Sew Gallus

Cerri McKenzie is the definition of 'a lifelong crafter': a ballerina cross stitch kit ignited her love of sewing when she was 8 – and she's been hooked ever since. After a childhood filled with making, creating and stitching, she went on to study Fashion Technology and then worked in costume for theatre, film and TV, getting stuck into designing, upcycling and garment making. Cerri now spends her days helping others kick off their sewing journeys with workshops hosted in her cosy Edinburgh studio. 

Can you walk us through what a beginner actually gets to create during their very first sewing class?

In my Basic Beginners class, I concentrate on introducing my students to the sewing machines, stitches and most importantly showing them how to problem solve! Once we've had some time to play on the machines with scrap fabrics, practising different stitches and learning how to resolve any issues, we use the skills to make a very simple (yet satisfying) little square pin cushion. I particularly enjoy when people come to follow-up classes still using the pin cushion they made in my class!

Do you see a lot of people coming in to a sewing class solo and leaving with new friends or craft buddies?

My workshops are limited to 5 people at a time, so they're small enough to receive plenty of support and attention, but big enough to share an experience with lovely like-minded people. The drop-in classes are really sociable, with lots of familiar faces popping in regularly; these are self directed sessions where you can do as much or as little work on your projects that you like. Some folk come and have a goal for the day and others come to hangout and have a play on my machines, maybe working on alteration jobs or trying to finish old projects.

What’s your favourite advice for someone who describes themselves as "not a creative person" but still wants to learn to sew?

You don't have to be creative to want to learn to sew! Sewing is a life skill that everyone should have, no matter who you are. Especially in our current 'throw-away' culture that we live in – it's important to remember that there's really no such thing as 'away', so learning to repair, alter or just respect and reuse old clothes is incredibly important.

What sewing or embroidery techniques can people learn in your workshops?

So many! From basic sewing skills, to altering or mending clothes, to making clothes from scratch using a sewing pattern – there's something for everyone. My drop-in sessions are a bit of a free-for-all so you're welcome to come with any project you like, from working on upholstery, to embroidery and quilting!

How does learning to mend or stitch by hand change the way people look at their own clothes and textiles?

When you work on something with your hands, you develop a new found respect for whatever you've mended or created – and you'll begin to appreciate the time, money and effort that goes into it. We've all become so used to the culture of fast-fashion and replacing clothes that are a bit worn or don't suit us any more: spending time learning how things are created will make you grateful for the items that you already own, and will make you want to invest in pieces that are well made and will last.

What would you say to someone who's on the fence about booking their first sewing workshop?

My favourite thing about sewing is how varied it is: there are so many different avenues to go down, and so much you can learn – whether that's basic mending skills, upcycling, quilting or garment making. People often see sewing as a 'granny' hobby (which there's no shame in!), but it can also be incredibly punk and rebellious, sustainable and high fashion – all at the same time!