I’m Teaching! Sultry Sheath Dress Class and Seam Finishes


Sunday sewing - prepping for my Sultry Sheath Dress class in a few weeks #sewing #teaching


Just some fitting tweaks to the bodice and I'll be done

Last weekend I started my first project from Gertie’s New Book for Better Sewing – The Sultry Sheath Dress.  It’s coming together nicely and I’ve only had to do some minor alterations to get the fit right, such as lowering the armholes.  But there’s a reason I’m making this dress all of a sudden…

Which brings me to my exciting news – I’m teaching sewing classes next month!  I’m offering two classes at Grey’s Fabric and Notions in Boston:

June 1: Seam Finishes – Want a more professional, finished look inside your garments but don’t own a serger?  Me too!  In this two-hour workshop, I’ll cover different types of seam finishes, from easy to more complex, and we’ll discuss what types of garments and seams to use them on.  We’ll practice applying different techniques and by the end of the class, you’ll have samples to take home with you in a cute little embroidered book.

June 8, 15, 22: Sultry Sheath Dress – Are you a Joan or a Betty? Using the Sultry Sheath Dress pattern, I’ll show you how to alter necklines and change skirt silhouettes to create the perfect “Mad Men” style dress, whether you’re looking for a slinky, body-conscious shape or more of a full-skirted number.  This class is a three-session class with sewing homework in-between each session.

Come sew with me in Boston!

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I’m Teaching Sewing Classes!


It’s official: I can now say that I’m a “fiber artist, blogger, and teacher” to describe what I do!  Starting April 3, I will be teaching sewing classes at Artisan’s Asylum in Somerville, MA.


Back in January I gave a talk at Ignite Craft Boston (videos still aren’t posted yet) and met Gui Calvacanti, co-founder and President of Artisan’s Asylum.  I enjoyed his presentation on how he started the craft studio two years ago and grew it the 31,000 square foot space it is currently in today.  It’s an impressive space; I toured it two weeks ago when I went to meet with him and Molly Rubenstein, the Director of Operations, about teaching sewing classes.  You gotta see it to believe it – welding, carpentry, computers, and sewing machines all in the same space along with studio spaces rented by local artists.  Cool stuff.

pattern weights

I will be teaching two classes that build off of each other starting April 3 and running every Tuesday evening until May 1:

Sewing Knits (Without a Serger) April 3 & April 10– The idea for this class actually came from a blog post I started writing but never finished.  Every knit garment that you see here is made entirely with my straight-stitch machine, and I want to encourage those new to sewing the knit fabric that it is easy and possible without a serger.
Pattern Making: Knock-Off Your Favorite T-Shirt April 17, 24, & May 1– This class picks up where the other leaves off: now that you know how to sew with knits, how do you make patterns?  I’m really excited about this class because it shows how to make a pattern from something that you *know* will fit you well and also explores how to add design elements and change the sloper to create a new design.  I’m thinking about showing how to change the neckline, add gathered sleeves, and create a A-line top…just some preliminary ideas.

I can’t wait to start planning these classes and sharing my knowledge with those looking to expand their sewing skills further.  Join me for some sewing fun!

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