Best Beginner Sewing Classes in NYC
The act of using a needle and thread to stitch fabric together is known as sewing. Sewing is done by hand and by machine. It’s a popular way to create and mend clothing that can be done by people of all ages. Aside from having practical uses, sewing is also a fun hobby to start. There are several stitches used when sewing, which makes sewing projects fall under a range of skill levels.
Why You Should Learn Sewing in NYC
Sewing isn’t only a means of fixing your clothes. It’s an activity that’s been found to contribute to your mental and physical health when done consistently.
The focus required when working on a sewing project makes it a stress-relieving activity. On top of this, planning out sewing projects is a way that many sewers express their creativity. Sewing is also a social activity. Sewers in the NYC area get together at local clubs and organizations to make friends with a similar interest and provide each other with sewing advice.
The physical benefits of sewing have convinced many to take up the craft. Sewing requires fine attention to detail, which helps you work on your hand-eye coordination. When sewing, your hands and fingers are also constantly moving. This can aid in the loosening of joints.
The combination of mental and physical benefits is a major draw for the craft, especially for those who already have an interest in working on practical projects.
In-Person Beginner Sewing Classes & Schools in NYC
Beginner-level in-person classes in New York City are available on CourseHorse. The New York Sewing Center, located near Penn Station, hosts an array of classes that focus on the fundamentals of sewing. For anyone interested in sewing with a machine their workshop, Sewing Machine Basics, is available to enroll in. This school also offers a sewing bootcamp where students learn the fundamentals of sewing, including important terminology.
If you have a child that is interested in sewing, you can enroll them in one of The New York Sewing Center’s beginner-level classes, which are available on CourseHorse.
An important part of learning how to sew is getting hands-on experience. You’ll gain this and more at The Brooklyn Craft Company, situated in Greenpoint. They offer the class Sewing 101: Make a Skirt, a course for beginners who would like an introduction to using a sewing machine, correctly measuring the body for garment fittings, and cutting fabric accurately to create a skirt.
Another course offered by this school is Sewing 101: Tote Bag. Participants are taught machine essentials in this class as well, with the goal of completing a finished, lined tote bag. The Brooklyn Craft Company provides all necessary tools, including sewing machines. This is great if you’re new to the world of sewing and haven’t yet invested in equipment or materials.
The 92nd Street Y’s class, Machine Sewing, is another option for learning the basics of using a sewing machine. This beginner-level class teaches students how to cut fabric, seam, and press.
The NYC School of Creativity in Midtown teaches classes on basic machine sewing techniques and also hosts a private sewing class. Interested participants can reach out to schedule a private session. They will be informed of the instructor’s availability before choosing a project they would like to work on. All levels of students are accepted, and project options are available for all skill levels, including beginner.
Virtual Beginner Sewing Classes & Schools
Beginner-level virtual sewing classes are more accessible to beginning sewers than in-person classes are. Classes are taken over a video conferencing platform, which allows participants to learn from the comfort of their own homes or office, and eliminates commute times. The online delivery format also allows for a wider range of class options. Despite taking place online, virtual sewing classes still allow for live instruction and are interactive.
Check CourseHorse frequently to see what beginner-level sewing classes are being offered online. In the past, craft classes related to sewing have been offered as well, including ones teaching embroidery and sashiko mending. Embroidery may be added to sewing projects or other garments. Sashiko mending was a popular method of mending kimonos during the Edo period in Japan and has become useful among sewers today. Many sewers have been using this method to repair their clothes.
Private Group Beginner Sewing Classes in NYC
Would your business or organization like to schedule an arts and crafts class as a fun and stress-relieving team-building activity? If so, CourseHorse offers live online group arts, crafts, and design classes. These classes can accommodate large group sizes which can even be changed after booking. All classes are beginner-friendly, which means anyone on your team can succeed in the class.
Their virtual Modern Embroidery Art class teaches participants the basics of embroidery. Teams of up to 500 may take this class and be guided through the art of embroidery by an instructor. They will learn how to prepare an embroidery hoop and learn about selecting the right thread for their project. Participants will learn basic stitches in this class, making it accessible to beginner-level groups.
CourseHorse is currently offering two macrame classes that teach participants the art of knot-tying. These workshops not only look to instruct groups in the art of macrame but also how to create their own piece of macrame. The virtual Macrame Workshop is a great option for teams interested in plants. This course sees participants working on creating their own plant hangers. The virtual Macrame Moon Dream Catcher class teaches basic macrame skills while participants work on creating a moon-shaped dream catcher.
If none of these options work for your group, CourseHorse can also do custom classes. They provide 20-minute demos for $100 that can help your group get an understanding of a class before committing to it. You may also request to reschedule your class for free up to 48 hours before the session.
CourseHorse provides participants with all necessary materials ahead of their session. Addresses of participants are collected so that a material kit can be mailed out to them. CourseHorse also has the benefit of supporting multiple online platforms for course delivery. These include Zoom, Google Meets, Microsoft Teams, and WebEx.