AN INNOVATIVE new school in Rawdon is helping to promote the popular craft of sewing.

And students hungry to learn are starting to cotton on!

Rawdon-based School of Sew has been established to help budding seamstresses and seamsters to become experts, even if they’ve never threaded a needle before.

Classes take place in a studio that was once an old school room. Lessons and courses cover the entire spectrum, including curtains and blinds, dressmaking and fashion, accessories and gifts. Courses will also help develop stitching skills and creativity.

The business is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Nicola Lee and Jo Tickle, who are passionate about passing on their knowledge and their love of the art, to give students the skills and confidence to sew perfectly.

Jo said: "I’ve always enjoyed passing on my sewing knowledge and skills and I’m keen to see sewing and dressmaking continue its current renaissance.

"There’s a huge interest in sewing and crafts, fuelled by everything from TV programmes such as The Great British Sewing Bee, the enduring love of everything vintage and a strong desire to get involved in creative projects. And considering that technology and gadgets are such a big part of modern lifestyles, it’s wonderful to see so many people choosing a more traditional pastime.

"With School of Sew, we want to inspire people to be creative and unlock their hidden sewing talents. I’m really looking forward to seeing the school grow as we take on more and more students, who are eager to learn or improve."

Nicola added: "This is a very exciting time for sewing in the UK, which has been growing steadily for a number of years.

"Interest in the classes we offer has been very high from novices, as well as experienced sewers looking to develop their skills and take on more challenging projects. Interest is huge as young adults are increasingly being inspired to have a go at traditional crafts, such as sewing, knitting or crochet by seeing items they want on Instagram and Pinterest.

"What’s really encouraging is the skill is seeing a real resurgence amongst 18 to 30-year-olds, possibly a result of the rise in celebrity sewers, such as Holly Willoughby, Eva Longoria and Chris Martin. And who knows, what once used to be seen as a hobby could even potentially become a successful career, as it did for me."

Experts say the £3 billion crafts market in Britain, which includes sewing, is estimated to be growing at an annual rate of about 4.5 per cent, bucking the trend of many other parts of the UK high street.

Visit schoolofsew.com or call 0113 418 2718 to enrol on a sewing class at School of Sew.