Sew Forest of Dean reviews

16 Jan 25'

Anna reviewed: Beginner's Hand Embroidery Workshop

"The workshop gave me exactly what I was looking for - an introduction to hand embroidery. I came away with a sampler of stitches I am now keen to use in my own projects. I was a complete beginner and I found that Jen was welcoming and explained and demonstrated clearly. I think I am going to like the art of slow stitching."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Anna, thank you for taking the time to leave a review. I'm so glad you enjoyed the slow pace of the hand embroidery day, you made a lovely job of your sampler and you now have a lovely selection of stitches in your armoury 😊. Thanks again and happy stitching, Jennifer "

13 Jan 25'

Gabrielle reviewed: Dressmaking Techniques

"This was such a valuable course, on all levels. Jen was extremely knowledgeable, and went out of her way giving us personalised, hands-on help. She was patient, answered all our questions, helped us figure out four very different sewing machines, and crammed loads of fabulous techniques and content into our time together. She is passionate about her craft and adept at sharing her skills in a way that is understandable and simple. I came away with a highly detailed, clear workbook of the techniques we'd covered, along with a set of fairly priced, specialised presser feet that I was able to test in class. Jen was keen on keeping us focused in a friendly way, and kept us well-fuelled with teas and delicious homemade lemon drizzle cake. I highly recommend her class, and we covered so much, that I may even come back for a refresher!"

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Gabrielle, thank you so much for joining me in the studio and for your wonderful review, very much appreciated. I'm so pleased you enjoyed your day and got so much out of it. You did a great job of all the techniques and I hope you will soon be putting them into practice with your own projects. Thanks again, it was lovely to spend the day with you. Best wishes, Jennifer "

8 Oct 24'

Lori reviewed: Learn to Love your Sewing Machine

"Hi Jen, thank you so much for giving me the confidence to make button holes and place zips, etc, using my sewing machine, plus all the tips and professional advice. You made me feel very welcome and were very patient. I really enjoyed my time and look forward to spending more time with you, your studio is fab, I could outstay my welcome there creating all manor of things! "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Lori, it was so lovely to spend time with you in the studio. You did a great job with all the techniques, it was a pleasure to help you on your way. I look forward to seeing you again at some point in the future. I'll keep an eye on how long you stay! 🤣"

6 Oct 24'

Linda Eggins reviewed: Sashiko Decorative Embroidery

"A lovely day with excellent tuition, cups of tea/coffee and cake. Everything I had hoped for."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Linda, thank you so much. It was a lovely day with you all, I'm so glad you had a good time. Best wishes and enjoy your Sashiko! Jennifer "

6 Oct 24'

CT reviewed: Sashiko Decorative Embroidery

"Lovely friendly and informative day in a dedicated workshop room, brimming with artistic examples and ideas. Had plenty of choice for all levels and lots of ideas for other challenges, and Jen was perfectly content to pop down a few rabbit holes to share wide range of knowledge on all sorts of topics. Exactly the sort of experience you hope for."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi CT, thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review. I'm glad you enjoyed the day and yes -I can always make time to send you all off down a rabbit hole for more stitching joy 🤣 Thanks again, enjoy your stitching, Jennifer"

27 Sep 24'

Claire Olohan-Bramley reviewed: Free Motion Quilting for the Terrified!

"Had a really fabulous day with Jennifer. She quickly understands a persons level of understanding and is able to tailor the day to ensure you get the most out of it. Lovely venue and made to feel extremely welcome. Hopefully not the only course I will be doing there. "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Claire, thank you so much for your review. I'm so glad you enjoyed the workshop and your time in the studio. I think we definitely found the right approach for your quilt borders - I look forward to seeing how that turns out! Thanks for coming all the way from Devon, I hope to see you again sometime. Happy quilting, Jennifer "

6 Jul 24'

Heather Shaw reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"Thank you Jen for a lovely day. This course gave me excellent insight/tips in quilt making, and looking forward to finishing my first quilt. Jen was a great host and the Victoria Sandwich cake was delicious. Would recommend this course! Thanks again."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thank you so much for your review Heather, glad you enjoyed the day and your piece of cake! Enjoy your patchwork and quilting, thanks again for joining me in the studio. Best wishes, Jen "

29 Jun 24'

Sue Benz reviewed: Dressmaking Techniques

"Jen is a great teacher and makes a mean lemon drizzle cake too ! I learnt so much and built up confidence in the various aspects of sewing which were covered over the course. Jen’s studio is perfect and so well equipped .A thoroughly enjoyable day, thank you. "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thanks so much for your review Sue, I'm so glad you enjoyed your day (and the cake!). Thanks very much for joining me in the studio, have fun putting those new skills into practice with your next dressmaking projects. Best wishes, Jennifer "

