Registration for All Summer classes is now open. Summer classes will begin in July 5th for Kids and Teens camps.  The adult, 6 week session, will begin the week of July 5th, 2010.

We are trying something new for 2 morning classes. Both Tuesday and Friday mornings have a few spaces open.  For those of you who have taken classes with me before, you can reserve and pay for the dates you can come sew.  We will not be able to offer makeups if you cannot make it, but, you can come when your schedule permits.  Space is limited to 2 students per class per week, so sign up soon, so as not to miss out.  The registration form reflects this option.  You can check as many boxes in one registration as you plan to use.  The fees will be added up when you submit your form and proceed to checkout.  This will be only for the Tuesday and Friday morning classes.

We are excited about the new Galaxy of Sewing Techniques classes with Mickey Hudson and the Serger class with Jan Bickford. They both worked together for years at Nashua Sew ‘N’ Vac.  Now, Mickey travels the country teaching the Islander techniques.  Jan, co-owner of Unique Boutique Boston, is one of the foremost Serger experts in the country.  They have earned the nicknames of Shortcut Queen and Serger Queen (respectively.) We are lucky to have them share their expertise with us.  Not only do they know what they are doing, they know how to teach those techniques to you, in a very clear way.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity.  I am looking forward to sitting in on both of their classes.

We welcome any level of experience.  Classes are taught by Laura Wirkkala, unless noted otherwise.

If you have never sewn before, don’t worry, we can teach you. If you have loads of experience, we will have some techniques to make your sewing tasks easier and improve the quality of your results. Kids 9+ through adults are encouraged to attend.  If you want your child to take classes but s/he is younger, we may consider accepting him/her if we can meet them and see if our classes are appropriate for them.

Camps for Kids (Grades 3-6) and Teens (Last update to this post – 7/6/10)

Camps meet for 1 week, M-F, limit of 5 students. Cost: $225 No experience required.

Pre-Summer  June 28-July 2, 2010     Kids  9:30am-12:30pm

Session 1   July 5-9, 2010    Kids  1:30-4:30pm

Session 2   July 12-16, 2010  Teens  1:30-4:30pm 2 spaces left 

Session 3   July 19-23, 2010       Kids  1:30-4:30pm 2 spaces left

Session 4   July 26-30, 2010     Teens  1:30-4:30pm 1 space left

Session 5   August 2-6, 2010   FULL! Kids  1:30-4:30pm

Session 6   August 9- 13,  22010    Teens 1:30-4:30 1 space left

Session 7   August 16-20, 2010    Kids  1:30-4:30pm 2 spaces left

Session 8   August 23-27, 2010   FULL! Teens  1:30-4:30pm 

Adult Daytime Classes  Begin the week of July 5th-10, 2010

All of these classes will meet for 6 weeks / 3 hours per class Cost: $240 No Sewing Experience Required, unless otherwise noted.  All classes are taught by Laura Wirkkala, unless stated.

Tuesday morning Sewing Class
9:30am-12:30pm
Limit students 5

Wednesday morning Sewing Class
9:30am-12:30pm
Limit students 5, almost full, 1 space left

Serger Class with Jan Bickford. In this class, Jan will take you through your serger so that you will understand how it works and why it does what it does and how you can get it to do what you want.  You will learn about knits of various types and ultimately sew a knit project of your own during the 6 weeks of class.  There is a special supplies list for this class which we will forward to you.  If you have a serger, bring it.  If you do not, we can arrange to have one here for you to use.  That way, you can determine if you want to buy one in the future. Thursday morning
9:30am-12:30pm
Limit students 5, Cost: $270

Friday mornings
9:30am-12:30pm
Limit students 5

Adult Evening Classes

All of these classes will meet for 6 weeks / 3 hours per class Cost: $240 (unless otherwise noted.)  All classes are taught by Laura Wirkkala unless stated.

No Sewing Experience Required unless noted.

