Sewing It Up: Choosing the Right Fabric, Trims & Notions for Your Project

Whether you're sewing your first garment or your fiftieth, success always starts with the right materials. Once you’ve selected a pattern, the next—and arguably most crucial—step is choosing the correct fabric, trims, and notions.

Let’s walk through that process:

1. Start with the Pattern

Your pattern is your blueprint. Flip to the back of the envelope or instruction sheet to find a list of suggested fabrics. These recommendations aren’t just suggestions—they’re tested options that will behave well with the design. If your pattern calls for light-to-medium-weight wovens like cotton lawn or poplin, resist the temptation to swap in something stretchy unless you understand how it might affect the fit and drape.

Look Good, Do Good: A Guide to Elevated Sustainable Fashion

We’ve all been there, standing in front of a closet full of clothes, yet feeling like we have nothing to wear. But what if you could create an effortlessly chic wardrobe while doing your part for the planet? With a bit of thought and a touch of creativity, you can elevate your outfits, look great, and feel good knowing you’re supporting a more sustainable future. Let’s explore a few ways to update your wardrobe that are kind to both you and the environment.

Why Learning Fashion Design Early is a Game-Changer for Creative Kids and Teens

Fashion is more than just clothes—it's a form of self-expression, a platform for creativity, and even a pathway to exciting career opportunities. For kids and teens, diving into the world of fashion design can be an incredibly enriching experience. From developing technical skills to boosting confidence, learning fashion design early offers benefits that extend far beyond the sewing machine.

Developing Technical Sewing Skills for Fashion Design: Key Techniques Every Student Should Maste

If you're dreaming of becoming a fashion designer, there’s one thing you can’t skip: mastering the technical sewing skills that bring your creative visions to life. While the world of fashion is full of bold designs and artistic expression, it’s the technical foundation that helps transform ideas into wearable garments. Let’s dive into the key sewing techniques every aspiring designer should master to build a strong foundation for their fashion career.

7 Compelling Reasons to Learn the Craft of Sewing

Sewing is an ancient skill dating back to the Paleolithic era, when ancient peoples joined pieces of fur or leather using needles made from bone, antlers or ivory and thread made from the sinew of animals. As early as 4,000 BC, Middle Eastern weavers stitched natural fibers to sew clothes. Since then, sewing has become an artistic craft that anyone can pick up as a hobby, career, or even a business opportunity. Even if you have zero knowledge about the basics of sewing, it’s a relatively simple activity that surprisingly offers numerous benefits. The possibilities with sewing are as boundless as one’s imagination, making it a worthwhile and exciting endeavor for anyone curious enough to try it.

Student Highlight - Zahra

Meet - Zahra, one of our young and talented Fashion Studies students. Zahra started studying #allthethings (including Design, Illustration and Sewing) with us over the Summer and has continued to take classes throughout the Fall to work on her arts-based high school applications. She’s been busy sewing up garments as well as honing her drawing skills so that she can present her work and be ready for what High School has to offer.

Switching to Sustainable Fashion Made Simple with These Helpful Ways

Most of us are looking for ways to live more sustainable and less wasteful lives. We’re thinking of how we can be more environmentally friendly and do our bit for the planet. One big problem when it comes to wastage is fast fashion. Fast fashion is typically cheap items that are made and sold cheaply, using poor-quality materials that won’t last.

My Wool Shirt - Learning to copy my favorite shirt, through PRACTICE & mistakes

My mom once told me sewing was a good way to have more clothes.

Her advice likely came from an economic standpoint, but I think she had more in mind. Last summer I decided to explore what she said and set out to recreate my favorite wool shirt. Merino wool is renowned for its softness and ability to deflect odors and maintain a comfortable temperature whether hot or cold. Its price, however, reflects those super-powers.

Learning to Sew - A Student's Experience

Sewist, Sewer, Someone Cool Enough To Sew Own Clothes (SECSOC) – whatever it’s called, my question was, “How do I become one?” Sure, I took Home Ec (now Life Skills) and learned to make a draft dodging sock stuffed with rice. I distinctly remember when it developed a hole (along my stitching line), and the rice went everywhere.

Student Highlight - Lacie Schwend

We are excited to Introduce you to our Student of The month Lacie Schwend. She's been taking our Online Fashion Sewing and Beginning Pattern Making with Christine in our Online Fashion Studies program. Lacie lives in Wyoming and has a really interesting background. We love her Cruella Costume that she made, using techniques she learned in class with Christine.

Encouraging Children While They are Learning to Sew

I’ve been teaching kids about fashion and sewing, now for almost 15 years. It’s a joy for me to see the excitement children bring to the classroom, while they learn to use the sewing machine and sew their own clothes. It’s both a technical skill as well as creative experience which uses all sides of their brains and gets them super jazzed as they progress from one level to the next. The thing they need most in this beginning stage (which could last years - more on that later) is Encouragement! Encouragement might look a little different from a parent's perspective than it does from a child’s point of view.

Let’s talk a little bit about the process in relation to kids.

Interview with Tayma Martins - Designer and Sewing Room Student

Designer Tayma Martins has been working with instructor, Christine Knobel for the last while. Christine and I were really impressed with her drive and work ethic and have both fallen in love with the nostalgic chic of her fashion collection. We hope you enjoy this interview with this budding designer

Fun, Useful Skills to Learn During Self-Isolation

Are you spending more time at home than ever before? Sure, being cooped up comes with some downsides, but you don’t have to allow yourself to become stir-crazy. You can make the most of your self-isolation by picking up a few new skills.

Whether you’re aiming to turn your newly acquired skills into a career or simply want to fill your time with productive activities, learning something new can add joy and excitement to your routine. Here are some fun skills worth learning while self-isolating in 2021.

Fashion Studies

1. Start with the Pattern

My mom once told me sewing was a good way to have more clothes.

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