Preparations

I put lots of thought into my classes and workshops, and am constantly thinking of new things to teach and new ways to explain key concepts and techniques.  This, of course, involves lots of throwing fabric about and sewing new samples.  I love my job.

The above fabric was also used in an ebellishments workshop last year.  That was fun preparation hard work, too!  It's currently being recycled into a Day Bag sample, which will also demonstrate how to turn fluid, flippy linen-viscose into a structured bag.  This will be for the Choosing and Using Interfacings workshop.

Choosing and Using Interfacings merges two "Sharper Edge" classes.  As well as learning about the different types of interfacings and their uses, we'll also cover sewing, pressing and bulk-reduction techniques, to give your bags and purses (or any other project) super-sharp lines and edges.

 Simultaneously, I'm working on new samples for my Zippers for Bags class.  The title says it all, really - it's about applications for zippers that are used in bags and purses (not the standard clothing methods).  I'll be teaching this class at Addicted To Fabric in Canberra, as well as in my studio. 
 I'm working through as many internal and external zipper pockets as I think will fit into a day-long class.  I also have a new trick for an old standard zipper closure (below), which makes me feel a bit clever... I love that.   There's always more to learn with what I do, which is what keeps me excited about making and re-making samples of my patterns.

 For those of you who missed last year's PATTERNMAKING FOR BAGS 1, I'm running it again.  This is one that will make YOU feel very clever, when you learn how to bring your bag ideas into reality. 

I'm also following on with Patternmaking for Bags 2, which is (obviously) a follow-on from the first course.   It's all about pleats, gathers, darts, shaping and draping - generally getting a bit fancy with your pattern designs. 



If you can competently make your own bag patterns, but want to extend the repertoire a bit, you might be able to skip Patternmaking 1 and go straight to the second course.  Contact us to discuss if you feel that you'd like to only do Patternmaking 2.

You may or may not know that in my studio classes, I like to keep things small, intimate and not crowded.  I only take 6 participants in a class, so that you'll each get loads of attention and hands-on help from me (and nice food and drink).  Places book up fast, so it's a god idea to get in quickly.

There is one place left in this Saturday's Purse Frame class, so if you want it, GRAB IT NOW.  I'll also be running another one on 14th April (apologies to anyone I told 15th April!).  Contact the office if you'd like to book into that.

I've split the former "Bag in a Day" class into two, to cover the basic techniques for bag-making in one day and the fancy stuff (zipper gussets, purse feet and trickier straps) in another class.   People always came to a Bag in a Day class with different expectations, and it was always a juggle for me to make sure that people learned the basics while others focused on more advanced techniques. 

We now have Beginners Bag in a Day and Customised Bags In a Day.  Of course, if you want the slow, careful approach (with time to soak it in and practise), I also have a weeknight Better Bags course, which covers the content of both of the day classes.

There are lots of other courses and workshops to choose from, and I'll be adding more along the way, but this blog post is going to get too long if I keep listing and explaining them.  I'd suggest that you pop over to the listings here and consider the possibilities.   Let me know if you need any further information.