Professional Classes

Do you feel like you need some more advanced techniques or have a desire to create your own ideas? We offer professional classes in the following areas. Professional classes have our sewing curriculum as the prerequisite or equivalent experience.

Pattern Drafting

Most pattern classes are 12 hours of instruction (can be 3 hours each session over 4 weeks or 2 hours each session over 6 weeks).  Classes are $180.00 for each class. Some homework is required, including sewing. Students provide their own supplies, muslin, and fashion fabrics. 5 yards of alphanumeric paper are included in the skirts class.

Women’s Wear Block (Sloper) Pattern Making for Wovens I – Skirts         

This class is designed for those students with a desire to create custom-made patterns for themselves or others. It starts with creating a custom block for woven fabrics for the lower part of the body and finishes with 1 or 2 completed skirts. Projects are selected for lessons learned that can be utilized in other projects. Sewing experience is necessary for this class. 

Women’s Wear Block (Sloper) Pattern Making of Wovens II – Torso Block         

This class is a continuation of the first class. We make a torso block that covers the upper part of the body. Pre-requisite: Skirt drafting class. A basic custom blouse will be started.

Women’s Wear Block Pattern Making of Wovens III: Sleeve Block and Collars   

The sleeve block to fit the torso and various collars will be covered. The basic blouse pattern started in the previous class will be completed.

Women’s Wear Block Pattern Making of Wovens IV: Pant Block   

A custom pant block, leg circumferences, yokes, and pockets will be covered. A simple pair of pants will be completed.

Women’s Wear Pattern Making: Basic Techniques

Now that you’ve learned how to make a block set, what do you do with it? Additional techniques such as dart rotations, princess seam, button extensions, and a variety of sleeves will be covered. We suggest the purchase of a pattern-making book for reference for this class.

Women’s Wear Block Pattern Making of Wovens V: Jackets and Coats   

Using the torso block and sleeve, we will create a jacket and coat block with sleeves to match.

Menswear Block Pattern Making I: Torso           

This class is designed for those students with a desire to create custom-made patterns for themselves or other men. We start with creating custom blocks for woven fabrics. The first block is the torso block, then move on to the shirt block and sleeve block for the torso.

Men’s Pattern Making II: Pant             

The pant block is created and design features for pants are explored.  Students can begin work on the shirt if time is available.

Men’s Pattern Making III: Jacket             

The suit jacket is the topic of this class.

Men’s Pattern Making IV: Coats and Casual Jackets       

Men’s overcoats and casual jackets and corresponding sleeves are covered.

Advanced Pattern Making for Men and Women’s Woven Garments

6 sessions, 3 hours each, 18 hours, total $275.00.

Linings, color blocking, and advanced designs are covered in this class. 

Knock-offs 

2 sessions 3 hours each, 6 hours total $95.00 

Copy your favorite garment into a pattern and sew a fit sample in a similar fabric. We can cover several different techniques for copying based on the style of the garment.

Pattern Grading

TBD

Pattern grading is changing the size of a pattern to a larger or smaller size in a proportional way. This class is still in the development stages; let us know if you are interested. 

• 60” measuring tape
• fabric shears
• pins
• pin cushion
• fabric chalk or disappearing pens
• seam ripper
• hand needles
• Thread - should match the fabric and be 100” polyester or cotton-covered polyester.
• A yard of plain weave fabric (like muslin). Thread should match the fabric and be 100” polyester or cotton-covered polyester.

Corset Making   

Taught by a professional corsetiere, learn to draft and construct a body-reshaping corset. Fabrics, boning, and grommets are covered. Overbust or underbust corsets can be created.

Fees:

The first 6 hours of instruction are pattern drafting and/or draping: $90.00

Materials fee (coutil, ¼” flat steel bones and spiral bones, grommets): $60.00

Bridal or Red-Carpet Gown 

The red carpet gowns have a secret – it’s on the inside! This gown is intended to be strapless and learn the techniques. Practice piecing lace invisibly, layers to create fullness, and you're draping and pattern making techniques!

Fees for this class are based on design requirements: TBD.

Sewing class pricing

Silk Package: 1–3 hours of instruction/class time - $20.00 hourly

Wool Package: 4–6 hours of instruction/class time - $18.00 hourly

Linen Package: 7–9 hours of instruction/class time - $15.00 hourly           

Cotton Package: 10–13 hours of instruction/class time - $13.00 hourly

Private Instruction

Sessions with our instructors may be scheduled at the instructor’s availability, with a fee of $30.00 an hour for sewing instruction and $40.00 an hour for pattern drafting instruction.

Machine Rental

Have a project to create and don’t have the equipment to create it? Rent ours! No instruction is included in these prices. Students must demonstrate proficiency in operating industrial equipment.

Regular home sewing machine - $3.00 hourly

Home overlock (serger) or coverstitch rental - $5.00 hourly

Industrial single needle rental - $8.00 hourly

Industrial overlock or coverstitch rental - $10.00 hourly

Industrial (all of our machines) - $12.00 hourly

Students must provide their thread in cone form for industrials (1 for single needle, 3-4 for overlock, 3-5 for coverstitch) and needles. Bobbins, cases, and needles can be purchased from us.