One of the very best things about having a big, beautiful studio to work in is being able to host workshops, and invite your friends to visit and come teach! I’m so excited to share that my dear pal and partner in patchwork crime Cal Patch is coming to Rockland this spring, and will be teaching 3 workshops, April 6-8.
On Thursday evening she’ll offer a 2 hour version of her popular VISIBLE MENDING + DARNING workshop. On Friday, she’ll teach a day long dive into making a self-drafted BOXY TOP or DRAPEY TUNIC. And on Saturday, we’ll join forces to share a brand new workshop we’re both bursting at the seams excited about: PIECE OUT: PATCHWORK BOXY TOP 3 WAYS.
Read on for the schedule, descriptions, and supply list for each workshop. You can take one workshop, or make a mini-sewing retreat for yourself and take all three! Classes will be held in my new studio at Lincoln Street Center in Rockland. The day long workshops will feature a delicious homemade lunch, prepared by sailor chef extraordinaire Sarah Austin.
Thursday, April 6 • 6-8pm VISIBLE MENDING: PATCHING + DARNING Friday, April 7 • 10-5pm MAKE A SELF-DRAFTED BOXY TEE/DRAPEY TUNIC Saturday, April 8 • 10-5pm PIECE OUT: PATCHWORK BOXY TOP 3 WAYS
VISIBLE MENDING: PATCHING + DARNING Cal Patch | Thursday, April 6, 6-8pm | $45
Mending is an essential part of maintaining your handmade or Slow-Fashion wardrobe, and patching and darning are your key techniques. Cal will show you 2 different ways to patch a hole in woven garments: Overlay and Reverse Appliqué, various stitches that work for each method, and when to use them. Then we will mend a hole in a knitted garment with traditional darning. Whether you try to do it invisibly or artfully, you’ll extend the life of your favorite woolies by knowing how to darn them. Traditional darning works well for smaller holes or areas that are worn thin. You might have so much fun, you'll actually be happy to see a new hole in your most-loved and worn garments! No prerequisite skills.
Supplies: 2 items (woven or T-shirt) with holes to be patched, or fabric to make a “mending sampler” Scraps of woven and knit fabric for patches Hand-sewing needles in a few sizes All-purpose or top-stitching thread Embroidery floss (I suggest size 8 Perle Cotton) Pins Scissors A sock, sweater or other knit item with a small* hole to be darned (can be hand or machine knit) Small amount of comparable-sized yarn to what the original is knit from (probably between fingering and worsted), can be matching or contrast Tapestry needles in a few smaller sizes (or any needles with a large enough eye for yarn) *about 1.5” or less
MAKE A SELF-DRAFTED BOXY TEE/DRAPEY TUNIC Cal Patch | Friday, April 7, 10am-5pm | $225 (includes a hearty vegetarian lunch)
Sewing your own clothes is satisfying and practical. Drafting your own patterns goes one step further and puts the entire design process in your hands. Cal will teach you how to draft a pattern for a simple woven top that can easily be customized in myriad ways. As a shorter, loose-fitting top, it’s a “Boxy Tee”, but make it longer, with a bit more ease, in a fabric with good drape like linen, and it’s a “Drapey Tunic”. This is a perfect intro to pattern-drafting if you’ve been wanting to dip your toe in the water, and the sewing couldn’t be simpler. This basic t-shirt shape makes a lovely “blank canvas” pattern to use as a foundation for all sorts of techniques: piecing, quilting, embroidering, dyeing, eco-printing… and of course you can combine and layer the treatments to create the most special garments.
In this workshop, we’ll begin by drafting the basic pattern to your measurements, then cut + sew a quick muslin (fit sample) to check fit, and tweak the pattern if necessary. Next you’ll either continue by turning your sample into a *wearable muslin*, or cut a new one, perhaps adding extra seams or pockets. Beginner stitchers will keep it fairly simple, and those with more advanced skills can customize to their hearts’ content. Everyone will leave with a garment that reflects their personality and ideas to make endless variations!
