SIT-N-SEW. Sit and sew at Textiles Fabrics from 10:30-1:00, 471 Craighead Street, Nashville, TN. Need help with a sewing a project? This is a fun collaborative class that helps you problem solve issues and gain confidence to move forward on any sewing project you may have. Each student gets individual attention but also benefits from the group camaraderie. I am happy to teach you any basic sewing techniques and more advanced skills such as pattern-making, fitting, bias sewing, couture techniques. We here are to help you find answers to your sewing questions. Bring your sewing machine and supplies. Class is $40. Check Calendar for dates.
COUTURE BASICS and HAND SEWING. Learn some couture techniques that will elevate your sewing and give your garments a professional and heirloom quality finish. Students will practice some of the same hand sewing techniques practiced in the ateliers of Paris.
TRAPUNTO AND SCHIAPARELLI. Trapunto is an ancient Italian method of quilting. It is not just for quilts and is often seen in couture garments. Elsa Schiaparelli incorporated it into several of her designs. It is a unique way to add dimension and interest to a garment. Learn more about Schiaparelli and her contribution to haute couture and learn a new skill. You will learn how to apply this method by hand and by machine.
COUTURE SEAM FINISHES. Some seam finishes are convenient for ready-to-wear clothing, but they are not used in the world of couture. There are many elegant and preferred methods for finishing a seam. Practice some of the finest ways to finish your seams based on the garment and fabric.
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN AND A COUTURE BLOUSE. Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind. This quote by William Shakespeare was tattooed on Alexander McQueen’ arm, and it truly represents McQueen’s couture works of art. In conjunction with the Frist Art Museum’s exhibit, Lee Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray: Rendez-vous, we will be making a couture blouse. The class will meet at the Frist on Thursday night for a tour of the exhibit. Prior to the class, students will be provided detailed instructions for constructing a muslin for a basic blouse. On the first day of class, each student will get a personal fitting, and have one-on-one time with the instructor to discuss how to make the blouse uniquely their own. The student will learn pattern manipulation and couture construction techniques. Inspired by Alexander McQueen, you may want to incorporate an exaggerated sleeve, peplum, embellishment, and or use a plaid or lace fabric. The options are endless. Haute couture methods for preparing and marking the fabric for cutting and sewing, closures, and seam finishes will be discussed.
BALENCIAGA INSPIRED ONE SEAM COAT. In 2017, the Victoria and Albert Museum presented a collection of Cristobal Balenciaga’s garments in an exhibit titled “Shaping Fashion”. The museum shared a pattern that showed how to create a Balenciaga-inspired one seam coat using an 8.5″ X 11″ sheet of paper. The simple origami-like cutting and shaping of the fabric is similar to a Japanese kimono. Japonism was a design movement that influenced many couturiers including Balenciaga. He created several variations of this cleverly designed coat and is famous for his abstract and voluminous designs. Bring 1.75 – 2 yards of 52″ – 60″ wide fabric, or you can even bring an old blanket or quilt. The instructor has scaled the pattern to actual size, and will share the necessary calculations for marking and cutting the fabric. You will cut, fold and stitch a unique coat inspired by Balenciaga.
VIONNET ROSES. Madeleine Vionnet is famous for her complicated and stunning bias-cut designs. Come learn more about the designer and try your hand at a simple embellishment that she often used – bias silk roses. Other famous designers, such as Valentino and Prada, embellish with silk roses, and it is very fashionable right now. You will learn three different rose-making techniques that you can apply to your garments.
HAND-STITCHED BUTTONHOLES. Learn the fine art of sewing buttonholes by hand. No machine required. Hand-stitched buttonholes are found on bespoke tailored jackets for men to precious heirloom garments for children. Students will learn about supplies needed and the technique for applying buttonholes by hand.
BOUND BUTTONHOLES. Bound buttonholes are an elegant way to finish a closure on a garment. It gives the buttonhole dimension and makes the garment extra special. Bound buttonholes are frequently found on vintage and couture garments. Students will learn how to apply this technique to their own projects.
