Description
Tuesdays: 30 January – 26 March
1pm – 4pm
(9 weekly classes)
Craft Central, High Street, Dunblane
Led by Stitchery Founder Cassandra Belanger, this is a 9 week, sewing course for ‘beyond beginners’ and improvers, in making your own clothing. Topics covered will include: taking body measurements, understanding and adjusting the flat pattern to fit your specific body shape, specialty seams and seam finishes, sleeves, darts, pleats and gathers, fitting and alterations, inserting facing and linings, using an overlocker, buttons and buttonholes, inserting a collar, hems and finishing techniques. You will also learn techniques and tips for a more sustainable making practice. For our first project we will make a versatile and fashionable top in stretch fabric, before you move on to make a piece of clothing from a pattern of your choice.
You will use all the techniques you have learned to complete a garment from a selection of patterns in a fabric of their choice in our welcoming and well equipped Dunblane Studio.
This is an intermediate level sewing course for ‘beyond beginners’ and improvers, which means it’s suitable for returning students, or anyone with previous experience of basic sewing and garment making. We have a Janaome 230DC computerised (with speed control) sewing machine available for each student; although you can bring your own if you like. And don’t worry if you might miss one or two classes: we’ve plenty of opportunities to catch up through our additional Sunday Stitchery Sessions or private tuition.
Course cost includes:
- 9 x 3-hour lessons
- Use of 230DC Janome computerized sewing machine each
- Use of 6234XL overlocker (shared between students)
Course cost excludes:
- Cost of fabric and haberdashery
Student Testimonials
“This was a wonderful (re)introduction to the basics of sewing, presented with a really helpful step-by-step approach, and has given me the confidence to read and understand patterns, and use the techniques learned to sew a well-fitting item of clothing!”
“I would recommend this wonderful course to everyone! I found the classes really detailed but accessible. Cassandra is a lovely and extremely knowledgeable teacher. I’ll be signing up for more sewing with Stitchery in the future!”
About Your Tutor
Cassandra’s work is an invitation to a more sustainable future. It challenges home sewists, designers and educators to think through the social and environmental impacts of their practice, exploring issues such as zero waste, transparency, embedded storytelling, feminism, sizism, and body image.
Originally from Western Canada, Cassandra currently runs The Stitchery Studio in Dunblane, Scotland, which offers private tuition and pop-up workshops, educating both home sewers and designers on the topics of making a zero waste wardrobe, garment construction, machining skills, sustainable design processes, garment fitting and patchwork quilting, all with an approach to encouraging sustainable thinking and zero waste sewing. She is also the co-founder of the Zero Waste Design Online Collective that develops online education resources in the field of zero waste design and systems thinking in fashion.
People of all genders, sizes, and backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to attend this course.
You can pay for this course in two instalments, a non-refundable 50% deposit will be taken at the time of booking and you will be invoiced for the remaining balance three weeks in advance of your workshop.
Pattern Credit: Concord T-Shirt by Cashmerette
