Hey there! Awesome news—you're all set to dive into making your own clothes! Now, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get sewing. Maybe that sewing machine has been gathering dust in your closet forever. Or you've binge-watched a ton of sewing tutorials but still feel lost on how to kick things off. Or perhaps you took a few sewing classes at your local fabric shop and learned the basics, but you're still scratching your head about actually making clothes. If any of this sounds like you, the Beginner Fashion Sewing Series is just what you need to get going. Before you know it, you'll be rocking a wardrobe you made yourself!
Three Reasons Why I Love the Beginner Fashion Sewing Series
Our studio is passionate about teaching folks how to sew their own clothes. When I first opened the studio, I used three easy projects for beginners: a skirt, a t-shirt, and some comfy pajama pants. These projects are fantastic for newbies, but I wanted a more well-rounded and thoughtful curriculum for my students.
This class series aims to teach students the foundational sewing skills they need to make almost any commercial sewing pattern confidently. The curriculum has all the essentials to do that: beginner-appropriate patterns, an intentional progression of new skills, and it creates a sample notebook that you will refer to over and over again.
1. Beginner-Appropriate Sewing Projects to Reduce Frustration
Tackling a sewing project that is too advanced for your skill level can be frustrating. You may find yourself overwhelmed by complicated patterns, unfamiliar techniques, and materials that don’t behave as expected. Instead of enjoying the creative process, you might feel lost, defeated, or even tempted to give up altogether.
This program has four super-easy patterns to help you get your sewing game on point: an apron, a robe, pajama pants, and a matching top. These patterns were drafted by teachers and tested by students over a two-year period. The guides provide excellent images and instructions so students learn new skills while completing the projects.
2. Intentional Progression of Sewing Skills
When you're picking up a new skill, figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, beginners spend time learning advanced techniques without having mastered the basics.
This curriculum makes the process easier by breaking all the garment-making skills into four levels. You'll learn the right technique at the right time. By the time you get to more advanced skills in Level 4, you'll have already mastered the basics.
3. Students Create a Sample Book for Future Sewing
One of my favorite parts of this curriculum is the Sample Notebook students create throughout the program! Every time a new skill is introduced, students will sew a sample and save it in their notebook.
We want you to be successful in the studio and at home when you work on projects alone. That is why a sample notebook is so important! It is easy to know what to do in a class setting where the teacher is right there to give you directions. It can be more daunting to practice the same techniques on your own. But you will have your trusty sample notebook for reference with instructions for every technique and a sewn sample that you created in class. Need help remembering how to sew understitching? No problem! Just look in the sample notebook!
Sew Your Handmade Wardrobe While You Learn
Many beginner sewing programs use small, easy craft projects like bags and home decoration items. There is nothing wrong with learning to sew using these projects. However, if you want to sew clothing, you may as well start out by learning to sew clothing!
The four unisex patterns used in the program are garment items that most people would have in their wardrobe. In addition to all the skills you will learn through the program, you'll also have four new handmade pieces to add to your closet. You'll be saying, "Thanks, I made it!" in no time.
Level One: Apron
This is the fanciest apron you will ever make! An apron is the perfect project for Level One because it is easy to sew and requires very little fitting. Whether you've been needing an apron for your kitchen or just want to make this apron as a gift for someone else, you come out of the project with all the foundational garment sewing skills.
The new skills you learn during Level One:
- How to read and understand commercial patterns and pattern symbols
- How to take measurements correctly and select the correct pattern size
- How to prep pattern tissue and accurately cut your fabric
- Understanding grainline and how to find the grainline of your fabric
- Why and how to sew directional stay-stitching
- Why and how to grade and trim seam allowances
- Why and how to clip and notch curves
- Why and how to understitch
- How to use a hand-sewn catchstitch to sew hems by hand
- How to finish raw edges with a Clean-Finishing technique
- How to sew a basic hem with a machine
- How to sew straps
- How to sew patch pockets with a curved bottom
Level Two: Robe
Level Two steps up your garment-making skills with a robe. This robe is perfect for year-round lounging! You can wear it traditionally with pajamas or fashion-forward as a duster with jeans.
