing, and wants you to love it too!
What makers are saying
Sign Up Today
SEW A SWEATSHIRT ON AN OVERLOCKER OR SERGER
£55
Includes:
Instant, on-demand access, with no deadlines
14 video lessons
Closed captions available on all videos
Written tuition + downloadable resources
Drew Sweatshirt PDF sewing pattern in sizes UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34
SEW A SWEATSHIRT ON AN OVERLOCKER + PRINTED PATTERN
£65
Includes:
Instant, on-demand access, with no deadlines
14 video lessons
Closed captions available on all videos
Written tuition + downloadable resources
Drew sweatshirt printed sewing pattern in sizes UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34 (PDF pattern is also included)
TWO COURSE Bundle: + Make Friends with an Overlocker
£85
Includes:
Instant, on-demand access with no deadlines to:
- Make Friends with an Overlocker
- Sew a Sweatshirt on an Overlocker
23 video lessons
Closed captions available on all videos
Written tuition + downloadable resources
Drew sweatshirt PDF sewing pattern in sizes UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34
Great value! £100 if purchased individually
TWO COURSE Bundle: + Make Friends with an Overlocker + PRINTED PATTERN
£95
Includes:
Instant, on-demand access with no deadlines to:
- Make Friends with an Overlocker
- Sew a Sweatshirt on an Overlocker
23 video lessons
Closed captions available on all videos
Written tuition + downloadable resources
Drew sweatshirt printed sewing pattern in sizes UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34 (PDF pattern is also included
Great value! £110 if purchased individually
Customer Reviews
Based on 2 reviews
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J
I love this pattern. I made the sweatshirts in one colour and I am delighted with the results. The fit is perfect and I know I could not have achieved such good results without the accompanying workshop. I don't use my overlocked on such a regular basis that I am completely familiar with adjusting the tensions to achieve perfect results. Tilly's workshops are so simple to follow and having taken her advice and threaded with different colour cottons whilst adjusting the tension meant it was easy to identify which adjustment was necessary.
I love the raglan sleeve option as I am quite narrow in the shoulders and often find set in sleeves are not as easy to adjust. The fact that the basic pattern is only four pieces, plus the ribbing, meant it was so quick to cut out and very quick to make. Having decided this is the must have for the winter days, I have now ordered more fabric and can't wait to make two more.
I am a huge fan of Tilly and her patterns and books, and my makes justify my faith in her.
Hi Janice, thank you so much for your amazing review! We’re so glad to hear that the pattern and workshop worked so well for you. It’s wonderful that the adjustments and tips helped you achieve such great results. We're thrilled you're making more and that you’re loving the raglan sleeve option! Thanks for being such a big fan – happy sewing! Virginija x
E
I have loved my journey with TATB! It changed my world! Tilly’s workshops, tips and tricks are amazing.. An Overlockers can seen so scary…. but this workshop gently guides you through all the things you need to know to get you ready for your first project. Give it a go! You won’t regret it 👏👏👏
Hi Emsy, thank you so much for your lovely feedback! We're so happy to hear that TATB has made such a positive impact on your sewing journey. Keep up the great work, and happy sewing! Virginija x