Beginner Sewing Course

Maree Pigdon began her professional sewing career in 1965 at the young age of 14. She quickly began designing, sewing and selling made-to-measure women's wear and specialty garments including bridal gowns.

Maree then became a fully qualified Kwik-Sew consultant, got married, had two children and set sail on a new journey to share her knowledge, skills and passion for fashion design and sewing by launching her very own Sewing School. From humble beginnings in her back garage in 1979 she quickly grew her business adapting to changing trends of fashion and class structure through various stores in Geelong - to where it is today, Rosewood Cottage Studio on her family property in 23 Kalkarra Crescent Mt. Duneed, Victoria Australia.

2005 saw Maree join forces with her daughter Jacqueline, to team together in a partnership to bring her business online. It has always been Maree’s dream to capture her sewing ideas, techniques and skills to teach others all around the world who share her love for sewing and creating.

Jacqueline has an IT background and is a Life and Business Coach and was the perfect person to help turn her mum’s dream into a reality. Working together, planning, designing and creating – together their aim is to touch the lives of other creative women in a positive, enriching and fun way in the world of sewing, designing and dressmaking skills.

Jacqueline, is like her mum, a very talented designer and sewer and has been working with her mother for as long as she can remember. From designing and modeling in fashion parades Maree hosted, to assisting with classes and the development of the business, Jacqueline works hard behind and sometimes in front of the camera to create online sewing courses to launch on Udemy. With Jacqueline's extensive travels around the world she is always bringing new and exciting course ideas to the team.

For the past 15 years Maree and Jacqueline have been designing for Australian Stitches Magazine and Maree won the Australian Craft of Excellent Awards in both 1998 & 1999.

When not sewing or teaching Maree loves to be in her established rose garden and rose room which is filled with hundreds of roses and gorgeous student areas. Maree loves to get out her garden shears to prune her roses! She adores spending time developing her native garden and watching her delicious organic vegetable garden and orchard grow! Maree’s beautiful Border collie Rosie helps her by eating the strawberries and tomatoes when visiting for constant pats and affection.

Maree has had great success in river boat rowing, being taught by her Australian Rowing Champion daughter Jacqueline she herself trained, practiced and learnt the core skills of rowing to go on and win 2 silver medals in the Australian Indoor Rowing Championships Veterans (2007).

Since then Maree keeps fit on her own indoor rowing machine and mixes her routine with running stairs and walking on her local coastal beaches with a bunch of her wonderful friends in Victoria.

Maree and Jacqueline's unique mother and daughter team provide excellent sewing classes and sewing tuition, fashion design, wardrobe planning, sewing techniques and just love making online sewing courses for Udemy for beginners as well as all ages and levels of sewing to come soon too!

Maree also enjoys patchwork, quilting and most creative hobbies, spending time with her family, her mother who also lives in Geelong as well as friends in her local area and travelling internationally to visit her son Matthew and his wife Cameron and their two children Poppy and Felix in Switzerland.

MAREE PIGDON SEWING CENTRE is a National Multi-Award Winning sewing school built on 40 years of sewing, design and teaching experience.

Maree Pigdon teaches women in all aspects of sewing, dressmaking and design to develop and refine their sewing skills, learn step by step garment construction, terrific tips and sewing tricks, how to fit garments to your own unique body shape, enhance figure assets and minimise problem areas.

Maree will teach you how to sew step by step the right way to sew from day one, she will inspire and encourage you and give you a thoroughly enjoyable learning experience and one you won’t forget!

TESTIMONIALS

Thank you Maree for a brilliant Zero To Sewing beginner clinic. I am surprised with how much I have learnt in only 2 days! I can't wait to practice my new skills and make my next sewing project.

Shelley Threlfall

I attended the Zero To Sewing in a Weekend course and loved it! I have learnt so much and have been inspired to continue on with my own sewing projects.

Jamie Brown

I have loved the sewing classes, they were so much fun and Maree is so friendly and warm and is a pleasure to learn from.

Kelly Hosking

Maree is a fabulous teacher! A perfect pace for me, very clear and encouraging. I feel so excited to move forwards and try new sewing projects now!

Katrina Stroud

The Zero To Sewing in a Weekend - Beginner sewing clinic was fantastic as a self taught sewer to learn how to do things properly! I thought I knew more than I actually did... now I know how to do all of those things and more because of Maree!

Elizabeth Gordon

I had booked into Maree’s sewing classes, where I made my first pair of pyjamas.

Since then, I have gone on and made 4 compete sets and 5 bottom pants.

I have now moved onto making a fully lined vest and have made 3 after I enrolled for a full term of lessons.

I am booked in again for another term and will be a student for a very long time.

People ask me why I travel so far to learn how to sew? The answer I give is simple. I wanted to learn from the best and am being taught by a master!

Maree Pigdon apart from being a lovely person, is truly a master of sewing.

Maree not only knows how to sew, Maree knows how to teach others. Nothing is too much for her and her attention to detail is something above the rest. Maree knows what is going on even when she is in a far corner.

My advice to anyone who is serious about learning how to sew, then do not waste your time or money, go to the master, Maree Pigdon.

Dezi - Solicitor from Altona Meadows

Maree’s wealth of knowledge is amazing and so practical and appreciated.

Rose Nadile - Point Cook, Australia

Maree is the best sewing teacher in the whole world!

Loren Dolphin – Ocean Grove, Australia.