Sewing for Success

27/09/2026

The hammering is well underway!

23/09/2026

I discovered it on a doom scrolling session a few months ago and I finally tried plastic packaging to trace our sewing patterns. It worked brilliantly . 👍In our classes we have used cardboard, newsprint, newspaper, cartridge paper, brown super market bags, thin fabric like cotton muslin and vilene.

We try to up-cycle when we make our patterns as I feel it can be very wasteful. Newsprint is still my favorite but that's only cause all the scrappy bits get collected and used as fire starters in my home.

Anyway I highly recommend up-cycling plastic packaging to use as your patterns. Plastic degrades into micro plastic flakes after time so it would still be better that companies didn't even use plastic packaging full stop. But we are a charity who want to stay affordable so are going to use whatever we can get our hands on for free!

22/09/2026

Come finish your term 3 makes!
Or get a little bit of help before you set off on your own sewing adventures for the 2 week holiday.

Happy Sewing
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Charlie

19/09/2026

A little glimpse of the beginnings of my pākē, the final project for my level 4 Raranga certificate.

17/09/2026

Te reo Māori belongs in our everyday lives and these are some of the words I get to hear in our classes it's pretty awesome listening to our students. I am most certainly learning a lot of new words. Putting them into practice alongside my raranga journey is wonderful.

Aupuru tāpine - pin cushion - pine (pin)
Aho- thread
Ngira- needle
Hūhimati - thimble - huhi (to cover) mati (finger)
Tēpa ine - tape measure
Tioka papanga -fabric chalk
Kuti papanga - fabric scissors
Wete tuinga - seam ripper - wete (untie, unravel) tuinga (stitch)

I'm reminded of when I worked in Cuba, knowing some of the simple Spanish sewing terms made working there much more exciting. The most used term I used was La percha, I wonder if you know what I was asking for?

15/09/2026

TERM 4 BOOKINGS ARE OPEN!

Come join our crazy cool sewing community. Learn new skills, make awesome things, get creative and have a good laugh along the way.

Kids | Adults | Masterclass | Workshops

Bookings are open now. Register online and come sew with us!

Browse our Rotorua sewing classes and workshops for all ages and levels. Class fees are donations that keep our community programme running.

12/09/2026

Today was humming!

We mended leggings and other sports wear we took in trousers, we turned dresses into skirts and a couple pairs of jeans were hemmed! A couple of our glorious students caught up on their class projects and a list of mending instructions were given out 😉😜

Sewing is a life skill and I am so stoked that Di and I get to share our knowledge every week 🫶

Di Jensen thank you so much we missed you last week ❤️

08/09/2026

Let's get crafty! School age kids here's your chance to play with all the fabrics, beads, glue and paint!

Day 1: Flower smashing & fabric printing

Day 2: Tie dye & trinket bowls

Day 3: Accessories - beads, charms, trinkets and more

No sewing machines, just hand-making, experimenting and creating unique, bespoke things.

All fabrics, tools and materials included.

The best bit for your parents is that the mess stays here! No clean up for them woohoo 🎉 😉😅😁😀

Don't worry monthly adult sessions are coming soon! 😜

Book via email or message sewing for success on socials!

[email protected]