18 Jun 24'

Lizzie reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"A huge thank you for such an informative course. As a complete beginner I was a little nervous but had no need as Jennifer put everyone at ease and with such a well planned day she soon gave us confidence. Her patience and clear delivery soon had us on track. The day flew by. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this lovely learning day and will definitely be returning. Thank you Jennifer and to all the other lovely ladies who made the day so enjoyable."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thank you so much Lizzie, it was a lovely day and you all did brilliantly with your quilts. I can't wait to see them finished, they were all so different! Well done and thank you for your lovely review, best wishes, Jennifer "

15 Jun 24'

Cindy reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"I thoroughly enjoyed this course. As a complete beginner I achieved much more than I thought I could and I can't wait to finish my first quilt, which is a saying that I never thought I would utter. Jen is an excellent tutor and the environment is perfect, with inspirational quilts and crafts all round the log cabin. The lemon cake was an added bonus as well as meeting like minded people. "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Cindy, thank you so much for your review. It was a really lovely day with you all yesterday and I loved seeing your quilts coming together. I'm glad the lemon drizzle cake lived up to your expectations from previous reviews 😊. Have fun finishing your beautiful quilt and don't hesitate to come back to me if you need any more help or advice. Best wishes, Jennifer "

13 May 24'

Helen S reviewed: Free machine embroidery - an introduction

"Excellent course. I learnt a lot from Jen. Now I know how to check tension, what kind of machine feet I need and how to use them. With only three other participants, we all got plenty of one to one assistance from Jen plus tea and cake! And at my first try at free motion machine embroidery, I came away with a piece of work I can be proud of. Thanks, Jen."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Helen, thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. You've made a lovely job with your first machine embroidery, enjoy doodling and using your machine in a completely different way 😊. Best wishes, Jen"

6 Apr 24'

Lorraine reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"Had a fabulous time yesterday on the Wonky Donkey Quilt Workshop. As a beginner to quilting this course was really informative and covered everything needed to know to complete the quilt. Jen was a great tutor and had time for all of us on the course. Really looking forward to getting into quilting with the skills I learned."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thank you Lorraine, I'm so glad you enjoyed the day, you all did an amazing job with your quilts! Let me know if you need any more helping in sourcing your new machine and enjoy your quilting. Thanks for a lovely day"

20 Mar 24'

Kingsley reviewed: Nature Inspired Hand Embroidery

"As a novice embroiderer I had a wonderful day learning a wide variety of stitches in the lovely relaxed setting of Jen’s studio. Jen was an excellent tutor, teaching us clearly step by step and demonstrating embroidery stitching tips and techniques. We spent the day surrounded by her beautiful work and gaining inspiration from her smaller pieces. The day was exactly what I had hoped for and I would have no hesitation in recommending any of her courses. I hope to attend another of her courses when possible. "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Kingsley, thank you so much for your lovely review. It was wonderful to share the day with you, you were all so enthusiastic and made a lovely job of all the techniques and stitches. Have fun experimenting with your projects and exploring the endless possibilities of hand embroidery 😊 Best wishes, Jennifer"

21 Feb 24'

Donna Rose reviewed: Fabric Dyeing

"It is one of the best courses that I have attended. Jen was a fabulous tutor and made us feel immediately welcome. Over the 2 days we made samples using many different techniques. I came home with lots of lovely work and have been inspired to carry on dyeing!"

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thank you Donna for your lovely review! It was a great couple of days in the studio and I'm so pleased you are going to do more dyeing - your pieces were gorgeous - I'm going to dye some t-shirts today! Thanks again, Jen "

21 Jan 24'

Dave reviewed: Learn to Love your Sewing Machine

"Excellent course, nice balance of learning about how my sewing machine works, important tips for making things look professional, also nice to leave the day having made something, thanks Jen 😊 "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Brilliant! Thanks so much for your kind review Dave, it was lovely to spend the day with you and Gayle. I'm so pleased you found the day useful and enjoyable, good luck with all your future sewing projects. Best wishes, Jen "

15 Nov 23'

Angela reviewed: Fabric books and journals

"I had a lovely time on this course. A very genial - and very talented - host and pleasant company. Wish I lived nearer so I could do more courses with Jen. Angela"

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Angela, thank you so much for your review and for taking the time to join me in the studio. Your textile book is looking lovely and I hope you enjoy completing it with the ideas we discussed. Thanks again for coming all this way, happy stitching, Jennifer "

30 Oct 23'

Lucy Burrows reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"I thoroughly enjoyed the course with Jen. She presented in a way that was easy to understand and I now feel I am ready to complete the quilt. The venue is great, with everything at hand, and the lemon drizzle cake was lovely! Thanks so much Jen."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Lucy, thank you for your lovely review and for joining me in the studio. I'm thrilled that you enjoyed your day, you made great start with your quilt and it really won't take long to have everything finished, just ready for snuggling under now that the nights are drawing in! Thanks again, best wishes, Jennifer"

