Class Schedule

This is not a ribbon FLOWER making class. This IS a class devoted to the support chorus of the ribbon flower you already know how to make. That is the ribbon leaf.. Much ignored, the leaf is vital to the overall look of a ribbon flower creation. In this class four different leaves and variations will be taught and discussed. In addition, the transformation of a leaf into a calyx with a stem will be demonstrated.

Student must know how to do basic hand stitches like basting and back stitch, and will leave the class with four sample leaves and a calyx.

Note the photo is an example of leaves in use. We will not be making the flowers in the photo.

Instructor: DL Popplewell

Class type: Workshop

Class level: Beginners: Designed for those with little or no previous sewing or other experience

Materials fee: $10

Instructor provides:

• ribbons for creating samples

Student provides:

• basic sewing kit with craft scissors
• needles
• fray check or similar product
• any color regular thread

If you’ve never sewn with knits or stretch fabric before (or you did and it didn’t go well), this is the class for you! We’ll cover the basics of sewing with stretchy fabrics using a domestic sewing machine (not a serger). I’ll go over the key differences between knits and wovens and offer plenty of suggestions to make sewing knits easier. You may even find you like them more than wovens! To practice your new skills, we’ll make a gauntlet/arm warmer drafted from your own measurements.

Note: you are expected to have basic understanding of sewing on a domestic machine in order to take this class. As long as you know how to sew a stitch with your machine, you should be fine.

Instructor: Rachel Petterson

Class type: Workshop

Class level: Beginners: Designed for those with little or no previous sewing or other experience

Materials fee: n/a

Instructor provides:

• iron and ironing board
• pattern paper
• pencils

Student provides:

• sewing machine that can do a zig zag stitch (optional: walking foot)
• ½ yard of 4-way stretch fabric (you can get stretch velvet but not recommended)
• matching all-purpose thread
• cutting tools: scissors or rotary cutter + cutting mat
• basic sewing supplies: snips or scissors, pins, marking tools (chalk, blue pen, etc)
• ruler (at least 12in long, ideally 2 inch wide)

Cartridge pleating is an ancient technique that allows you to gather down a large amount of fabric into a very small space. It’s commonly used for skirts and sleeve heads. Together we will look at antique and modern examples of cartridge-pleated garments and then turn our hands to learning the technique in scrap cloth.

Instructor: Catherine Scholar

Class type: Workshop

Class level: All: Enjoyable and accessible to all attendees

Materials fee: $10

Instructor provides:

• fabric
• ribbon
• strong thread
• needles
• handout

Student provides:

• hand-sewing needles
• thread snips
• pins
• thimble

This class will be a demonstration of how to create your own hat patterns for hats you’ve desired from photos and fashion plates. The instructor will demonstrate the technique, as well as display samples of finished hats using the techniques shown in class. This class is appropriate for all skill levels.

Instructor: Judy Grivich

Class type: Demo

Class level: All: Enjoyable and accessible to all attendees

Materials fee: n/a

Instructor provides: n/a

Student provides: n/a

In this workshop students will make a floral and mini fairy wing headband/headpiece. The class will start with a demo of making custom mini wings using the Fancy Fairy Wings Tutorial method (by Angela Jarman). Then students will make their own headbands using provided mini wings and artificial flowers.

Instructor: Sahrye Cohen

Class type: Workshop

Class level: All: Enjoyable and accessible to all attendees

Materials fee: $20

Instructor provides:

• iridescent mini fairy wings
• artificial flowers
• ribbon covered headbands

Student provides:

• low temperature or multi temperature glue gun (high temperature not recommended for potential burns)
• glue sticks
• craft scissors for cutting artificial flowers
• optional: hand sewing supplies (thread, scissors, needles)
• artificial flowers will be provided but students may bring their own if preferred

Ever been fascinated by those silly mini hats worn by ladies attending royal weddings and horse races in the UK? You can easily make your own! In this class we will be learning how to make mini hat bases out of felt and recycled plastic lids and a few basic millinery decorating techniques.