QUILTING LINING FOR A JACKET OR SKIRT. Bouclé and tweed fabrics lend themselves to a very unique lining treatment that gives a garment such as a skirt or jacket a lofty and sweater-like feel. It also makes the inside of the garment look as beautiful as the outside of the garment. It is one of the elements that makes the Chanel suit so iconic. Learn how to apply this couture method to one of your own projects. Students will also learn how to finish the lining application after they have practiced the quilting method.
ELEGANT ZIPPERS. Learn how to insert an invisible zipper and a hand-picked zipper for an elegant and professional looking touch for a skirt or dress.
HEM FINISHES. Students will learn a few different ways to finish a hem based on the type of fabric and the style of a garment. As the hem is usually the last step in the construction of a garment, you really want to finish strong after all your hard work.
VIONNET’S GOLDEN SKIRT. Learn about the magnificent and clever patterning of a Madeleine Vionnet skirt. Students will learn the history behind the design and how to draft it based on their own measurements. Detailed instructions on how to construct it will be provided. The class is mostly lecture based with some hands on demonstrations.
BALENCIAGA PALETOT. Students will learn the construction techniques to make a jacket inspired by an original 1950’s design. Students will need to purchase the pattern, which is in half scale, prior to the class. Many couturièrs tested designs in half scale as it saved material and allowed a designer to have a better working view of the garment. We will also practice the construction in half scale, and students will gain the confidence to make the full scale garment on their on time. The pattern can easily be enlarged to full scale pattern by a professional print shop.
BECOMING A VIONNET JEDI, Part I. Students will learn about the famous couturière Madeleine Vionnet and her designs from 1912-1939. She is considered by some the master of the bias. Her garments were avant garde at the time and still possess a modern timelessness. Students will learn some of her techniques and begin their path towards mastering the bias.
BECOMING A VIONNET JEDI, Part II.“Do or not do, there is no try.” – Yoda. The best way to learn something is to actually do it. Students will make a one seam bias dress similar to one designed by Madeleine Vionnet and gain a better understanding of bias and the genius of Vionnet’s designs.
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN KIMONO JACKET. Students will make a kimono jacket from an Alexander McQueen pattern kindly shared by SHOWStudio. “Alexander McQueen allowed the public at large to examine and assemble his pattern for a beautiful, kimono-inspired jacket from his Autumn/Winter 2003 collection. Mixing oriental tradition and McQueen’s hallmark razor tailoring, this is a succinct summary of his design genius.”
PATTERN MAGIC AND DIOR. Using the creative Pattern Magic book by Tomoko Nakamichi, students will draft the “Deppari” accent top. Deppari means protruding in Japanese. Nakamichi uses deppari accents to create uncommon garment designs, some of which are reminiscent of Christian Dior’s “New Look” designs post World War II. Students will learn about Christian Dior and some of his designs, especially the Vol au Vent (“flying”) suit famously worn by Marlene Dietrich. Working from Pattern Magic I and inspiration from Dior, students will have the opportunity to draft their own deppari accents, while gaining an understanding of pattern making principles. Sloper will be provided, bring tracing paper, pencil and metric ruler.
PATTERN MAGIC: APPLE PEEL. Join us as we explore Pattern Magic Stretch by Tomoko Nakamichi. In this class students will learn the pattern-making principle of added fullness and create either a unique shrug (apple peel A) or jogger/yoga pants (apple peel B). Students will manipulate a stretch pant pattern or draft the shrug pattern.
PATTERN MAGIC and GIVENCHY. Students will draft the pattern for the bow top in Tomoko Nakmichi’s book, Pattern Magic. Hubert de Givenchy designed a dress similar to this design, which was worn by his muse Audrey Hepburn. Learn about the couturier Givenchy and his contribution to haute couture and take your pattern-making skills to the next level.
