Instructor: Cal Patch

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. 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.

We all have fat quarters or other smallish cuts of precious fabrics, too small to use for garments – until now! You can play around with different seam placements and piece together smaller scraps of fabric, placing some of those treasured morsels front and center.

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 shirt that reflects their personality and the skills to make many more!

Supplies
: About 2 yards total of woven fabric (cotton, linen, etc), though this can be made up of smaller pieces of a few different fabrics, and is also dependent upon the actual measurements of your pattern; 2 yards muslin* or inexpensive woven fabric; Thread to match; Paper for drafting
; Pencil, eraser, and sharpener
; Ruler (18” x 2” clear sewing ruler is best)
; Tape measure
; Paper scissors
; Clear tape
; Sewing machine**; Basic sewing kit: Fabric shears, pins, marking tool, seam ripper; Optional: hip curve or French curve

*Note: You are welcome to use a fabric other than muslin, which can most likely become a “wearable muslin”, but the main purpose is as a fit sample.

** If you need to rent a sewing machine for use during class, please add “Sewing Machine Rental” to your cart along with your class. Call the shop with any questions at 510-595-8372.

1 session / 6 hours, plus 30-minute break for lunch

Class Size:  7 students max.

Date: Sunday, May 12th, 2019

Time: 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

Cancellation policy: Please note, for this special event, you must cancel 7 days before the start date of your class in order to receive a full refund. We cannot honor any refunds within 7 days of the class start date unless we are able to fill the class from the waiting list.