Miss J Sews
Private 1-to-1 sewing machine help
You’ve got a sewing machine. You want to sew. But the sewing still isn’t happening.
Perhaps your machine is still in its box. Or you’ve tried following a few tutorials, but you’re not sure you’ve got the threading, bobbin or basic controls right.
You want to sew. You’d just rather have somebody there to guide you while you get the machine set up and start using it.
During a private 60-minute Zoom session, we work on your own sewing machine.
We can start right at the beginning or concentrate on whatever is holding you up. You use your machine while I guide you through it, answer your questions and help you practise.
Your machine. Your questions. Your pace.
£97 · 60 minutes · Private Zoom session
Book my private sessionAfter payment, choose your appointment time.
£97 / 60 minutes / Private Zoom session
One hour to get you using your sewing machine
This isn’t an hour of sitting there watching me use mine.
You’ll be working on your machine, with live help while you do it.
We can go right back to the beginning, go over things you’ve forgotten or concentrate on the things you need help with now.
The important bit is that you actually do them during the session.
So when you sit down to sew again, you’re not trying to remember something you only watched somebody else do.
You’ve already done it yourself.
What we’ll do together
You may not even know what all the parts of your sewing machine are called.
That’s fine.
We can work through setting up the machine, threading it, winding and inserting the bobbin, using the basic controls, controlling the speed, sewing in reverse and practising sewing on fabric.
If you already know some of that, we don’t waste your hour going over it again.
And sometimes the instructions in the manual make perfect sense on the page, but you still want someone to look at what you’ve done on the machine and confirm that you’ve got it right.
That’s what live help is for.
We’ll focus on what you need to feel more comfortable sitting down at your machine and getting on with the sewing.
Scope
This session is for setup and beginner help with modern domestic sewing machines. Your machine must be in working order. Vintage, industrial and specialist machines aren’t covered. This is not a repair service.
A video can show you what to do. It can’t see what you’ve done.
YouTube is brilliant for sewing tutorials, but a prerecorded video can’t see any mistakes you’re making. It can’t help if the sewing machine on screen is different from yours, and it can’t answer a question that pops into your head while you’re following along.
Sometimes you need a human being who can look at what you’re doing and say:
Yep, that’s right.
Change that.
Show me what you’ve done.
You don’t need to know the technical name for everything before you can ask for help.
Show me what you’re looking at, tell me what you’re trying to do, and we’ll work from there.
£97 · 60 minutes · Private Zoom session
Book my private sessionWho this is for
For the person who has a sewing machine, wants to sew, but somehow still isn’t sewing.
You already have the sewing machine and you know you want to use it.
You’re just not comfortable enough with it yet to get on with the sewing.
We can start right at the beginning or pick up from what you already know.
You don’t need another whole sewing course just to understand the machine sitting in front of you.
Sometimes you need someone there while you use it.
You and your machine set the agenda
In a general class, the teacher has a class to teach.
Here, the hour is yours.
We don’t need to spend time on something you already understand just because it happens to be next on the lesson plan. What we work on depends on what you need help with.
If you need something shown again, we go over it again. If you already know it, we move on.
Your machine. Your questions. Your pace.
What Jess said after her session
“I’ve had my sewing machine since lockdown and never used it. Don’t judge me.
Jan made everything feel easy during the session, even the simplest things like winding a bobbin, without ever being patronising.
The walkthrough was clear, practical and reassuring, and I came away genuinely excited to get my machine out and start sewing.
She genuinely wants to help people like me build confidence and learn to love sewing.
Sometimes the biggest win is simply going from ‘I’ve had my machine since lockdown’ to ‘Right, let’s actually use it.’
Highly recommend.”
★★★★★ — Jess
Unsolicited feedback following a complimentary 1-to-1 session
“Actually having it in front of me, having the manual out, and having someone human just talk me through was really reassuring.”
Unsolicited feedback following a complimentary 1-to-1 session
How it works
Book your session
Book your private 60-minute Sewing Machine Setup Session for £97.
Tell me about your machine
Tell me the make and model, how much you’ve used it — if at all — and what you’d like help with.
That gives me a chance to look at your machine before we meet.
Bring your machine to Zoom
Have your sewing machine in front of you and your manual nearby if you have it.
Then we get to work.
You’ll be using your machine while I guide you through the things we’ve agreed to cover.
Get a recap after the session
Afterwards, I’ll email you a short overview of what we covered so you have a record to refer back to.
If you decide you’d like some more private help, you’re welcome to book another session.
£97 · 60 minutes · Private Zoom session
Book my private sessionPrivate sewing machine setup session
You’ve already got the machine. Let’s get you using it.
One private hour to work through the things you need help with on your sewing machine.
We can start right at the beginning or pick up from what you already know.
Questions before you book?
Is this suitable if I’ve never used my sewing machine?
Yes. You don’t need to take it out and practise before you meet me. If it is still in the box, we can start right at the beginning.
What if I don’t know what all the parts of my machine are called?
That’s absolutely fine. You don’t need to learn sewing-machine terminology before you can ask for help. Have the machine in front of you and we can work through it together.
What if I used to sew but I’ve forgotten a lot?
That’s fine too. We don’t need to pretend you’ve never sewn before. We can pick up from what you already know and work on the things you need help remembering.
What if I’ve already watched loads of YouTube videos?
YouTube may already have taught you quite a lot. The difference here is that I can see your machine and what you’re doing. A prerecorded video can’t stop, look at what you’re showing it and answer your next question. I can.
What if I’ve already taken a sewing class?
That’s fine. You may have learned plenty in the class and then found that some of it disappeared once you were back home with your machine. We don’t need to repeat the whole class. We work on what you need now.
Does my sewing machine need to be working?
Yes. This session is for learning how to set up and use a working modern domestic sewing machine. If your machine won’t switch on, is jammed, appears damaged or you suspect there is a mechanical or electrical fault, please have it checked by a sewing-machine repair technician before booking. Vintage, industrial and specialist machines aren’t covered.
What if my machine is different from yours?
Tell me the make and model before we meet and keep your manual nearby if you have it. We’ll work with your machine.
What if we need more than an hour?
We’ll use the 60 minutes on the things that matter most rather than trying to cram everything in. If you’d like more private help afterwards, you can book another session.
What happens after I pay?
After checkout, you’ll choose your appointment time and tell me about your sewing machine and what you’d like help with.
What should I have with me?
Have your sewing machine, power cable, foot pedal, manual if you have one, thread, bobbin, sewing-machine needle, a small piece of cotton fabric and a pair of scissors nearby. Then we’re ready to go.
You’ve got a sewing machine. You want to sew.Let’s get the two together.
We can start right at the beginning or pick up from what you already know.
You’ll spend the hour working on your machine, with live help while you do it.
Let’s get you using the sewing machine you’ve already got.
£97 · 60 minutes · Private Zoom session
Book my private sessionYour machine. Your questions. Your pace.