Yardage and Garments with Character

5 days - All Levels

Don’t you wish you had some "real clothes" with your personalized touch? For two days we’ll design and stitch a collage of character yardage ready for you to turn into a simple garment. I’ll show you fun and easy techniques using cording and trims, sheer-overlays, double-needle accents, altered classic stitches and sashiko.Try them all or pick and choose. Of course, (if you wish) we’ll add beads and buttons. Regardless, our choices will allow endless results.

Turn the classy CHARACTER yardage into a simple wearable that becomes your answer to today’s fashion demands. Design and stitch a simple jacket with beginnings of fitting and styling. From there we’ll move to sewing machine techniques using quick, unencumbered sewing methods.We’ll focus on tricks of the trade that polish a project and allow plenty of time for individual attention. Don’t worry if you haven’t sewn wearables for a while.This class is for you — whether beginner or a pro. Personal potential will be emphasized.

Don’t worry if you haven’t sewn wearables for a while.This class is for you — whether beginner or a pro. Personal potential will be emphasized.

Taught by: Alice Allen Kolb

Supplies Needed:

SEWING MACHINE—the best you have--in good working order---SEWING FEET---a basic foot + (if you have these: open toe embroidery, darner, braiding, quilting, extra bobbins---THREADS--- bring a variety such as: rayon, thin and thick cottons, metallic, novelty in matching and high contrast colors +bobbin threads of light and medium weight thread FABRICS---BACKGROUNDS-(as varied as you wish)–solid or near solid colors ranging from medium weight to quilting cotton so thread embellishment will show on the fabric-- subtle interest such as hand dyes with varied color or slubs in linen work well–optional/a bit of METALLIC or other interesting fabric (for insertions) in small amounts—

FRAY FABRIC—Complimentary color/texture that ravels easily
SHEER OVERLAY—organza (silk is my favorite) in complimentary (same or contrast) to the background fabric; a fusible webbing (I prefer Wonder Under for this project) and a variety of shiny “stuff”—old ties, ribbons, metallic or interesting fabric to cut up like confetti.

NEEDLES---sewing machine needles to fit your machine and thread: a basic universal needle/size 80 + topstitch/size 100 and embroidery/size 75-90---Double needles—available in many sizes. I suggest 2.0/3.0

STABILIZERS**--a woven iron on interfacing is ideal – FINDINGS –optional: ribbon, trims, etc. (small amounts) ---GENERAL SEWING SUPPLIES, i.e. scissors, pins, etc. SEWING MACHINE MANUAL if you haven’t experimented with your machine

**iron-on woven fusible stabilizer (HTC makes one—I’ll send sample, also Tear-away product is helpful ----*I’ll bring an “insurance box” of stuff—for those who can’t find supplies

HOW MUCH TO BUY? DEPENDS ON PROJECT – for workshop use 1 yard of fat quarters is adequate—if for a garment or quilt, plan to your project. Example: I usually embellish 1 ½ -3 yards for vest to jacket.

• A FUN class about E-X-P-E-R-I-M-E-N-T-I-N-G—

• the best sewing machine you own + (all it’s accessories and manual)
• A pillow for the chair (for comfort)
• Table lite
• General sewing supplies—scissors, ruler/cutter/mat, great pins, chalk, pencil, pattern template plastics, sketch/grid paper, etc.

• Jacket, vest or tunic suited to you. Select simple construction (shoulder and side seams, --(princess seam (across bustline) aids alteration if large busted).
• Consider Lorraine Torrence , Grainline Gear, Sewing Workshop, Vogue, Butterick, McCalls (all have websites showing their styles).
• Time considerations for accomplishment depend on degree of embellishment, but usually 1 jacket or vest is a reasonable expectation..

• Outer garment -natural fiber fabric in muted, solid or tweed colors/texture OR
• Combination of several fabrics that look good together(as in patchwork)
• Optional — contrast fabric for bias binding instead of facings on garment (1/2 yard)
• Inner support fabrics –woven or knit fusible interfacing add body to garment and are necessary if lots of thread embellishment is desired. yardage same as jacket or vest
• Lining—quilting cotton print or silk or polyester for dressier project yardage is usually the same as the jacket or vest.
• Stitching aids—tear stabilizer; fusible web (for appliqué) 1 yard of each
• Muslin--optional, but helpful --(yardage requirements) for a trial fit of pattern—IF YOU WISH, AFTER FITTING & ALTERING YOUR PATTERN, YOU CAN MAKE A QUICK MUSLIN FOR FINAL FIT

• A variety of thick, thin, shiny and dull threads that look great with your project.
  Suggestions –cottons, rayons, polyesters, metallic (if desired)
• 1-2 spools of general sewing thread to match garment fabric

**I particularly enjoy the effects of
1. Jeans Stitch thread
2. Rayon Sulky
3. Embroidery silk-finish.

Select matching and HIGH CONTRAST colors

• Universal # 80
• Topstitch # 100
• Embroidery # 70-90
• Hand needles for hemming and beading

OPTIONAL –accents that you love—wonderful buttons, cords, laces, zippers, --the list can be endless—review your pattern, evaluate your style and bring supplies to support your choice.

Possible embellishment processes
• Thread in assorted stitch patterns sewn in varied design directions
• Sashiko (a thread pattern sewn in grids with Jeans Stitch thread
• Sheer overlay technique (in addition to pattern’s required yardage bring a sheer organza, fusible web (in pattern yardage) and ribbons or men’s ties that can be cut up
• Crazy-quilt variations (bring pattern yardage requirements in muslin " assorted scraps or fat quarters that compliment main fabric)
• Patchwork (bring assorted fabrics to equal pattern yardage requirements)
• DECORATIVE THREADS/NEEDLES ARE NECESSARY FOR ALL EMBELLISHMENT