LET’S MAKE A TOP TOGETHER
Want to start sewing your own clothes?
If you know the basics of using a sewing machine and now want to get started making your own clothes, this is the class for you! (Not yet mastered your sewing machine? Select the bundle which includes Make Friends with a Sewing Machine too!)
Through a series of video lessons, bestselling sewing author and teacher Tilly Walnes will teach you essential garment sewing techniques, while taking you step-by-step through making the simple yet stylish Samara top (the pattern is included in the workshop, in 15 sizes).
By the end of the class, you will be armed with a toolkit of fundamental sewing skills that you can go on to use again and again in your future sewing life. Plus you’ll have a lovely top you can be proud to say you made yourself!
What equipment do I need?
• Sewing machine and basic tools (a supplies list is included in the workshop)
• Fabric and supplies for your Samara top – listed here if you want to get a head start
• 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 12 videos, from 3 to 35 minutes long, plus extra written tuition and downloadable resources. You may like to spread the lessons out over a few evenings or set aside a weekend for a binge sewing session.
This online workshop features video lessons with optional captions, written tuition and downloadable resources.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Module
1
WORKING WITH FABRICS + PATTERNS
- Choosing suitable fabrics for your project
- Gathering your essential sewing toolkit
- Understanding sewing patterns
- Taking accurate measurements, selecting your pattern size, and understanding garment ease
- Common fitting adjustments
- Two approaches to cutting your pattern
- Accurate fabric cutting and transferring markings
Module
2
ADDING STRUCTURE + STABILITY
- Applying interfacing to a facing to add structure
- Staystitching a curved or bias-cut neckline to help it keep its shape
- Use stay tape to stabilise edges on lightweight or crinkly fabrics
Module
3
SEAM SEWING TECHNIQUES
- Pinning and sewing a seam accurately
- Reducing bulky seam allowances by trimming, grading, and clipping
- Finishing seam allowances with zigzag stitch on your regular sewing machine
- Pressing tips for a neater finish
- Fixing mistakes
Module
4
GARMENT CONSTRUCTION 101
- Constructing a neckline facing and attaching it to a bodice
- Understitching a facing to seam allowances to help keep it on the inside of the garment
- Stitching in the ditch to secure with discreet topstitching
- Attaching sleeves “on the flat”
- Hemming a garment using two different techniques
Module
5
CUSTOMISATION OPTIONS
- Sewing an elasticated channel on the sleeves
- Hacking the pattern to create a tunic dress
- Attaching a pompom trim to the hemlines
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?
BEGINNERS
You’ve learnt to use a sewing machine and are ready to start making clothes
RETURNEES
You’ve sewn a bit in the past and want a refresher to get back into it
LEARNERS
You’ve attended a beginner sewing class and want a resource to refer to at home
QUILTERS
You love sewing homewares but want some help with garment techniques
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Tilly Walnes is a bestselling sewing author, teacher and founder of Tilly and the Buttons. She has been writing about sewing, designing patterns, and teaching for over a decade.
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
learn to sew an easy top
£55
Includes:
Instant, on-demand access, with no deadlines
12 video lessons
Optional captions on all videos
Written tuition
Samara Top PDF sewing pattern in sizes UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34
LEARN TO SEW AN EASY TOP + PRINTED PATTERN
£65
Includes:
Instant, on-demand access, with no deadlines
12 video lessons
Optional captions on all videos
Written tuition
Samara Top printed sewing pattern in sizes UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34 (PDF pattern is also included)
Bundle: + Make Friends with a Sewing Machine
£75
Instant, on-demand access with no deadlines to Make Friends with a Sewing Machine and Learn to Sew an Easy Top
20 video lessons
Optional captions on all videos
Written tuition
Samara Top PDF sewing pattern in sizes UK 6-34 / US 2-30 / EUR 34-62 / AUS 6-34
Bundle: + Make Friends with a Sewing Machine + Printed Pattern
£85
Instant, on-demand access with no deadlines to Make Friends with a Sewing Machine and Learn to Sew an Easy Top
20 video lessons
Optional captions on all videos
Written tuition
Customer Reviews
Based on 2 reviews
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N
This was my first ever project and I loved it from start to finish. I'm hooked thanks to the quality of video and instructions! Thoroughly recommend.
Hi, thank you so much for your amazing review! :) I’m so happy to hear your first ever project was such a great experience and that you loved the videos and instructions. Welcome to the sewing world - can’t wait to see what you make next! Happy sewing! Virginija x
B
Easy to follow workshop with great hints and tips along the way. Love that you can pause and rewatch as needed at your own pace. One of my first proper projects for myself and had a good outcome, will definitely make more Samara tops tweaking what I have done already. Thank you for a great pattern and workshop.
Hi Bec, thank you so much for your lovely review! :) I’m so happy to hear the workshop worked well for you and that you enjoyed being able to pause and rewatch at your own pace. It’s wonderful that your first proper project turned out great, and I love that you’re already planning to tweak and make more Samara tops. Thanks so much and happy sewing! Virginija x
H
I'm very much a beginner sewer with aspirations to improve. I've half sewn a few things but find they often don't fit me properly and even more often, I just don't understand the pattern instructions. I'd heard TATB patterns were great for beginners because they are so clearly written but as a 'visual' learner, I was pleased to see there was an option to actually follow an online workshop to make an easy top. I loved the online lesson format with the various steps broken down into bite size pieces, the ability to watch over and over again and at times that suited me. I watched each lesson a couple of times before I actually made a start on my samara top and then tried not to watch the tutorials but to follow the written pattern instructions, only referring back to the online lesson when I wanted a bit more clarity. Unlike some online tutorials that aren't well photographed, or have presenters that mumble and block what you need/want to see with their hands or the camera angles, everything about this workshop is just so well put together, clear and really well paced. I also liked the little bits of humour like the comment about stitching the facing at the shoulder seams! I'm intending to make a second top very soon and will be trying out the alternative hemming method and perhaps even go for an elastic cuff on the sleeve! I'm also going to incorporate a pattern alteration to change the depth of the V neck and width of the neck - should be straightforward as details such as these are also included in the workshop. I might even try making the top into a tunic dress as again instructions on how to do this are included in the workshop.
Hi Helen, thank you so much for your thoughtful and detailed review! :) I’m so glad the online workshop format worked well for you, especially as a visual learner - that’s exactly what we aim for! It’s wonderful to hear how confident you’re feeling with the step-by-step lessons and that you enjoyed the little touches of humour too. I can’t wait to hear how your next project turns out! Happy sewing and keep enjoying the journey! Virginija x