Instructor: Chang Meng

Class type: Workshop

Class level: All: Enjoyable and accessible to all attendees

Materials fee: n/a

Instructor provides:

• instructions
• misc. millinery materials

Student provides:

• Soft plastic lids (of any size) with a smooth top (yogurt lid, coffee can lid, Pringles lid, etc). Instructor will have some available
• at least 16×12” of thin felt per hat. You can use cheap eco felt from craft stores or scraps of wool felt
• needle and thread
• ~12 inches of thin elastic cord or very thin metal headbands (Instructor will have some available)
• glue gun
• millinery decorations such as veils, nylon netting (both available from JoAnn), feathers, flowers, horsehair braids, more felt of the same or contrasting colors, etc

Yes, machine buttonholes and metal grommets have their place, but sometimes you want handmade, for historical accuracy or just aesthetics. Come learn how to make beautiful hand sewn closures to raise your sewing game.

Instructor: Catherine Scholar

Class type: Workshop

Class level: All: Enjoyable and accessible to all attendees

Materials fee: $10

Instructor provides:

• fabric
• silk buttonhole twist
• needles
• metal lacing rings
• handout

Student provides:

• hand-sewing kit, including needles
• thimble
• pins
• beeswax
• thread snips
• fabric scissors
• fabric marking pen or pencil
• ruler
• awl or stiletto

Have you ever had too many projects in mind to keep track of? Have you ever wondered how long it took you to make something? Or wondered how much money you spent on a project? This class will help you find digital solutions for all these problems and more, so you can clear your mind and spend your time sewing.

Instructor: Crysta Frost

Class type: Workshop

Class level: All: Enjoyable and accessible to all attendees

Materials fee: n/a

Instructor provides: n/a

Student provides:

• a phone, laptop, or tablet that can access the internet

Let’s face it – sewing by hand can be a bit scary! Whether you want to make an entire dress by hand, or simply hand-sew your next hem, there are tools and techniques that can make the process less intimidating and help you achieve results you can be proud of. This class will demystify some of the basic issues around hand-stitching, and teach you several fundamental and versatile stitches. Whether you’ve been sewing for years, or have never threaded a needle before, Hand-sewing 101 is the perfect class to help you feel more comfortable with the process of stitching without a machine.

Instructor: Natalie Wiener

Class type: Workshop

Class level: All: Enjoyable and accessible to all attendees

Materials fee: $15

Instructor provides:

• fabric
• needles
• thread
• beeswax
• needle-threader
• scissors
• class handout
  

Student provides:

• paper and pen for note-taking (optional)
• thimble (optional)

Learn candlewicking, a very simple and sturdy whitework embroidery technique with a primitive charm. This class is perfect for those who have never done embroidery before.

Instructor: Chang Meng

Class type: Workshop

Class level: Beginners: Designed for those with little or no previous sewing or other experience

Materials fee: $2

Instructor provides: 

• embroidery floss
• needles
• fabric
• patterns

Student provides:

• a 4-6” small embroidery hoop
• some type of marking tool capable of making fine lines and dots (pencil or heat erase pen)
• scissors

Our foremothers did a lot of sewing, and they often kept their sewing tools right on their bodies. From the middle ages right up through the early 20th century, wealthy women wore decorative metal chatelaines that affixed to their clothing and held all the necessary tools on chains. A more affordable version was made of ribbon. In this class we will look at some pictures of chatelaines throughout the ages, and then we will hand-sew a small chatelaine of our very own.

Instructor: Catherine Scholar

Class type: Workshop

Class level: All: Enjoyable and accessible to all attendees

Materials fee: $10

Instructor provides: 

• embroidery scissors
• pins
• waist hook
• pin back
• handout
• stuffing

Student provides:

• 3 yards ribbon up to 2″ wide
• 1/4 yard fabric for pincushion (nothing sheer or slinky)
• thread to match ribbon and fabric
• hand sewing kit including needles
• thimble
• beeswax
• thread snips
• pins

This class will walk you through how to make indestructible curls to add to your 18th century wigs and hairpieces. We will cover historical-adjacent barrel curls, as well as the giant body curls (also called buckles) and swags that can be added to the wig itself. We will also cover how to adapt these techniques to build 1830’s and Romantic Era hair sculptures. This class is appropriate for all skill levels.

Instructor: Judy Grivich

Class type: Workshop

Class level: All: Enjoyable and accessible to all attendees

Materials fee: $15

Instructor provides: 

• hair
• glue
• paintbrush
• parchment paper
• PVC pipe
• plastic sheeting for desk

Student provides: 

• smock
• apron or painting clothes (something you don’t mind glue on)