PATTERN MAGIC and POIRET Students will draft the pattern for a knit top, “Two Peas in a Pod” in the book Pattern Magic Stretch by Tomoko Nakmichi, while exploring the pattern-making principle of added fullness. The gathered sleeves of this top is reminiscent of a peignoir designed by Paul Poiret in the 1910s. Come make something new and modern inspired by the past!
TAKING MEASUREMENTS. Instructor will demonstrate for students how to take body measurements of one’s self. Students will take home a completed full body measurement worksheet. This worksheet will be great reference for analyzing industry patterns or drafting a pattern.
DRAFTING A BODICE SLOPER. Have you ever wanted to create a pattern based on your own measurements? In this beginner pattern drafting class, students will draft the front and back of a bodice using their own measurements. Students must be comfortable reading and following directions on a diagram and measuring and drawing straight lines from a point using a ruler. The instructor will be there to guide and instruct students so they properly draft the pattern. Drafting/tracing paper, pencil, ruler and tape measure required. No machines required.
TOILE FITTING. Students who have created a toile/muslin of a garment or sloper may get a personalized fitting and instructions on how to make adjustments.
PANT SLOPER. Students will draft a pant pattern using their own measurements.
SLEEVE DRAFTING. Learn how to draft a sleeve sloper using your own personal measurements.
ORIGAMI SLEEVE. Bored with the same old sleeves? Come learn how to create a unique and elegant sleeve that you can incorporate into simple top or dress. Sleeve sloper required.
DRAPING ON THE BIAS FOR FUN. Practice draping fabric on the bias on a dress from. This class is for fun and no experience is required. The purpose is to just experiment and get comfortable with manipulating fabric to get different design results. Instructor will cover draping a cowl and butterfly twist. There a plenty of dress forms at the store, no need to bring your own. Bring pins, chalk/erasable pen, thread and needle, and balanced weave fabric such as muslin, silk charmeuse, or rayon (nothing with stretch in it). Instructor will have some sample fabrics available as well.
BIAS SILK TOP. Students will cut and sew a bias silk top with clear instructions and useful tools on how to successfully complete a bias garment. Students will choose from either a halter style or cowl draped neckline pattern.
SILK AND SEWING ON THE BIAS. Learn the special attributes of silk and cutting and sewing it on the bias. Detailed instruction on bias sewing also provided.
BIAS SEWING: FRENCH SEAMS AND SKINNY STRAPS. Learn how to make elegant bias tubes that can be used for straps, button loops or garment hanging loops, as well how to sew French seams for a bias garment such as camisole.
SILK KIMONO OR ROBE. Students will make a luxurious simple kimono or robe from a fine silk fabric. Details on working with silk, and constructing and finishing the garment will be provided.
THE COUTURE SKIRT. Students will learn to make a fitted straight skirt using couture techniques. Students will be shown how to make a toile that they can use for future skirts as well. The completed fashion fabric skirt will be finished with many fine details that make it distinctive from any ready-to-wear skirt. Class/student will meet with instructor regularly at designated times during progression of skirt, and get help with fitting and finishing. Most of the construction can be completed in Sit and Sew or at home. Price based on per hour of instruction outside of Sit and Sew.
BIAS SILK GOWN. Students will make a bias full length gown that harkens back to the Hollywood glamour of the 1930’s. Details on working with silk and the bias, and constructing and finishing the garment will be provided. Bring your favorite vintage or commercial pattern and machine.
*Classes are held at Textile Fabrics in Nashville, TN. The classes listed on this page are all taught by Emily Magli. See the Calendar of Events page for availability and time of all classes taught by Emily at Textile Fabrics. Registration for classes will be announced through Textile Fabrics monthly newsletter. If any of the classes above interest you and it is not currently on the schedule, you can contact me at emily@magli.com and we can make arrangements for you to learn your interest in one of the Sit and Sew classes. Effective January 1, 2024, Class prices are $40 for Sit and Sew classes (per 2.5 hours), and $100 per hour for private instruction or fitting. Fees for specialty classes are posted in the description of the event. Certain classes require prepayment and are non-refundable. See the Policy page for more information.