The new skills you learn during Level Two:
- How to set sleeves in the flat
- How to sew a neckband
- How to sew a square patch pocket
- How to accurately press as you sew
- How to finish seam allowances using a zig-zag stitch on your sewing machine
- How to use a hand-sewn slipstitch to hold a folded edge in place
- How to use a hand-sewn ladder stitch to close an opening in a seam
- How to gather fabric with a double line of stitching
- How to gather fabric with the zigzag method
- How to sew a dart
Level Three: Pajama Pants
Don't be intimidated by pants! Level Three sews a basic pajama pants that you can use over and over for lounge pants. Or make them in a breezy linen for stylish pull-on pants. No one will know!
The new skills you learn during Level Three:
- Basic crotch depth and hem fitting
- How to hem pants
- How to sew elastic in casing
- How to sew stitched-on elastic
- How to create a "sew as you go" elastic casing
- Why and how to use ease stitching
- How to successfully stitch-in-the-ditch
- How to sew a machine blind hem
- How to sew a blind hem casing
- How to sew a French seam
Level Four: Pajama Top
A top will be your most advanced project yet. You will sew a “camp shirt” style pajama top in Level Four. Maybe you want a matching pajama set, or maybe you want to sew this shirt for day wear. Either way, you'll learn basic shirt-making skills.
The new skills you learn during Level Four:
- How to set a collar
- How to sew a cut-on facing
- Why and how to use interfacing
- How to sew beautiful and accurate buttonholes
- How to sew on buttons by hand and by machine
- How to sew patch pockets with a pointed bottom
- How to sew a centered zipper
- How to sew a lapped zipper
- How to sew a fly front zipper
- How to sew French trim
- How to sew ribbing cuffs
- How to sew a lined patch pocket
What to Expect During Your In-Person Course
Ok, let's break down what to expect when you enroll in the Beginner Fashion Sewing Series. We are always learning and improving how our classes are run based on student feedback!
Start with the Beginner Workshop
If you’re new to sewing and have never touched a sewing machine, the Beginner Workshop is where you want to kick things off. This two-hour session will show you the ropes—like how to thread the machine, wind a bobbin, and sew a straight line—and you’ll even get to work on a small project to practice what you learn.
Even if you’ve used a sewing machine, you still might find this class helpful as a little refresher. When we teach this class, we dive into the "why" behind using a sewing machine just as much as the "how." If you understand why the machine works the way it does, it’ll be easier to tackle any issues that pop up later.
Find a Day and Time that Works For You
Each level is taught across a single semester. You will finish a single garment and the associated samples for that level. The curriculum is sequential, so the levels need to be taken in order.
We are all so busy! The Beginner Fashion Sewing Series is offered on multiple days and times to meet everyone where they are. Previously, we offered Level 1 classes one day a week and Level 2 classes on a different day. Students told us it took a lot of work to carve off time to come to class on a different day than they started. Starting with the 2024 Fall 1 semester, the entire sequence will be offered for each day/time.
Everyone should start with Level One, and we try to have a Level One class each semester. It takes about six months to take all four levels back-to-back. Do you need to take a break? Sometimes, we have other hobbies that pop up or family activities that make it hard to take a class. No worries! Just pick back up with the next semester whenever you are ready. It is okay to switch which day/time you are taking classes. If you start on Saturday morning but decide Wednesday evenings work better for you, switch to that time when your next level is offered.
Review Required Materials
Be sure to take note of any required materials needed for class. We provide the pattern, but you must supply your own fabric. You should have washed and dried your fabric before the first class.
We have lots of cute fabrics for sale in the studio, and we would always love to sell them to you! However, we know that many stitchers have a fabric stash at home that they would like to use or have a very specific style in mind. If you have a question about appropriate fabric, don't hesitate to reach out to the studio for guidance.
Learn to Sew Your Own Clothes!
Now, you are ready to start your apparel sewing experience! Just come to class ready to learn. We provide the pattern and the sample notebook pages. Each semester, we will complete a garment from beginning to end. You’ll enroll in the next level when you are ready to progress!
Happy Sewing!