27 Oct 23'

Jane reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"What an enjoyable and informative day I have just had. I came away not only with the knowledge and tips on how to make my first quilt but also knowing a lot more about how to use my sewing machine (which I've owned for years), the best threads to use and how to cut fabric accurately. Jen was an inspirational teacher and at the end of the day I couldn't wait to plug in my sewing machine at home and do more sewing. I will definitely be signing up for another course run by Jen (the cake was delicious too!) "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Jane, thanks so much for taking the time to leave such a lovely review, very much appreciated. I'm so pleased you got so much out of the day, Have fun finishing your quilt, I can't wait to see it all done! Happy sewing, Jennifer "

16 Oct 23'

Janette Stewart reviewed: "Through the Garden Gate" - Machine Embroidery Workshop

"Thanks Jennifer, I had a lovely couple of days stitching, learning new techniques and extending the use of techniques I already knew. Good company and homemade cake were an added bonus."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Hi Janette, thank you so much for your review. It was a pleasure to spend a couple of days with you in the studio and I loved your design and use of the techniques. I'm glad you enjoyed the cake and the company, it was a lovely couple of days. Thanks again, Jennifer"

21 Sep 23'

A Brooks reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"A truly excellent course! Informal and relaxed and just the right pace to understand and practice each part of the project before moving on. We were given all the necessary information to complete the project in our own time and encouraged to get in touch if we came across problems. I don’t think any quilts will be left in the ‘UFO’ box. Thank you so much for a great day - I’m looking forward to receiving the newsletter and booking my next course."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thanks so much for your review Angela and for joining me in the studio. It was lovely to see all your quilts come to life, you did a wonderful job with everything I threw at you! Good luck with the finishing off, don't forget to shout if you need any more help. Hope to see you again for some more quilting fun. Best wishes, Jennifer"

16 Sep 23'

Clunis reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"Great day course. Learnt a lot, not just about quilting, but valuable hints and tips regarding using sewing machines. Would definitely recommend to any budding quilter. "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thank you so much for joining me in the studio Clunis and for your lovely review. So glad you enjoyed your day - you made a lovely job of your quilt. Happy sewing! Jennifer "

13 Sep 23'

Helen Nield reviewed: Learn to Love your Sewing Machine

"Everything & more than I expected …I had a lovely day. Definitely worth travelling from The Midlands for this course. I turned it into a short break & would highly recommend the course. Such a warm friendly welcome & a lemon based cake which is always a winner. I’ll be heading home tomorrow to tackle bunting for my first Grandchild’s Christening 😊 "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thank you so much for your lovely review Helen 😊 It was a pleasure to spend time with you and the other ladies in the studio, you all worked so hard and made a fabulous job of all the skills I showed you. The lemon drizzle cake is always a crowd pleaser! With very best wishes for all your sewing projects, Jennifer "

21 Apr 23'

Liz H reviewed: "Through the Garden Gate" - Machine Embroidery Workshop

"This is an excellent course and I came away with such confidence and an abundance of ideas to take me forward. I also have a picture I love and would have thought beyond my ability before this course. Jen is an excellent teacher and each participant was able to produce their own individual and different take on the principles by being guided and supported by Jen to follow our likes and ability….encouraged to be creative and ‘daring’. A fantastic environment to work in, the pace is steady but never feels pressured. Highly recommended. I will be back. Thank you. "

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thank you so much for such a lovely review Liz. It's always fascinating to see how people respond to the various techniques I demonstrate and it was wonderful that you embraced them all within your work. Your finished picture was a delight and I'm sure it's just the start of your exploration of the techniques we covered. I can't wait to see your work and skills develop further! Thanks again Liz, always a pleasure to share my studio space with you. Jen"

9 Nov 22'

Gill reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"had a really relaxing enjoyable day on saturday and learnt alot of useful quilting techniques. informal atmosphere cant wait to get the quilt finished! thank you Jen for a lovely day"

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely review Gill. I'm so glad you enjoyed the day and look forward to seeing your beautiful quilt all finished. Best wishes and thanks again, Jennifer"

30 Apr 22'

Chris Roberts reviewed: Beginner's Quilting Day with Sew Forest of Dean

"This was definitely the best course that I have been on to date, and I’ve been on a lot. Jen made me feel relaxed immediately. She gave everyone the help and attention they needed. The day was well paced ensuring that we all came away with the knowledge and skills to finish our quilt at home. In addition there was delicious cake! I thoroughly recommend this course to everyone. Thanks Jen for a great day."

Sew Forest of Dean responded:

"Thank you so much for your lovely review Chris. I'm so glad you enjoyed the day and I'm pretty sure you're finally going to get your first quilt finished! Thank you for a lovely day, happy quilting ?"