Learn to sew clothing without a machine, wherever you are. Outside! On the road! Really anywhere!

Join us at the beautiful Fibershed Learning Center on Black Mountain Ranch near Point Reyes Station, CA, for a 2-day workshop with Noelle Guetti. (Please note: this workshop is on the Saturday & Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and meets from 10 am to 3 pm each day.)

There are so many reasons to sew by hand — not least of which is the quiet break it provides from the pressure to produce quickly, even when “crafting.” (Not that hand sewing is always slow! Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can really move.) But hand sewing is still the revered mainstay of high end tailoring and couture garments. Hand sewn stitches are incredibly strong — think of all of the intact, well-worn historic garments out there — and the seams are much softer and more pliable than their machine sewn counterparts.

In this class, we’ll cover stitches appropriate for sewing a complete garment from start to finish. We’ll discuss thread material, weight and preparation, types of hand sewing needles, thimble use, and touch on construction methods that are more easily done by hand.

Together, we’ll practice multiple techniques for: basting, fully enclosed seams, hems, buttonholes and stretch fabrics.

As we sew together, there will be plenty of space to ask questions about specific projects, wild garment ideas, sewing goals and the basic questions you’ve always been too afraid to ask (“What IS the best way to tie off your thread at the end of a seam??”).

If you’d like, you are encouraged to bring a cut-out garment or other project so you can practice your stitches in situ and get feedback and guidance. (It’s a good idea to choose a project made from a light-to-medium-weight fabric to start out — give those hand muscles some time to strengthen!).

Needles, thread, and wax will be provided. Everyone will get to take home a packet of needles and a cake of beeswax. I will bring an assortment of thimbles to try out. Bring any ill-fitting thimbles you have rolling around in the bottom of your grandma’s sewing box, and we’ll do a little thimble swap to get you fitted with one that sits snug on your finger.

Also bring with you:

• personal lunch, snacks and beverages (a variety of teas will be served on site)
• notepad and pencil, if you like taking notes
• small sewing scissors
• some medium-sized fabric scraps you’re excited to play with (optional — there will be plenty of fabric provided as well)

Noelle Guetti (he/him) is a lifelong textile philosopher and craftsperson. He works with the overlapping practices of weaving, sewing, and pattern design to explore the ways that clothing brings people more fully into their bodies and souls. He filled his first custom order (a pair of appliquéd corduroy pants!) at age fourteen, and now has nearly two decades of experience in bringing people’s deepest clothing heart-longings into the world (including a stint making fantastical ballet costumes — tutus! corsetry!) He weaves a lot of his own fabric on a giant wooden loom, and will soon be teaching other people to do the same at the Marshfield School of Weaving in Vermont. Hand sewing is his biggest treat, the cherry on top of every garment he makes. prayersforwhatis.com @prayersforwhatis

CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds (minus Eventbrite fees) available up to 30 before the event. If you cancel after 30 days before the event, we are unable to provide refunds unless we can fill your space from the waitlist. If someone who is waitlisted purchases your space, we will refund your ticket, minus the Eventbrite fees. Otherwise there will be no refunds. You are also welcome to transfer your ticket to someone who wishes to purchase it directly from you.

Tuition Scholarships & Transportation/Childcare Stipends
Fibershed is offering two scholarships to most workshops; one scholarship if it’s a small class. In addition to scholarships for tuition, we are offering a limited number of stipends for transportation and/or childcare. If you would not otherwise be able to attend, and would like to be considered as a scholarship and/or stipend recipient, please answer a few brief questions on this Google Form. Responses will be reviewed by Learning Center staff and kept strictly confidential.

BONUS: The Clothing Swap Closet is now open during workshops and events at the Fibershed Learning Center!

Visit the Clothing Swap Closet when you attend a workshop or event at the Learning Center and exchange your 100% natural fiber garments and accessories. Your clothing contributions must be clean and in good condition. Each contribution entities you to choose one item of comparable value.

You may depart up to an hour after the workshop ends, to allow time to browse and try on items in the closet, and make your trade!