The Sewing Place

Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?

Roger

Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« on: March 10, 2017, 11:56:49 AM »
Hi!
I was wondering what are your favourite craftsy courses or your favourite tutors?

If hope this will give people a place to start when considering a new course or looking for something new. I'm also not much of user myself and find the lists of courses a bit overwhelming.

Thank you,
A bit of a vintage sewing machine nut! Singers: 500a, 401g, 48k Elnas: lotus SP & grasshopper, Bernina 530-2 F+R 504, Pfaff 30, Cresta T-132

Ellabella

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2017, 12:22:20 PM »
I did the Beverley Johnson swimsuit course and found her very good.

My other favourite is Pam Howard, her shirt making course is excellent.

In P&Q I like Kimberly Einmo, once you get past the "I am a proud Army wife" stuff.

There are several instructors I avoid but I'm sure others find them fine.

Ploshkin

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2017, 13:18:29 PM »
Kenneth King is a good tutor.  I've used Jeanius which is very good on jeans construction even if you don't want to make your own pattern.

Alison Smith is brilliant for tailoring techniques (she's English too).  I followed her closely when I made a tailored jacket last year. I wish there were a lot more classes by her
Life's too short for ironing.

Ohsewsimple

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #3 on: March 10, 2017, 14:15:07 PM »
Before I waffle on, all Craftsy classes are on offer....under £20 !!!  :sew: :sew: :thread: :thread:

I like Kenneth King and Beverley Johnson bra making courses.  Funnily enough I wasn't impressed with palm Howard,s shirt making course.  Didn't like the way she did the collar. I have David Page Coffin's and prefer his methods.

Has anyone got the coverstitch tutorial?  There are mixed reviews for this.  I am certainly no beginner but wondered if there was anything useful regarding decorative uses etc.

JillH

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #4 on: March 10, 2017, 15:49:22 PM »

Has anyone got the coverstitch tutorial?  There are mixed reviews for this.  I am certainly no beginner but wondered if there was anything useful regarding decorative uses etc.

Yes I have - bought it about 6 weeks ago when they sent me an offer via e-mail, cost me £13.94.  It's a little basic but gave me a couple of ideas.
I watched it all the way through when I bought it but haven't look back since.  Will have to do that to see what gave me the ideas, I think that it was probably decorative stitching..   :flower:

Just had a quick look before I posted this and yes she does give a number of ideas about decorative stitching.  One is using four different colours of embroidery thread in the looper and using one needle to give a decorative chain stitch, obviously stitching from the wrong side.  :)
« Last Edit: March 10, 2017, 16:01:55 PM by JillH »
Jill -  trying to grow old disgracefully.

Efemera

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #5 on: March 10, 2017, 15:58:59 PM »
I did the Tilton sisters Tshirt one....didn't really learn anything, they sew everything with a sewing machine. I use an overlocker and a coverstitch.... may be good for a beginner......but I did get a pattern and the class was only around £10

Ohsewsimple

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #6 on: March 10, 2017, 16:06:05 PM »
Yes I have - bought it about 6 weeks ago when they sent me an offer via e-mail, cost me £13.94.  It's a little basic but gave me a couple of ideas.

Thanks Jill.  Think I will have a look for a book.  Nancy Zieman videos have some info but there isn't a lot out there.

Maximum

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #7 on: March 10, 2017, 16:23:07 PM »
I got the Coverstitch class because it came out when my machine had just arrived. The main emphasis is to test everything even if the only change is thread colour. She also encourages you to stitch slowly - all useful for those who expect to CS anything straight out of the box without reading the manual!!
Decorative threads, reverse CS and multiple blended (3-4) threads on a thread pallet are all demonstrated. She also does a tassel that took 11 yards of chain stitch ( probably a Babylock special as you can chain off).
She shows making bag handles with a belt loop binder and using a down turn feller to quickly turn and stitch hems.
I found it a useful class to help me get started and which had ideas for later embellishments. Doubt if I will ever CS a zip in though. Maybe I'm just a stick in the mud but I can't see why you would do a zip on a CS or an overlocker - just because you can doesn't mean you should ;)

Ohsewsimple

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2017, 16:38:20 PM »
Doubt if I will ever CS a zip in though. Maybe I'm just a stick in the mud but I can't see why you would do a zip on a CS or an overlocker - just because you can doesn't mean you should ;)

Yes you're right there. I've looked at that before and thought 'gosh what a lot of thread if you have to unpick'.
Thanks for the input.  I have the Babylock dedicated coverstitch and it chains off beautifully.  Would make great cords.

SingingSinger

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2017, 16:45:31 PM »
Deborah Moebes and Beverley Johnson are my favourite Craftsy tutors. They are great to listen to. :)
Mostly a dressmaker with a few other crafts thrown in. Teetering on the Darkside. Owner of vintage machines Singer 201K and Elna Lotus SP (and a Brother Innovis 350SE and Pfaff Ambition 620)

Sewingsue

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2017, 17:23:57 PM »
Under £20 deal is on till 13th, so time to think about which ones you want.

BTW has anyone done the Quilted Jacket course?
Bernina Aurora 440QE, Brother BC-2500, Singer 99K (1938), Juki MO-654DE overlocker, Silver Viscount 620D overlocker.

Iminei

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2017, 18:24:53 PM »
Sorry, Sorry, Sorry

this will definitely be Dark side biased....

For newbie P&Q''ers

You can not go wrong with the Free Block of the Month 2012 showing you various blocks starting simple bimples going up in difficulty (Don't be put off... none of them are really difficult)

Follow that with the Free Block of the Month 2013, where you can if you wish, learn how to FMQ the blocks you made the previous year (shudders...work of the devil!)

After that...
Anita Grossman Soloman's Traditional Blocks Made Simple is simply fantastic!  (get it!! Boom Boom!)
The Opus was my first completed quilt top, (the completion of the quilt came 2 1/2 years later) as the block was so wonderful: simple to cut, easy to put together with a big WOW at the end....

The Imperfect Perfectionist sews again

BrendaP

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2017, 20:39:31 PM »
I have two of Beverley Johnson's bra making courses, =8.  I quite like her as a tutor and much prefer the Canadian accent to most US accents.

I also have the coverstitch course - like Maximum I bought it when I first got my coverstitcher.  I picked up some useful beginners tips fromit but to be honest there's more creative coverstitching in Creative Serging: Innovative Applications to Get the Most from Your Serger book by Nancy Bednar & Anne van der Kley.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Creative-Serging-Innovative-Applications-Serger/dp/1402749104/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489177510&sr=1-1&keywords=creative+serging
Brenda.  My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.

Sewingsue

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #13 on: March 12, 2017, 14:34:47 PM »
I'm looking at Suzy Furrer's classes.
Has anyone done either Designing your wardrobe - drafting Pants or Patternmaking + Design: the Pants Sloper?

I am wondering what the difference is and which (or both) I should go for.
Bernina Aurora 440QE, Brother BC-2500, Singer 99K (1938), Juki MO-654DE overlocker, Silver Viscount 620D overlocker.

Ohsewsimple

Re: Favourite Craftsy Courses/tutors?
« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2017, 16:31:00 PM »
The sloper one gets you drafting and making a basic sloper to fit your body.  The other one is a follow on course using the sloper and then learning how to design different types of trousers etc.
Her courses are very good.  She explains things well.