this is the class to take if you’d like to get hooked on drafting your own custom patterns and making your own wardrobe! with this one pattern, you can really whip up a whole closet full of clothes: tops, tunics, dresses, blouses, jackets, coats, sweatshirts, T-shirts, hoodies, cardigans… i like to call it my Desert Island Pattern, because it’s really all you need!
to register (or if you have a question), email me at cal@calpatch.com
Boxy Tee/Drapy Tunic
Saturday, February 17 from 11am-5:30pm (includes a 30-minute lunch break), at my studio in Kerhonkson, NY. $150
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 “Drapy 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.
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 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.
Supplies:
Sewing machine + extension cord
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
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, drapy 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