Please have at least advanced-beginner sewing skills, with a few simple projects under your belt. You should be comfortable threading and troubleshooting your sewing machine without assistance.
Supplies: Sewing Machine (a limited number available to rent if you don’t have one, or are traveling) Pad or roll of paper, at least 14″wide (can be newsprint, drawing paper, etc) Notebook Pencil, eraser and sharpener Ruler (18” x 2” clear sewing ruler is best) Tape measure Paper scissors Clear tape 2+ yards of muslin or inexpensive woven fabric for fit sample (this could also become your final project after fitting) About 2-3 yards total of woven fabric, though this can made up of smaller pieces of a few different fabrics, and is also dependent upon the actual measurements of your pattern (quilting or other cottons work well for a boxy tee shape, drapier linens or rayons will be better for longer, drapey tunic/dress styles) All-purpose thread to match 2 yards 1/2” single-fold bias tape Basic sewing kit: Fabric shears, pins, marking tool, seam ripper
PIECE OUT: PATCHWORK BOXY TOP THREE WAYS Cal Patch + Katherine Ferrier | Saturday, April 8, 10am-5pm | $225 (includes a hearty vegetarian lunch)
Sure, you can sew a garment with just one fabric. But have you ever dreamed of making your own unique PIECED textile garment? In this playful workshop, Cal and Katherine join forces to show you three different methods of making a patchwork boxy top/tunic: improvising yardage, engineering a pattern, or piecing onto a foundation. You’ll have time to experiment with the options before choosing your approach to making your own one-of-a-kind top! You can incorporate favorite leftovers from other projects, treasured small bits, upcycled clothes and thrifted gems as your source material. Transforming textile waste into fantastic clothing is not only really satisfying, it also keeps perfectly good material out of the landfills, and is friendly on the wallet to boot. Plus every garment will be a one-of-a-kind work of art!
This class is designed for folks who already have some basic sewing skills under their belt, and ideally have already made a boxy top or tunic. You should be comfortable threading and troubleshooting your sewing machine without assistance.
Homework: Please arrive to class with 2 copies of your pattern already traced and cut out on paper. Trace the full pattern (as opposed to the traditional folded on center) so you can work asymmetrically.
Supplies: Sewing machine (a limited number available to rent if you don’t have one, or are traveling) Approximately 2+ yards (total) of smaller pieces of woven fabrics, special remnants, old garments, etc to be combined into your project 2 yards muslin or inexpensive lightweight woven fabric (to be used as hidden foundation/lining) A few sheets of 18 x 24” or a 14+” roll of paper (tracing paper, newsprint or sketch pad are all great) All-purpose thread Bias tape, 1 yard of ½” single-fold, can be self-made or packaged Basic sewing kit: Pins + cushion, scissors, seam ripper, tape measure, marking tool (chalk, wax or pencil) and ruler Roll of painters tape, any color.
Pattern for simple top (choose one): Boxy Tee/Drapey Tunic: drafted in a previous class with Cal, or from her online video class, or tutorial found on her website (NOTE: please just do the simple version without the seam and pocket): https://calpatch.com Lou Box Top https://www.sewdiy.com/shop/lou-box-top-pdf-pattern Fen Top https://fancytigercrafts.com/products/fen-pdf-pattern All Well Box Top https://www.etsy.com/listing/713038843/all-well-box-top-sewing-pattern-hacking Maya Top https://www.etsy.com/listing/206020747/pdf-maya-dress-and-top-sewing-pattern Shirt No. 1 https://shop.100actsofsewing.com/products/100-acts-of-sewing-shirt-no-1-sewing-pattern
NOTE: These are loose-fitting tops, so you should be fine to choose the size called for your measurements. If you are concerned about a perfect fit, you may wish to machine-stitch a muslin/fit sample first to confirm size.