Find the Right Class for You
The Absolute Beginner 🐣
Absolute Beginner (Purely Practical) Class
Workshop: The Visible Mending Class
Who You Are
If you’ve never turned on a sewing machine, threaded a needle or sewn a button then this class is for you: a two hour purely practical introduction into machines, notions (all the sewing stuff) and fabric. While we won’t be making any garments, you’ll leave with the know-how to start your first project.
What We'll Cover
- How to thread and use a sewing machine
- How to use a serger/overlocker
- Commercial garment patterns - how to buy and understand the envelope
- What fabric works for what garment? We will talk grain lines, amounts to buy, and how to use them with a commercial pattern.
- Basic tools (notions) and how and when to use them
What's Included
All machines and supplies are included. Class will be kept to four people in order to maximize the time and learning experience with each student.
The Beginner 🤡
Beginner Class
Workshop: The Visible Mending Class
Who You Are
You can thread a sewing machine, know what a bobbin is and you have sewn two pieces of fabric together before... Hopefully into something recognizable! In this class we will be making some basic comfy loose fitting pants or shorts with options. They could be made in cotton or linen and will have a pull on elastic waist and pockets.
What We'll Cover
- Cutting out a commercial pattern to your size and understanding the symbols and notations on each piece
- Placement and cutting of fashion fabric, factoring in grain lines, seam allowances and notches
- Serging the cut fabric to trim seam allowances and enclosing the edges to prevent unraveling
- Pinning, sewing and pressing to make garment seams
- Making, adding and placing pockets in any garment
- Casings, hems and finishing techniques
What's Included
All machines, basic fabrics and notions supplied. If you prefer to use your own fabric, send me an email so we can discuss suitability, amounts etc for this project. Class will be kept to five people in order to maximize the time and learning experience with each student.
The Advanced Beginner 🤙
Advanced Beginner Class
Workshop: The Visible Mending Class
Who You Are
Maybe you’ve made a simple dress, or some shorts, and bought a pattern or two. If you like what you’ve made but the fit is slightly off or you’ve had to take some shortcuts on a complex pattern, this level is for you.
What We'll Cover
- How to prep and cut more advanced patterns with multiple pieces
- How to make a muslin, arguably the most important part of fitting
- How to add/remove, lengthen, and shorten patterns to fit your body
- Seam allowances, darts and dead darts
- Sewing basting lines, straight stitches and darts to a garment
- Setting in sleeves
- Invisible zippers, waistbands and buttonholes
- Making a garment from paper pattern through to the final final stitch
What's Included
All machines, muslin fabric and notions supplied. There will be an option to purchase fabric from the studio or to supply your own, your choice. Class will be kept to five people in order to maximize the time and learning experience with each student.
Intermediate 🌝
Intermediate Class
Workshop: The Visible Mending Class
Who You Are
At this point, you can definitely consider yourself a sewer. You know how to make a basic garment, and are hopefully wearing some of them proudly… you can insert an invisible zipper, add a waistband and buttonhole, sew darts, set in sleeves and sew convex and concave curves. Bias binding and some hand sewing knowledge is also a plus at this level.
What We'll Cover
- Understanding more complex commercial patterns
- Making muslins and fitting shells
- Adjusting paper patterns using your fitted muslin and/or shell
- Interfacings
- Facings / Bias bindings
- Lining a garment
- Finishing techniques
What's Included
All machines, muslin fabric, pattern paper and notions supplied. There will be an option to purchase both the fashion fabric and lining or to supply your own. Class will be kept to five people in order to maximize the time and learning experience with each student.
Advanced 💀
Advanced Class
Workshop: The Visible Mending Class
Who You Are
You have a selection of clothes that you’ve made and wear often, and you love an excuse to whip up something fancy….so now what?
This level will teach you how to sew garments using classic couture techniques to elevate your makes.
What We'll Cover
- Some basic tailoring techniques
- French seams
- Attaching and finishing waistbands with grosgrain ribbon
- Bound pockets and/or buttonholes
- Underlings, interfacings interlinings and linings
- Stabilizing seams
- Kick pleats and vents
- Waist stays
What's Included
Students will complete all the above techniques on samples, and may pick and choose ones that interest them specifically in class. Class will be kept to five people in order to maximize the time and learning experience with each student.
Want to learn something different? Email me!
Couture ⚰️
Couture Class
Workshop: The Visible Mending Class
Who You Are
If you always tell people you have the patience of a saint, are generally chill and relaxed and you love nothing more than to get stuck into a long (possibly) very long project then Couture is definitely for you.
What We'll Cover
- How to prep, cut and sew with difficult and expensive fabrics
- Understanding and sewing with lace
- Toile, wax tracing and thread tracing
- Boning
- Under corsets and bustiers
- Grosgrain waistbands and waist stays
- Hand stitching techniques
- Underlings, interlinings and linings
- Fabric manipulation
- Hand finishing with fasteners and zippers
- Hand finishing seams and hems
What's Included
All machines, muslin fabric, pattern paper and notions will be supplied and are included in the cost. There will be an option to purchase both the fashion fabric and lining for your individual project or you can bring your own, just email me first to confirm suitability.
Class will be kept to five people in order to maximize the time and learning experience with each student.
* Depending on chosen pattern