Bella Fabrics’ program of classes are taken by dedicated and talented teachers, both local and interstate, each bringing their individual talent and creativity to the classes they take.
Classes cover quilting, dressmaking, appliqué, embroidery, EPP, crochet, to name a few.
All classes include light refreshments. Bring your own lunch or we can place an order for you from a local café.
Upcoming Classes for October 2024
Tuesday 1st – Smocking workshop
Wednesday 2nd – Susan Smith workshop
Thursday 3rd – Embroidery workshop
Friday 4th – Smocking workshop
Sunday 6th – Christine Vlasic =workshop
Saturday 12th – October ak traditions workshop
Tuesday 15th – Smocking workshop
Thursday 17th – Embroidery with Christine
Friday 18th – Smocking workshop
Saturday 19th – Bracelet making workshop
Sunday 20th – Susan Smith workshop
Wednesday 23rd – Embroidery workshop
Sunday 27th – Judy Newman workshop
Tuesday 29th – Cystic Fibrosis Charity workshop
Scissor Sharpening Service
Monday October 28th
What’s on in November 2024
Tuesday 5th – Melbourne Cup CLOSED
Wednesday 6th – Susan Smith Workshop
Thursday 7th – Embroidery with Ana
Friday 8th – Smocking with Ann
Thursday 14th – Embroidery with Christine
Friday 15th – Smocking with Ann
Sunday 17th – Susan Smith Workshop
Tuesday 19th – Smocking with Ann
Friday 22nd – Luna Lapin workshop
Sunday 24th – Margaret Mew Workshop
Tuesday 26th – Smocking with Ann & Christmas Soiree 6pm – 9pm
Wednesday 27th – Embroidery with Ana
Scissor Sharpening Service – Monday 25th
Embroidery with Christine
Starting out with Crewel embroidery Christine has since gone on to master numerous traditional embroidery techniques from tutors across the world. Having completed her Certificate in Technical Hand Embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework in London, Christine has since gone on to study historical embroidery at Cambridge University.
“I have learned so much from some excellent tutors before me and I have been encouraged to pass on my knowledge to others.”
Sharing her skills with today’s needleworkers Christine encourages stitchers of all levels to explore and find the hand embroidery techniques that suit them in a welcoming and fun environment. Christine has been teaching at various retail locations, conventions and with the Embroiderers Guild locally and interstate since 2016 and has had numerous projects featured in Inspirations publications.
Class runs from 10am – 3pm. Morning & afternoon tea included.
Dates:
– 17th October 2024
– 14th November 2024
– 19th December 2024
Time: 10am – 3pm
Ticket Price: $85 per person
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Summer School with Susan Smith
Event Details
Date:
– Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th of December 2024
– Friday 3rd & Saturday the 4th of January 2025
– Friday 10th & Saturday 11th of January 2025
Time: 10am – 3pm
Ticket Price: $90 per person
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Event: Stitch ‘n’ Knit Soirèe
Event Details
Date: Tuesday 26th November 2024
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Ticket Price: $40 per person
Location: Canterbury Garden Neighbourhood Centre, 2 Kendall St, Canterbury
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Smocking Workshop
We are excited to have Ann Forehan teaching Smocking at Bella Fabrics starting in July. Classes will run from 10am – 3pm & includes morning & afternoon tea. $85.00
I have loved Smocking from childhood when my mother dressed me in her own smocked dresses. As a child I was fascinated with the concept of smocking and its artistic nature. This fascination has continued over many years to the point where I have made smocked dresses for my daughter and granddaughters.
Around 15 years ago I started teaching smocking. As well as teaching traditional smocking, I enjoy designing and making patterns for all age groups with the current trends being a focus. I am looking forward to teaching at Bella Fabrics and sharing my Smocking knowledge with students in the hope that this wonderful skill is continued.
Dates:
Friday 12th July
Tuesday 16th July
Friday 19th July
Tuesday 23rd July
Friday 2nd August
Tuesday 6th August
Friday 16th August
Tuesday 27th August
Friday 6th September
Tuesday 17th September
Friday 19th September
Tuesday 1st October
Friday 4th October
Tuesady 15th October
Friday 18th October
Friday 8th November
Friday 15th November
Tuesday 19th November
Tuesday 26th November
Tuesday 3rd December
Friday 6th December
Tuesday 17th December
Cost: $85
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Embroidery Workshops with Ana Mallah
We are excited to have Ana teaching at Bella Fabrics commencing in July. Ana will be at Bella Fabrics the 1st Thursday of each month and the 4th Wednesday of each month, 10am – 3pm.
‘I have been a full time embroidery teacher and designer for almost 10 years. I am also a regular contributor to publications such as Inspirations magazine. I absolute love everything textiles, threads and flowers and am forever looking for ways to bring these elements together.
