5 CLASS SESSION • SATURDAY MORNING • 10am - 12pm
MARCH 28th - APRIL 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th
This class is held at Vecina, 544 Biden Street, Downtown Scranton.
Class size is limited to 4 people and is designed for ages 16 years and up.
SUMMER! here we come! Time to make a simple yet stunning shift dress. This is the first apparel class that requires creating a muslin, followed by fit adjustments so that your final dress reflects a truly personalized fit and your own sense of style.
Students must have an excellent working knowledge of a sewing machine, including threading and basic troubleshooting. This class is intended for those who already know how to sew and have hands-on experience. A solid understanding of cutting and pinning fundamentals is required. Fabric guidance will be provided.
This course serves as a great introduction to dressmaking. The pattern is size-inclusive, ranging from 0 to 4X, and is designed to be straightforward while still teaching new skills and allowing room for personalized adjustments. The dress is drafted to be fully lined, though minor adjustments can be made if you choose to construct it without a lining.
The first two classes will focus on cutting, sewing, fitting, and adjusting the pattern according to the changes you would like to make. This style allows for many variations, including changing the neckline shape, nipping in the waist, altering the length, adding one or two side slits, or cutting on the bias.
The remaining classes will focus on pattern layout and cutting, as well as constructing the dress and lining. You will learn garment finishing techniques, how to finish necklines and armholes, how to choose the appropriate hem based on fabric type, and how to finish seams if you decide not to line your dress.
The goal is for each student to create a dress they will want to wear again and again. Fit will be perfected, and your fabric choices can range from very simple to more technically demanding. Depending on your design decisions, homework may be recommended to keep your project progressing at a comfortable pace. As with all garment classes, completion within all 5 sessions is not guaranteed. You will, however, leave with a clear understanding of what is required to finish your dress at home. I do not want to box students into making garments they don’t love or limit their creative options or structure their design decisions based on a tight schedule. Also, every student works at a different pace.
PATTERN TOOLS: I will provide all of the supplies needed for the pattern, fitting and adjusting portion of class. The fee includes one paper pattern (for you to keep), and muslin for making the sample. I have one complete set of pattern drafting tools per student (to borrow only) which includes pattern making rulers, markers, drafting pencils, tape, and additional pattern paper.
Students are responsible for their outer fabric, lining (if you choose), thread, your standard sewing tools, pins, and cutting shears.
FABRIC DETAILS: This is a must-read if you are planning on taking this class. If you want to get creative with your fabric choices, you must understand fabric widths and cutting methods, and how these affect yardage and cost. Yardage will be estimated during your first class, approximately 2 - 3 yards per dress.
FABRIC WIDTHS: This is especially important to know for this class. As you venture into making apparel, you will see that as a general rule, fabrics come in widths 43+” (usually solid or printed cottons sold on a bolt) then jump to 52+” and run up to 60” wide (sold on a roll). The narrower your fabric, the more you will need.
GRAINLINE: Fabric can be cut on the straight grain, with the grain line parallel to the selvedge; on the cross grain, perpendicular to the selvedge; or on the bias, diagonally across the fabric. Bias-cut garments have beautiful drape and movement but are more challenging to sew and require the most yardage due to pattern layout. 43" wide fabric to be cut on the bias is not an option for this class due to additional pattern making & cutting required.
PRINTED FABRIC: There are 3 types of prints. Directional, all-over and engineered. Understanding the distinction is critical when calculating yardage.
DIRECTIONAL PRINT: is a print that has a clear up and down design. The motif faces one direction only. The easiest way to determine this is to turn the fabric 180° and if the design looks upside-down, it’s directional. Examples: words, flowers, zebra stripes, cats, and argyle. Stripes can also fall into this category depending on how the fabric is made and how you want them to run on your garment. All of the pattern pieces must be laid in the same direction, which uses more yardage.
ALLOVER PRINT: (Non-Directional): is a repeating pattern with no obvious top or bottom, when you rotate the fabric and it still looks “right” from any direction. Examples: polka dots, random floral, abstract textures, some animal. Pattern pieces can face either direction and is more yardage-efficient.
ENGINEERED PRINT: is a print that’s designed for a specific placement on the body or product and it does not repeat evenly across the yardage. These can be seen in borders such as a hem design, panels, or images and motifs that are placed intentionally. Fabric yield can be significantly higher for engineered prints.
It is mandatory that you come prepared with fabric ideas and all of the details for those fabrics for the first class. 1.) type of print, 2.) fabric width, and 3.) weight - either in oz. or gsm (grams per meter) or simply light weight, medium weight. We will discuss what is suitable and what is not. Please take some time to do some serious research about fabrics that you are interested in using. Screenshots or having access to product links during the first class is strongly recommended.
4oz - 6oz is ideal, 3oz will be more challenging, and 7oz could get a bit heavy. For your gsm weight, a good range is 120 - 240.
Fabrics with stretch or using a knit are not recommended for this project.
If you order online, shipping is slow, and that must be taken into consideration. You do not need your good fabric UNTIL THE THIRD CLASS.
CANCELLATION POLICY: If you cannot attend, I can provide you with a credit of $265, which you can use toward future sewing classes. It will only be provided if you notify me 72 hours in advance by emailing jamesena@vecinadesign.com. There must also be a class wait list so I can fill your spot. By registering for the class, you are agreeing to this cancellation policy. There are no refunds.
You will be provided with a JUKI HZL-353Z home machine for all classes. Personal machines are allowed if you have an excellent understanding of the features and the mechanics of your machine. I may not always be available to help you troubleshoot if there is a problem.
I do not offer no-cost, make-up classes for missed classes. If you would like to schedule a 90 minute make-up class, there will be a $85 private lesson fee.
CONTACT INFORMATION: email jamesena@vecinadesign.com
