FOLLOW A PATTERN & MAKE A BAG

FOLLOW A PATTERN & MAKE A BAG
Merchant & Mills pattern & fabric included!
FRI 20 NOV / 10 - 4
One day course with Helen Shine from Dot n Cross

Made by us using dry oilskin in 'midnight' from Merchant & Mills

COST: £135 incl. Merchant & Mills pattern (worth £6,45), beautiful dry oilskin fabric (worth £22) and matching thread (worth £2.40)
+£2.87 booking fee charged by ticket software
DAY: Friday 20th November 2026
TIME: 10 am - 4 pm (30min - 1hr break for lunch, lunch not provided)
LOCATION: The School Room, Art Centre Penryn
SESSIONS: one session
LEVEL: Confident Beginners and Beginners + 
MAXIMUM PARTICIPANTS: 6
TUTOR: Helen Shine from Dot n Cross
Tea, coffee and biscuits provided

Please note: sales for this class will close on Monday 9th November to give us time to order the fabric. 

Master all the basic techniques to follow a pattern and leave with a super stylish bag you have made

TELL ME MORE

Our popular bag-making course returns, with an update! This time, we're making a super-stylish sturdy bag with a pattern and dry oilskin fabric from Merchant & Mills. This bag is perfect as a gift to yourself or for someone else. Once you've made one, you can make it again and again in different fabrics. 

Start learning a new skill for life with expert Helen Shine who runs Dot n Cross. This class is designed to equip you with the basics, and confidence, to follow patterns (as well as all the little tips and tricks) to start making clothes and other sewing projects. Helen will take you through making the bag from start to finish, step-by-step. 

This sturdy, lined tote bag has three inner pockets and turned through handles. This bag is designed to be made in thick cloth so it keeps it shape well. We are lining the bag in the same fabric, so you get a lovely rich finish inside and out. 

WHO IS THIS CLASS SUITABLE FOR?

This class is suitable for confident beginners who have used a sewing machine before, but may not have made a bag or garment. This class is also suitable for people who are looking to get back into sewing but are feeling a bit rusty.

TECHNIQUES YOU WILL LEARN

• Cutting out your fabric using a paper pattern
• Deciphering and following pattern instructions
• Using the sewing machine effectively
• Marking and pinning your fabric correctly
• Sewing straight lines, hemming and following the seam allowance
• How to make a bag with pockets and a lining, which you can make again and again...
• We're also including a simple pattern 'hack' to make the handles longer if you wish

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

• The Merchant & Mills Sturdy Tote bag pattern and instructions to take home and use again
• 1M of Merchant & Mills dry oil skin fabric and matching thread to make your bag (choose from 6 gorgeous colours below)
• The use of our equipment and sewing machines
• Expert tuition! 
  
  

CHOOSE YOUR FABRIC
Select the corresponding ticket name at checkout from the colours below. 
Please note that the actual colour will vary slightly from the image on screen. 

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING?

Materials:

• You don't need to bring anything, all materials are provided.

Equipment:

• Your own sewing machine if you would like to bring it, however we do provide sewing machines. If you are bringing your machine, ensure you bring the foot pedal and the various presser feet that came with the machine, and the manual if you have it.
• A basic sewing kit if you would like to bring your own, including pins, scissors, tape measure etc. This is not essential as we have all the equipment here for you to use. 
  
  

ABOUT YOUR TEACHER

Helen Shine is a skilled pattern cutter with over 12 years of experience in London’s high-end fashion industry, working with renowned designers like Victoria Beckham, Mary Katrantzou, and Karen Millen.

In 2019, she launched ‘Dot n Cross’, offering hands-on pattern cutting and sewing workshops. Helen is passionate about empowering others to create their own clothes, whether they are aspiring professionals or enthusiastic home sewers, by sharing her industry knowledge and love of the craft.

REFUND/EXCHANGE POLICY

Art Centre Penryn is a small, non-profit organisation and our courses form a really important part of our income, we are therefore not able to offer refunds within 30 days of the course date. We offer the following refund/exchange options:

If it is more than 30 days from the course start date, we can offer a full refund, less the booking fee. Within 30 days days from the course start date, we cannot offer a refund, but we could transfer you to another course, or offer a voucher for you to use to book another course. Alternatively, you could send someone else in your place, please just email us to let us know.

We're sorry, but we are unable to offer an exchange or voucher within 72 hrs of the course, or after the course, unless in exceptional circumstances. This is because we may not have time to re-sell the place and would therefore risk not being able to cover our costs. 

Thanks for your understanding.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT COURSES AT ART CENTRE PENRYN HERE