I have admired Bella Fabrics since it opened it’s beautiful doors to us and am looking forward to teaching and meeting passionate stitchers there’
Dates:
Thursday 4th of July 2024
Wednesday 24th of July 2024
Thursday 1st of August 2024
Wednesday 21st of August 2024
Thursday 5th of September 2024
Wednesday 25th of September 2024
Thursday 3rd of October 2024
Wednesday 23rd of October 2024
Thursday 7th of November 2024
Wednesday 27th of November 2024
Thursday 5th of December 2024
Cost: $85
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Margaret Mews workshops
Enjoy a hand stitching class with Margaret as she takes you through her tips to achieve accurate hand piecing and applique. Margaret’s aim is that you will enjoy and embrace hand piecing and hand applique as much as she does. And look at fabric, and use it a little differently than you may have before. Learn the essentials of template use and accurate fabric marking while working on your choice of Margaret’s designs. You’ll learn helpful skills if you have struggled with any of the following … curved piecing, inset seams, smooth applique curves or points in the past, or applique stems. Choose a project from Margaret’s designs, either from her books or patterns; Your fabric requirements will be listed there for each quilt, but for class it is not usually needed to bring all the fabric for the quilt. Under Margaret’s expert guidance, you may wish to do a little shopping to add to what you have.
Dates:
– Sunday 25th August 2024
– Sunday 24th of November 2024
Cost: $90
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Petra Prins – Patchwork: 2 Day Workshop
Bella Fabrics is excited to confirm that Petra and Judith of Petra Pins Patchwork will be conducting a 2 day workshop at Bella Fabrics in February 2025.
BOOKED OUT
Doll Making Classes
Learn to make one of these gorgeous dolls or Stash Cat ‘Atticus or Scout”
Class runs from 10am – 3pm. Doesn’t include kit.
Class cost is $90.
Dates:
Thursday 8th August 2024
Saturday 12th October 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Wedding Ring Quilt Workshop
This workshop consists of 2 classes running on Saturday 23rd March 2024 & Saturday 25th May 2024.
The 1st class is an introduction to cutting out using templates, hand piecing your arcs together.
The 2nd class is the construction of the wedding rings.
Morning & afternoon tea included.
Each class will run from 10am to 3pm and the cost is $180.
Dates:
Saturday 20th July 2024
Saturday 14th September
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Learning To Love Your Overlocker – with Kate Marra
This one-day course, 5-6 hours gives students a greater understanding of their overlocker and allows them to continue using it at home confidently. The kit provided covers a comprehensive 23-page workbook and all fabrics required for the day.
The course covers four thread overlocking, understanding tensions, three thread overlocking, rolled hem, understanding differential feed, techniques for better results when stitching a circle, inside corners, outside corners, working with difficult fabrics and so many applications for rolled hem!
Includes morning & afternoon tea.
Cost: $150
Dates:
– 12th August 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Learning to Love Your Overlocker – Fabulous Flatlock Extension One
The first extension to the Learning to Love Your Overlocker course covers flatlocking and ladder stitch in depth. The additional pages cover wide and narrow flatlocking and various decorative applications, including ribbon work, decorative thread, beading, lace insertion and creating a blind hem stitch. The second part of the course is constructing a notebook cover using some of the techniques covered in the course. All fabrics provided to complete the workbook and project.
Cost: $150
Dates:
– Sunday 8th of September 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Luna Workshop
Learn to make “Luna Lapin” the delightful quite & kind bunny, created by Sarah Peel.
Class cost includes, book, felt, liberty & thread.
Class runs from 10am – 3pm
Includes morning & afternoon tea.
Next scheduled class dates are:
– 11th July 2024
– 17th August 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Susan Smith Workshops
Join Susan, a long time quilter who excels in the art of appliqué and hand piecing, to learn these techniques.
Susan has also designed a small collection of prints “Stonleigh” for Dutch Heritage Fabrics, due out early this year.
Class includes morning/afternoon tea.
Dates:
– Sunday 16th June
– Wednesday 3rd July
– Sunday 21st July
– Wednesday 4th September
– Sunday 15th September
– Wednesday 2nd October
– Sunday 20th October
– Wednesday 6th November
– Sunday 17th November
– Wednesday 4th December
Call the shop on 9870 9500 for more details
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Christine Vlasic Workshops
A pile of scrap fabric gives me such a buzz. Giving it a form, deciding which fabric compliments another, interlocking shapes and before you know it there is a block, an idea to take further.
Sewing has been a passion for many years, it brings me joy and it is my pleasure to share my love of fabric and quilt making with students of all abilities.
The opportunity to share my skills with others is an absolute privilege. Hope to see you in class one day!
Workshop cost: $85.00 includes morning/afternoon tea.
Dates:
– Sunday 7th July
– Sunday 4th August
– Sunday 1st September
– Sunday 6th October
– Sunday 3rd November
– Sunday 1st December
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Judy Newman
Judy has loved needle and thread her whole life.
Judy has been designing quilts and teaching for many years, authored books for Quiltmania and now produce my own fabric ranges for Devonstone Collections.
