Sewing Classes

Finally, an alterations class you've been waiting for! Learn to alter your own pants pattern or your favorite RTW pants for a perfect fit!

The "Saggy Butt" ... You will be taught how to alter to resolve the problem of a crotch seam that is too low as well as making adjustments for a flat derriere.

The Gaping Waistband ... A gaping waistband is a very common problem when purchasing pants. You can't go down a size because the hips fit great, what do you do? This lesson will not only teach you how mark your waistband correctly, you will learn a few different options on how to alter you own pants.

Tapering Pant legs ... Alteration #1: Do you ever have a problem in the hip area of your pants where there is way too much fabric? I call this "elephant ears". Just hold the fabric out and you will see the image I am talking about. This fitting issue is common in women with smaller hips or an athletic build. Alteration #2: Learn to taper the legs on your pants in order change the look of your straight leg to a boot leg or skinny bell bottoms. Alteration #3: Want to look 5 pounds skinnier in your pants? See before and after pictures and learn how to make this simple alteration to your pant legs.

Hemming ... Learn the proper lengths for a hem as well as a few trick to the trade on sewing a professional hem.

Bow Legs ... The alterations is geared to sewing from a pattern, learn a simple alteration that will camouflage bow legs.

Bonus: Upload photos of your muslin for personal fitting advice.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

This class will walk you through creating a muslin for a jacket. Learn where to start and how to begin altering and adjusting for a perfect fit.

Bonus: Post pictures of your jacket muslin for personal fitting advice and solutions. You may use any jacket pattern you like.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads and message boards where you can interact with other students and the instructor.

Full Description

The welt zipper pocket is a useful addition to a variety of projects, from the lining pockets of handbags to pockets on designer jackets. It is secure and stylish! This pocket starts with Kenneth's famous "ribbon welt" technique, which uses ribbon as the measuring device and interfacing for the welts--making an almost foolproof pocket.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

Full Description

Definition: Underlining -- a layer of fabric basted directly to the wrong side of the fashion fabric to enhance the look and performance of the fashion fabric.

Garments are not commonly underlined in sewing today, except in some bridal gowns. Yet, it's one of the most useful sewing techniques going, and not just for special occasion garments. An underlined garment wears longer and tends not to wrinkle. But underlining is also used to add body to the fashion fabric -- this can be as subtle as underlining a sheer fabric with georgette for opacity, and as substantial as underlining wool with flannel for warmth.

If sewing apparel is your passion, you'll be amazed how the technique of underlining improves your garments. Chances are, once you've underlined your first skirt, you'll be hooked. That's not to say that you'll underline each and every garment you sew. But you'll have this valuable technique in your sewing arsenal -- and you'll be able to judge when to employ it and bring your garments to another level.

This class will teach you:

• what the difference is between lining, underlining, and interlining
• how to decide when to use an underlining
• which fabrics to use as underlining
• how to cut out and apply underlining to the fashion fabric
• how to make underlining do double duty as lining

The kit is an integral part of the class and is required. You will be provided everything you need to underline two half-scale garments in order to learn and practice the techniques described in the lessons. Kit contents include:

• 3/8 yard silk organza
• 3/8 yard lightweight wool
• 3/8 yard silk charmeuse
• 3/8 yard silk georgette
• 2 high-quality hand-sewing needles
• 1 spool silk thread
• 1 half-scale skirt pattern
• 1 half-scale bodice pattern

Skills Required: Basic sewing techniques. Sewers of all levels will benefit from this class. While many beginners may think this is an advanced class, underlining is one of those things that if you learn it early on, you'll learn to utilize it from the get-go.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

Join couture dressmaker, author, TV host and master teacher Susan Khalje for another couture class:

This time we'll concentrate on 10 indispensable couture techniques. Included will be:

1. angled seams (you'll never fear a "Basque" waist again!)
2. ultra-narrow (and super strong) spaghetti straps
3. an elegant narrow machine hem
4. bound buttonholes
5. a beautiful treatment for the lining of a bound buttonhole
6. couture gathering
7. a grosgrain-faced waistline
8. a covered snap
9. attaching hooks, eyes, and snaps, European-style, and
10. faggoting

You'll elevate the quality of the garments you sew with these easily-mastered techniques.

Skills required for taking this class:

• Proficiency on a sewing machine
• Some knowledge of hand stitches

Intermediate, advance beginners and advanced sewers will benefit the most from this class.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

Whether you are a novice or seasoned sewer, this class will delve into every aspect of sheer fabrics so that you're eager -- and confident -- to start sewing with them.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

Full Description

While our sewing machines are essential, so is hand-stitching. You'll be amazed at the impact that carefully applied hand-stitches can have on a garment.

