Top Notch Sewing Centre

Top Notch Sewing Centre Learn to sew, advance your sewing skills or learn about patterns! There are classes for adults, teens and children from 8yrs upwards. Thank you.

Please check out my website or get in touch for information on group classes and one-to-ones.

There is always something new to learn when you’re sewing 😀🧵, in this case, learning to sew buttonhole and attach button...
24/08/2026

There is always something new to learn when you’re sewing 😀🧵, in this case, learning to sew buttonhole and attach buttons with a sewing machine Janome UK

These Janome Sewist machines offer an automatic buttonhole feature which estimates the required size of the buttonhole needed for your chosen button 🪡

Once you get going it’s a breeze. Attaching buttons with a sewing machine can be tricky and precision is needed, but some double-sided sewing tape and the correct presser foot can help 😄
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Summer is a busy time for 1:1 sewing and pattern classes 🧵I always love working through someone’s vision, or hope or dre...
19/08/2026

Summer is a busy time for 1:1 sewing and pattern classes 🧵
I always love working through someone’s vision, or hope or dream, a small step on a new path, it’s awesome 💙

This bag was created by a 9 year old who has been sewing for a while now. When she sees something she likes her first thought is,” can I make that?”
Thats vision.

I did the pattern from some photos my student took, then she chose and cut her fabric and sewed her new bag.

Your dream of having a me-made wardrobe starts with the first press on a foot pedal 💝
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15/08/2026

These two young designers are creating outfits for an upcoming culture day 🙌

African wax print is an easy fabric to cut and sew. It also holds structure quite well so you can create dramatic design features.

These outfits have s few finishing touches to do but definite progress is being made 🙌
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It’s a week for sewing men’s shirts 🙌This class is done using the Wardrobe By Me Jensen Shirt sewing pattern. There is a...
10/08/2026

It’s a week for sewing men’s shirts 🙌

This class is done using the Wardrobe By Me Jensen Shirt sewing pattern. There is also a video tutorial that supports the sewing instructions making it easy to follow , although some sewing experience is advised before you start this project.

Menswear often comprises of capsule pieces but if you can sew, you can tailor and customise all aspects of the classic shirt 🧵
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08/08/2026

Every month on a Saturday morning or afternoon, there is a sewing club where adults, children and teens can sew something to take home. 🧵

In September we are making A-line skirts using jersey fabric and visible elastic. Skills include sewing elastic and jersey fabrics and using a twin needle.

For this an all upcoming projects check out regular classes on my website 🌎
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This is another quick shirring top. I quite enjoy shirrring prints and stripes because of the effect that the elastic cr...
04/08/2026

This is another quick shirring top. I quite enjoy shirrring prints and stripes because of the effect that the elastic creates 😍

Tips for shirring:
Wind the bobbin with shirring elastic gently with a bit of tension, by hand.
Sew using a straight stitch on the longest stitch length.
Have the right side of the fabric facing upwards as you sew.
Pull the fabric flat as you sew.
Do not backstitch; tie the ends by hand.

Shirring can also be added to waistbands, sleeve cuffs or biceps and trouser cuffs ➰➰➰
Enjoy experimenting!
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This is another of the shirt dresses sewn at the Top Notch 2-Day workshop 🙌This was the pencil skirt silhouette with a 3...
30/07/2026

This is another of the shirt dresses sewn at the Top Notch 2-Day workshop 🙌

This was the pencil skirt silhouette with a 3/4 sleeve. It is a flattering dress and beautiful sewn, plus all seams feature a contrast topstitch, wow, excellent work 🧵
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Today was a Let’s Sew holiday club and this is one of the creations, … a piano Rara skirt!. This student plays the piano...
28/07/2026

Today was a Let’s Sew holiday club and this is one of the creations, … a piano Rara skirt!.

This student plays the piano and was inspired by images online so she chose some fabrics that she liked and designed the skirt.

I helped her with measurements, cutting and making her design a reality. Just a bow to be added 🪡🪡
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Being tall is a superpower 🙌 ……But it does make buying a 1-piece swimsuit challenging! This gorgeous swimming costume wa...
23/07/2026

Being tall is a superpower 🙌 ……
But it does make buying a 1-piece swimsuit challenging!

This gorgeous swimming costume was from a charity shop so no alternative in sizes. I loved the print snd Auryn’s favourite colour is orange, but Auryn is tall.

I pondered various things I could do with the fabric but settled on a two-piece / tankini.

The knickers are very cute but the top posed a problem due to the low back and plunge front. Without the bottom attached the straps fell off the shoulder, so I used an off cut of the fabric with swim elastic inserted into a strip of “binding” to create straps across the back snd front.
This should protect my child’s modesty to some degree 😅

Roll on Summer days 💦👙
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Another shirt dress completed for the holidays 🙌Sewn at the 2-Day shirt dress workshop.The pleated skirt option of the M...
20/07/2026

Another shirt dress completed for the holidays 🙌
Sewn at the 2-Day shirt dress workshop.

The pleated skirt option of the McCalls M6696 shirt dress takes up more fabric than the pencil skirt, so my client cleverly used a different but complimentary fabric when she didn’t have enough of the main fabric to complete the dress.

The dress is beautifully finished with heart shaped shell buttons and leather accessories. Perfect for the current weather! ☀️
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Address

Orpington

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 3pm

Telephone

07754706192

Website

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