Empowering hands, empowering people.
Sun. 6/9 - Sat. 6/15, 2024 at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina, USA
Hand sew a flannel button-up shirt using a variety of sturdy, attractive hand stitching techniques. A slow but beautiful process, nothing compares with the feeling of wearing a garment you have sewn with your own two hands (without a machine). Sew a shirt you will treasure forever during this inspiring and energizing week. All levels welcome, but some previous garment-sewing experience is highly recommended.
Sign up here.
Sat. 1/15, 2022, 11am - 1pm Eastern Time
Have you always been charmed by thimbles but felt unsure how to use one? Would you like to increase your hand-sewing speed, precision, and endurance? In this live-video class, we will make friends with our thimbles. We will learn to make our own custom open-topped thimbles using basic household materials, then practice the "tailor's technique" for using one. The class features a simple lined napkin project perfect for bonding with one's thimble.
For my free video tutorial on how to make a thimble, scroll to the bottom of this page or watch it here.
See previously offered class here.
Hand Sewing Leggings
Start building a collection of hand-sewn wardrobe staples with a simple leggings project. Celebrate the softness and versatility of hand stitches by making a pair of attractive, comfortable leggings that you’ll want to wear all the time.
Leggings have simple construction, so they are a relatively quick, rewarding hand-sewn garment project. In this two-day live Zoom class, you will learn how to hand sew with stretchy knit fabric.
See previously offered class here.
Hand Sewing Underwear
Treat yourself to some sweet hand-sewn underwear, stitched by your own two hands. With a bit of soft jersey, a needle and thread, and some elastic, you can sew a beautiful pair of undies. Wear them on days when you want to feel special, or make a few pairs to build a collection of hand-sewn basics. Either way, they’ll be your own little hand-sewn secret!
In this two-day live Zoom class, you will learn how to hand sew with stretchy knit fabric. Try your hand at stitches and finishing techniques that are just right for knits. Equipped with these skills, you’ll be ready to hand sew lots of other stretchy clothes, too.
All levels are welcome, but this class will be most helpful for students who already have some experience with garment sewing.
See previously offered class here.
Drafting a T-Shirt Pattern
Learn to make your own t-shirt pattern, custom-fit to your body’s measurements and to your own fit and style preferences. Embrace the empowering skills of patterndrafting, and see where your pattern journey will take you!
In this three-session live Zoom class, you will learn how to take measurements from your own body and from stretchy knit clothing that you already love to wear. Then you’ll apply your measurements to paper and draft out pattern pieces for a truly custom t-shirt. If you’d like, you can cut and baste together a test garment, assess the fit, and make some pattern tweaks to ensure that the final garment will be a joy to wear.
See previously offered class here.
Please note that this class will include instruction on basting together a test garment, but it will NOT include detailed instruction on stitching the final t-shirt. If you’re interested in continuing on and learning how to permanently hand-stitch a t-shirt, you might like my t-shirt hand sewing class.
Join us in this celebration of hand sewing, and of the dignity of everyday clothing. Let us find preciousness in the humble t-shirt. Let us delight in the quiet workings of our hands.
In this class, participants will gradually, mindfully build t-shirts with their hands, one slow hand stitch at a time. No sewing machines will be used. Students will use light- or midweight jersey to investigate the stitches and other techniques useful for hand sewing with knits. Various options for customization and individual decision-making will be explored along the way.
The basic techniques offered will focus on creation of a slightly drop-shoulder t-shirt style, with flat-sewn sleeves and an easy fit through the torso. The neckline will feature a traditional knit neckband. Participants will learn multiple ways to hand sew seams on knit garments, and multiple ways to finish seam allowance edges. This class is an excellent primer in hand sewing with knit fabrics. After completing the class, students will be ready to hand sew many other stretchy garments.
See previously offered class here.