The foundation of any couture garment is control - of design; of fabrication; of engineering and construction; of fit and proportion. And one of the ways to achieve that strong foundation is with a secure grounding in the hand stitches that lie at the heart of any couture garment. From simple basting, to joining fashion fabric and underlining layers, to the perfectly spaced prick stitches of a hand-picked zipper, the full range of hand stitches at the couture dressmaker's disposal permits the essential control that produces a successful garment. Included in this course will be:

• The Basting Stitch
• Hand Overcasting
• The Catch Stitch
• The Slip Stitch
• The Fell Stitch
• The Invisible Hem Stitch
• The Back Stitch
• The Prick Stitch
• The Thread Chain
• The Thread Bar
• The Blanket Stitch
• The Buttonhole Stitch

We'll learn how to create these stitches, and just as importantly, where to apply them. We'll learn which thread to use, when to use single or double thread, when and how to use beeswax, and so on. And I promise that you'll quickly see the difference in the quality of the garments you sew.

Skills Required: Passion for learning! Absolute beginners will benefit from this class. No prior experience is needed.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

Buttons and buttonholes are so commonly used that we tend to accept them without really thinking about them. Yet this method of closure has both a technical and a creative aspect to it. Whether you're interested in sewing buttonholes that look good or would like to explore the diversity of this type of closure, then this class is for you!

The 16 lessons in the class will include the following topics, plus much more.

• Sewing different buttonhole types, including: machine-sewn, corded, bound, hand-worked, slot seam, loops, and thread chains.
• Getting good-looking buttonholes on difficult-to-work-with fabrics.
• Understanding the relationship between button size and buttonhole placement.
• Placing and marking buttons and buttonholes.
• Sewing buttons, including: strength, durability, and creative effect.
• Using buttons/buttonholes as design elements, and making them as unnoticeable as possible.
• Miscellaneous topics, including: modesty panels, covered plackets, and Chinese ball buttons.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

Have you ever had a favorite garment that you wanted to duplicate, but didn't want to take it apart to get a pattern? Kenneth will show you how to make a pattern from an existing garment, without taking the garment apart. Once you have the information from the garment, you can alter it larger or smaller if you wish, and then turn it into a working pattern by drafting linings, facings and such.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

Get those expensive RTW Jackets to fit you! This class will focus on altering jackets that you've already purchased or sewn.

• Tapering a lined Jacket
  • Learn to alter the back seams, side seams and under bust adjustments for a tapered fit.
• Learn how to adjust a jacket that puckers under the sleeve and into the bust area.
• Learn the proper way to raise the shoulders.
• Learn to taper a 2-pieced sleeve.
• Hem a lined jacket
• Hem the sleeves on a lined jacket.
  • Hem with a vent.
  • Hem with simple attached lining.

Bonus: Post pictures of your own jacket for personal fitting advice and solutions. Altering Women’s RTW Jackets All of these lessons will focus on altering jackets that you have already sewn or purchased. Bonus: Post pictures of your own jacket for personal fitting advice and solutions.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

If you've done any garment sewing, you've probably encountered facings before. While commercial patterns do include an overview of how to apply the facing to the garment, the information is usually pretty general. Although there's more to facings than you might think, the good news is that mastering them is easy. And the benefit of well-sewn facings is that your garments will look better than ever.

Applying a facing is one of my favorite things to sew: after years of sewing and hundreds of them, I still get a kick out of putting a facing on. I think this is because each step is easy to do, and if done correctly, the facing will be perfect � every single time.

Another intriguing aspect of studying facings is learning how to make simple design changes to your patterns. One of the functions of a facing is to finish off the raw edge of a garment -- a bodice neckline for example. If you have a simple blouse that fits well, changing the shape of the neckline can result in a garment that looks new and unique. Making this type of pattern change and drafting the accompanying facing pattern requires no prior patternmaking experience -- you'll be amazed at how easy it is!

The 7 lessons in this class will cover

• The functions of a facing.
• The importance of supporting a facing.
• How to select the best interfacing for a facing.
• How to successfully apply a facing.
• Pressing tips when constructing a facing.
• How to develop (draft) a facing pattern.
• Tips on developing new neckline shapes.
• Using facings in order to shape other areas of garments.

Skills required: Basic sewing techniques. A great class for beginners and even for intermediates who want to fine tune their skills. Also great for people getting back into sewing after not sewing for a while.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.

It's a fashion classic -- and it's the one dress that everyone should have in their wardrobe!

To help you create one, we'll explore all the elements from a couture point of view, from choosing a pattern to the final finishing details:

• what to look for in a pattern (as well as suggestions for easy modifications that you can make)
• how to make a muslin and prepare it for use
• which fabrics to look for, and how to prepare them
• choosing, marking and applying the proper underlining
• applying a lining in the couture manner, with fell stitches and understitching
• how to apply hand-picked zippers, both centered and lapped
• hem treatments -- including padding, weighting, re-aligning the center back slit
• and the final details that finish off the project in style: covered snaps, bra carriers and an elegant treatment for the hook and eye.

The dress in the photo here was featured on the cover of Threads Magazine and is Susan's favorite. You'll pick a pattern of your choice and Susan will walk you through it, and you'll create your very own LBD which will be your favorite for years to come.

Class is a combination of PDF downloads, boards and Interactive real time chat sessions with the instructors.