Founder and tutor

Meet Grace

Grace Barrett is a seamstress and community tutor, and she founded London Sewing Courses. She has more than ten years of teaching experience and teaches complete beginners alongside makers working on advanced skills. Her teaching is gentle, which can help learners grow in confidence and try creative ideas at a calm pace.

A red zip, a red reel of thread and a small bobbin

Our roots

Grace’s love of sewing began at her mother’s side. As a child she learned to thread a needle and guide fabric under it, and she came to enjoy the steady rhythm of stitching.

She built the skill over many years, one careful stitch at a time. Along the way she found that sewing could mend her spirit as well as fabric.

Our approach

Grace teaches in a calm, friendly setting in North London, and learners move at their own pace. The teaching is patient and hands on, built around practical projects. Sewing can be a way to relieve stress, and finishing a project can build confidence.

Adults new to sewing can start with a two-hour taster class in a small group. If you already sew and want one-to-one help with a garment, you can book a private lesson with Grace.

Our mission

“We thread every adult stitch so young makers can sew their own story.”

Each class builds skill on the one before, and the small groups give learners other people to sew with. When you join our sewing classes in North London, you help us provide free six-week courses for local children. Those sessions give young people a safe space to learn practical skills and meet others, with encouragement from Grace.

Community anchors

Beginner and private classes meet at Edmonton Green Library, and the eight-week dressmaking course meets at NYCC, 39 St James Chambers, N9 0UD.

British Library Business and IP Centre
BIPC Enfield Libraries
Enfield Council
Northside Youth and Community Centre (NYCC)

In their words

Grace’s sewing classes have been a comforting refuge. Her support made all the difference.

Elizabeth, adult learner

Seeing my daughter’s excitement grow each week has been wonderful. Thank you for your kindness.

Fatima, parent

Join our sewing circle

Adults can start with a two-hour beginner taster, held regularly in small groups, or book private lessons scheduled around their own pace. Young people aged 9 to 18 can apply for the free six-week course.

Two-hour taster

Beginner adult sewing course

For complete beginners and adults coming back to sewing after a break. If you have been searching for sewing courses near me or a place to learn to sew near me in North London, start here. You learn the machine and the essential tools by making a simple project in a small group.

About the beginner class

One to one

Improvers and advanced private lessons

For adults who know the basics and want help with garment making, fitting or a particular project. Lessons are arranged individually, so Grace can teach at your pace and you have no group syllabus to keep up with.

Private lesson details

Free, ages 9 to 18

Free children’s sewing classes

Free six-week courses, one two-hour class a week, for disadvantaged children and teens aged 9 to 18. Young people learn practical sewing skills in a small, caring group, where they can build confidence and feel looked after.

How the free classes work