If you’d like to learn how to draft your own custom t-shirt pattern for this class, you might also like my t-shirt patternmaking class. Not interested? No worries! I’ll recommend various preexisting pattern options if you’d rather get straight to stitching.
Most sewing patterns' instructions are intended for machine sewing. But if you're eager to stitch clothing by hand, you can easily translate those patterns so that they are just right for hand sewing.
In this one-session, live, virtual class, I'll demonstrate how to translate a machine-oriented sewing pattern so that it's perfect for hand sewing. We’ll cover: interpreting pattern instructions; diagramming a hand-sewn garment by creating an annotated flat sketch; experimenting and assigning the right stitches for the right places; planning out the order of operations; and adjusting the pattern pieces as needed. In the last hour, we’ll also go over a few versatile, strong hand-sewing stitches that will serve you well on any project.
All levels are welcome, but this class will be most helpful for students who already have some experience with garment sewing.
See previously offered class here.
With your own two hands, you can sew yourself a beautiful, cozy, sturdy turtleneck. In this two-session, live, virtual class, learn the techniques needed to hand sew confidently with knit fabrics. Follow along as we build soft garments to keep ourselves warm.
This class is focused on construction of a scrunch-neck, long-sleeve top, but the skills you’ll learn can be applied to limitless other knit clothes.
All levels are welcome, but this class will be most helpful for students who already have some experience with garment sewing.
See previously offered class here.
You may use any turtleneck pattern of your choosing. For those interested in drafting their own patterns, I also teach a turtleneck patternmaking class.
Patternmaking is one of the most empowering skills I’ve ever learned. Make patterns that fit your body, your style, and your dreams. In this one-session, live, virtual class, we’ll walk through the steps to draft an easy-fitting turtleneck pattern.
Based on measurements you’ll take from your body and from clothes you already own and enjoy, this scrunch-neck, long-sleeve top will keep you warm all winter long. Meanwhile, the skills you learn will keep you inspired for years to come.
See previously offered class here.
You may be also interested in my class on how to hand sew a turtleneck.
Beginning Hand Sewing
Nothing is more satisfying than sliding into a dress wrought entirely by hand. There is an ancient peacefulness to the weight of such a thing. And placing a hand-stitched garment into the hands of a loved one? Unspeakable gladness.
In a fast world, hand-sewn clothing can be a radical act of slow fashion. After all, what could be slower, more manual, more personal, more intentional, than stitching a garment entirely with one's own hands? In this class, we empower ourselves with the skills to build clothes using the simple needle and thread. These skills are not limited to dainty finishing techniques, but can also be used for hard-working, durable construction seams and other places of strength. Skills are practiced during construction of a baby-sized shirt. This class has been designed with the absolute beginner in mind.
See previously offered class here.
Intermediate Hand Sewing
In this class, we empower ourselves with the skills to build clothes using the simple needle and thread. These skills are not limited to dainty finishing techniques, but can also be used for hard-working, durable construction seams and other places of strength. Skills are practiced during construction of a baby-sized jacket. This class is suitable for those with some prior garment-sewing experience.
See previously offered class here.
Pattern and Hand Sew a Tank Top
Reclaim the democratic, age-old, super-rad power of sewing that needs no machine! Come learn how to make a quick rub-off pattern, then sew a tank top entirely by hand. Using four important hand stitches, you'll build a sturdy, beautiful piece of slow fashion clothing.
See previously offered class (did not include pattern work) here.
Introductory Patternmaking
Patternmaking is an art, a science, and an absolutely magical thing to do. In this class, we learn the time-honored tradition of taking rub-offs to create foundational patterns. Once our pattern pieces are on paper, we can then refine the fit or manipulate the shapes into endless styles.
See previously offered class here.
How to Make a Scrappy Thimble
Learn how to make an open-topped thimble using common household materials. This thimble may look funny, but it works well and is great for garment sewing. A couple of thimble games are shared at the end, too! This project is great preparation for my "Befriend Your Thimble" class.
See recorded video below.