blueskyskills

Here you’ll find real stories from families, tips for supporting teens through their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or Arts Award, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of our online courses in sewing, cookery, and beekeeping. From proud parent moments to practical advice, this space is all about celebrating young people learning something new — and having fun while they do it. 🎨✂️🍳🐝 Dive in and get inspired!

From Toy Machine to Handmade Skirt: One Teen’s Sewing Journey with the Sew It Course

We love hearing from parents whose children are blossoming through our creative courses — and this recent message brought a big smile to our faces:

“It was great watching her develop her sewing machine skills with your course. She started as a novice with hardly any machine experience only having used a toy machine prior, and by the end was making her own skirt with a zip for her final project! Sew impressed! (pun intended ;)”

This is exactly what the Sew It course was designed for — to take beginners and gently guide them through the exciting (and sometimes intimidating!) world of sewing. Whether it’s their first time threading a machine or their first attempt at a zip, we’ve created each session to build confidence, nurture creativity, and develop practical skills step by step.

And what a journey this student went on — from toy machine to a wearable handmade skirt with zip. That’s not just a sewing win, it’s a huge personal achievement.

Even more brilliantly, this young maker was completing the course as part of her Bronze Arts Award, proving that sewing isn’t just a hobby — it’s a recognised creative skill that can form part of a meaningful qualification.

We’re so proud of all our young students. Watching their skills grow, projects develop, and confidence soar is the best part of what we do.