4 sessions on consecutive Tuesday evenings:  6:00 - 8:00 pm

• February 21
• February 28
• March 6
• March 13
  

Instructor:  Nancy Ruddock

So, you want to learn how to sew! Great! Dust off that sewing machine and get ready to learn basic skills for garment construction. Sewing your own garments is really not as difficult as it may sound. This 4-session workshop will take you through the basic elements of getting to know your sewing machine, fabric choices, and how to decipher the pattern envelope and the instructions inside. We will make comfy lounge pants while you will learn the following basic skills and techniques:

• Anatomy of a sewing machine (threading, stitch controls, tension, speed control, and feed dog)
• Bobbins (drop-in vs bobbin case, winding the bobbin)
• All about Patterns (reading the envelope, getting the right size)
• Fabric selection (fabric design features, fabric nap)
• Sewing tools (What will you need?)
• Deciphering the pattern!!!!
• Pattern layout (choosing the pattern pieces, straight of the grain, fold line, stitching line, pinning, notches, right vs wrong side, salvage)
• Cutting skills and pattern markings
• Garment construction skills (seam allowance, straight and curved seams, machine hemming, waist casing with elastic)
• How and why to press properly

After completing this short course you may want to continue in our follow-on classes to learn more complex skills such as constructing a basic fitted skirt with a centered zipper… or the ins and outs of shirt/blouse construction, which will include cuffs, collars, buttons, and buttonholes.  GET READY, SET, SEW!

Materials and Equipment Requirements

For the first class, please bring the following:

• Sewing machine.  You should really learn on your own machine whenever possible.  However, if you do not own one, you may borrow one of CQ’s machines if you reserve it in advance.  (No extra charge.)
• Machine’s instruction manual, if you have it.
• At least one bobbin for the machine.

During each class, the instructor will guide you to understanding what you will need for the next session (such as patterns, fabrics, and basic tools.)  Note that items purchased as Crafters Quarters for the workshop will be discounted 10% off!

Instructor Bio

We are very excited that Nancy has decided to teach at Crafters Quarters.  She is a graduate of Framingham State College where she enhanced my sewing and design skills. While her children were young, Nancy had a home alterations and garment construction business with many clients. When her daughters married, she made and designed their wedding gowns. Nancy has recently retired from Haverhill High School after teaching Fashion Design for many years in the Family & Consumer Science department.

Workshop Fee:  $75 (Members:  $60)