Her quilts are generally made in soft colours with occasional pops of muted brights, vintage style inspired. Hand piecing, EPP and applique are her preferred methods of patchwork and she loves to assist with colour choices, mixing up scale and density to help create beautiful quilts for her students. Judy loves to hand quilt, the gentle rhythm of the needle through the thread is comforting and slow but gives her time to think about what comes next as her quilts are rarely planned from beginning to end, they evolve with the colours and prints as she uses them.
Includes morning/afternoon tea
Dates:
– Sunday 18th August 2024
– Sunday 27th October 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Lampshade Workshop
Tamica, a mother of two, created Nooshy Design out of necessity. When her daughter was born in 2015, Tamica couldn’t find the perfect lampshade for her bedroom so Tamica designed and made her own and, in the process, experienced the joy of creating something bespoke. This was the beginning of Nooshy Design.
Tamica’s lampshade classes will teach you how to make you very own custom designed 30cm drum lampshade, Or bring along your own lampshade to recover. Tamica will use her creative design skills to take you through the process of making your own lampshade. At the end of the class, you will have created something you have personally hand-made to light up your home.
Tamica’s class is ideal for beginners to advanced – no prior lampshade making experience required.
Workshop includes tuition & kit
Class duration is 10am-12noon
Class cost: 130.00
Dates:
– Saturday 17th August 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Margaret Mews & Judy Newman Workshop
Join these 2 very talated teachers for a 1-day workshop.
Enjoy a hand stitching class with Margaret as she takes you through her tips to achieve accurate hand piecing and applique. Margaret’s aim is that you will enjoy and embrace hand piecing and hand applique as much as she does. And look at fabric, and use it a little differently than you may have before.Learn the essentials of template use and accurate fabric marking while working on your choice of Margaret’s designs. You’ll learn helpful skills if you have struggled with any of the following … curved piecing, inset seams, smooth applique curves or points in the past, or applique stems.
Judy’s quilts are generally made in soft colours with occasional pops of muted brights, vintage style inspired. Hand piecing, EPP and applique are her preferred methods of patchwork and she loves to assist with colour choices, mixing up scale and density to help create beautiful quilts for her students. Judy loves to hand quilt, the gentle rhythm of the needle through the thread is comforting and slow but gives her time to think about what comes next as her quilts are rarely planned from beginning to end, they evolve with the colours and prints as she uses them.
Includes morning/afternoon tea. Lunch not included, bring your lunch or we can order from a cafe in Mailing Road. Class runs from 10am – 3.30pm (lunch 12.30-1pm)
Class duration is 10am – 3.30pm (lunch 12.30-1pm)
Class cost: 110.00
Dates:
– Sunday 12th of May 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Sew.be Workshop
Bec is a modern Australian quilt designer with a growing global following. She is known for her scrappy colourful style and unique fabric combinations. Bec’s patterns are designed for confident beginners and up, and benefit from a scrappy palette drawn from a wide variety of fabrics.
Class cost: $110.00
Dates:
New Dates to be confirmed
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Pincushion Workshop with Anna ‘Lalou and Boo’
Anna is a creative in Melbourne who works out of her home studio making textile-based artworks. You can find her art and follow her creative process on her Instagram account at ‘Lalou and Boo’. While Anna’s creations are predominantly based around the use fabric, she uses a variety of material types, embroidery techniques, embellishing materials and even paint/illustration to create her pieces. Her work is often inspired by nature and the world around her, and embodies a sense of whimsy, magic and a love for the long-lost slower pace of life. With a focus on mindful hand-stitching and a deep love of the creative process, Anna helps students fall in love with the simplicity of pulling needle and thread through fabric and encourages them to bring their own personalisation to their work.
Pincushion Workshop
Come learn to make an exquisite embroidered linen pincushion with Anna from start to finish, using English paper piecing, applique and embroidery. It is a lovely, achievable little project on which to learn some new skills and add a little beauty to your sewing kit.
Class cost includes tuition, morning & afternoon tea. Class runs from 10am – 3pm
Anna will provide a kit $20 payable to Anna on the day. Also required a little bit of stuffing & liberty. Available at Bella Fabrics.
Dates:
– Saturday 24th August 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Karen Styles Workshop
Class cost: $85
Dates:
– Saturday 13th of July 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
Embroidered Silk Bracelet Workshop
Enjoy a day being surrounded by sumptuous silks, glass beads, vintage treasures and slow stitching as Anna teaches you to make your own divine embroidered bracelet. This project is all about the love of slowing down, hand stitching (including basic applique and embroidery) and being creative as you design your own bracelet and Anna helps you bring it to life.
Class cost includes tuition, morning & afternoon tea. Class runs from 10am – 3pm
Anna has an exquisite collection of dyed silks, old enamel-painted vintage charms, European glass beads, sequins and other embellishing materials which she will bring along for you to select from to make your bracelet. Access to these materials is $35 payable to Anna on the day by cash or card. You will also need to bring your embroidery threads (these are also available at the shop).
Class cost: $85
Dates:
– Saturday 19th October 2024
For more information email us at jeannie@bellafabrics.com.au
