Upcycling Sewing Course: Create Unique Fabrics

What you'll learn

Learn how to create and transform beautiful fabrics with our sewing short courses in Sydney!

Dive into the world of fabric alchemy with our upcycling sewing course, designed to ignite your creativity by transforming scrap textiles into stunning upcycled yardage. Across two engaging sessions totalling 10 hours, you’ll explore playful techniques that turn waste fabrics into unique and functional pieces. Imagine creating a bespoke wall hanging, a stylish curtain, or sewing your exclusive fabric into a simple bag or garment. Join this course to unleash your imagination and make the most of textile scraps.

Embark on a creative journey with our Upcycling Sewing Course, where you'll learn to repurpose and transform waste textiles into unique fabrics, fostering sustainability and innovation in your sewing practice. Join us and turn fabric scraps into beautiful, functional pieces!

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Define upcycling, recycling and downcycling
• Feel empowered to tackle your own textile waste
• Design creative upcycled projects
• Identify textiles with upcycling potential
• Harvest good fabric from unwearable garments
• Utilise machine embroidery techniques including couching and appliqué
• Use machine-piecing to construct new fabrics
• Work with dissolving stabiliser
• Go zero waste in your home sewing studio by designing creative reuse projects

After finishing this course, you might like to enrol in our Sewing Essentials Course or Sewing Extension Course.

Course content

What will be covered in this Upcycling Sewing Course?

Session 1

• Experimenting with upcycling techniques to create a series of samples
• Evaluating the reuse potential of old textiles
• Deconstructing tired or worn out clothes and linens
• Using vintage and deadstock cords and trims
• Making surface design samples with machine embroidery techniques such as couching and appliqué
• Creating patchworked and mesh fabrics through speculative machine-piecing
• Applying dissolving stabiliser to micro-scraps and threads

Session 2

• Selecting a technique or combination of techniques for a large fabric piece
• Constructing your piece using upcycled materials (gathered between sessions)
• Finishing the fabric for use as a wall hanging, or sewing it into a bag or garment

Intended audience

Who is this Upcycling Sewing Course for?

This course is suitable for confident beginners to experienced sewists. If you have basic sewing skills, such as sewing a straight seam with a machine, you are welcome to join. The course also offers ample opportunities for more experienced sewists to explore new creative territories.

Course venue

The Bower - Summer Hill

7 Prospect Road, Summer Hill NSW 2131

Course materials

Materials for creating your samples will be provided. Before the second session, you’ll need to gather materials for your yardage – a list of sources for second-hand and vintage materials will be distributed. You'll also receive specific details for the supplies list below.

What to bring to class

• Sewing machine (optional, machines are available for use)
• Sewing machine thread
• Bobbins
• Sewing machine needles
• Fabric scissors
• Snips
• A set of glass-head sewing pins
• A rotary cutter and self-healing mat are useful but not essential

Additional information

Please note the following:

• Ensure your sewing machine is in good working order if you choose to bring it
• Be prepared to participate in hands-on activities for both sessions