Machine Sewing with Confidence
Session One—Sewing Machine 101: Three Sundays, Sept 14-28, 4-6pm
Session Two—Make and Mend: Three Sundays, Oct 5-19, 4-6pm
Cost:$100-$175 sliding scale* per session, plus supplies (below)
Do you have a sewing machine that’s gathering dust? Do you want to feel more confident with your sewing?Brush it off and untangle the challenges of machine sewing! Session One is for you if you want to learn your machine inside and out with personalized support. Discover what you can do with all of those stitches, from basic to advanced. We will cover machine set up, basic stitches and their applications, and more advanced skills like buttonholes and zippers. Session Two is a great place to level up your machine sewing skills. Are you not well served by fashion sizing? Do you want to learn how to customize thrifted clothing to fit your body and your personal expression? This class is perfect for folks who completed “Sewing Machine 101” or for home sewists who are already confident with their machines but want to expand their expertise. We will focus on building and/or improving wearable items, and making simple alterations. Unlock the life changing magic of adding pockets to any garment you want!
For questions or to register, please email programs@nohoarts.org. If registering, please include your full name, mailing address, and phone number. Payment may be made in advance via PayPal here or by check to “NCFA” mailed to the Northampton Center for the Arts, PO Box 366, Northampton MA 01061.
*Payments on the upper end of the sliding scale help support our ongoing commitment to accessibility and sliding scale models. If financial assistance is needed, participants may apply for Community Fund support
Michelle Sullivan is a lifelong home sewist with a special interest in garment history, engineering, design and construction. Michelle holds a BA in Theater from UMass Amherst, and continues to enjoy a 29 year career as an educator in Hampshire and Hamden counties.
Materials
Materials (please scroll down for complete list)
For both sessions:
Sewing machine
Fabric scissors
A spool of good quality, all purpose thread (example, Gutermann or Coates and Clark)
An empty bobbin spool
Seam ripper
Straight pins
For session 1:
Practice fabric-
At least 1/2 a yard or two “fat quarters” of mid weight, non-stretch fabric, (quilting cotton is fine)
At least 1/4 yard of stretch fabric (a stretchy tee shirt is fine)
For session two:
Materials are dependent on what you want to make. We will discuss personalized project plans during the first class and determine exactly what you need then. You can also bring in clothing that you wish to modify- things that need hemming, mending, size adjustments, or pockets added.