Monday Evening Sewing Class
7-10pm
Limit 5

Knitting, NO Experience required!  Taught by Liane Weber Tuesday Evenings 6:30-9pm                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Cost $195 for 6 weekly 2.5 hour classes (+$10 kit fee to be paid to instructor)
Limit 6

Galaxy of Island Sewing Techniques Taught by Mickey Hudson.  In this class, Mickey will be covering a variety of the following sewing techniques (this list is subject to change):

• Pattern preparation. Preventing puckers and pulls, and seams that allow for easier construction.
• Sophisticated waistband
• Sleeve heads
• Bound buttonholes
• Corded buttonholes
• Corded insertion
• Make your own cording
• An answer to stitch in the ditch
• Working with hems on trouble fabrics
• Mitering: mitering on different angles
• French binding
• Decorative stitched hem
• Shoulder pads, even if you don’t like them, it is good to know how to make them                                for when you do need them. (this pattern is free with the class.)

Wednesday Evening Sewing Class  7-10pm
Limit 5

Thursday Evening Clothing Taught by Denise Marios-Wolf                                                      6:30-9:30pm                                                                                                                                                                 Limit 5

Saturday Morning Clothing  Taught by Denise
9:30am-12:30pm
Limit of students: 5

Saturday Afternoon Clothing  Taught by Denise
1:30-4:30pm
Limit students 5

This was last updated on 7/6/10. In the meantime, students may register and classes may be full which are listed as open here.  I will try to keep this current.  If you want to be wait listed, please note that in our contact/registration form. Some of this schedule may change, additional classes may be added as this session approaches.

Mickey Hudson

What will Mickey be teaching in this 4 week, “Hands On” Class?

Mickey gave us a free demonstration of the Islander techniques (read more about the Islander system below) on Monday evening May 24th.  16 people attended and enjoyed seeing new ways to sew.  Following consensus of the attendees’ surveys, we have formulated what Mickey will be teaching this 4 week session.  There is a kit fee ($20 total paid to Mickey at the first meeting) for the Zippers and Industrial Shortcuts, so you do not need to bring any fabric for those 2 parts of the class. You will need your machine and sewing kit for the whole 4 weeks.  YES, YOU WILL BE SEWING!  THIS IS NOT A DEMONSTRATION, IT IS A “TRY IT FOR YOURSELF” Class.  For the Shirt-making part, you will receive a supplies list once you are registered/paid for the class.  You do not need to have attended the Free Demonstration we hosted, in order to attend Mickey’s class.  Though, you will get the most out of it if you have already sewn garments.

Mickey will share several of the industrial techniques used in ready-to-wear garments, including:

• cutting
• pattern preparation
• handling fabric without pins, and more.
• Learn secrets for handling curves
• crossing seams
• special methods for pockets
• hems
• flat felled seams

You will learn how to do a variety of Zipper insertions:

• Slotted Zipper (centered)
• Lapped Zipper
• Invisible Zipper
• Placket (mock fly front) Zipper
• Fly front (like jeans with a fly shield)

Shirts Etc!    Shirts made easy.

Mickey reveals industrial sewing secrets and techniques that yield professional-looking, top quality shirts for men and women.  All the techniques you’ll learn will work just as well on other sewing projects:

• Pockets
• Yokes
• 2-piece collar and stand
• Sleeve setting
• Cuffs
• Pressing and much, much more.
• All with NO pins, NO basting, NO trimming.

Whether you sew for fashion or for fun, embellishments or embroidery, wearable art or quilting, a classic shirt goes a long way for all things.

Mickey will also be teaching this Summer on Tuesday evenings.  Mickey will be teaching a Galaxy of Islander techniques, (more about that in the next few weeks.)  Plus, she will be working with some of the youth camps.  In the Fall, Mickey will be working on Pants Pattern drafting and sewing techniques.We are lucky to have her available right now.  Usually, she is on the road, sharing her love of sewing with people across the US and Canada.  Mickey is taking a break from her travels to work on her pattern line and hone the new set of classes she will be offering when she is on the road again.

Margaret Islander, founder of the Islander Sewing System

So What is the Islander System?

This is what Mickey says about it:

Margaret Islander promotes a sewing method based on industrial shortcuts adapted for the home machine. Although many of the techniques are based on factory methods, Margaret is quick to point out that her aim is to make sewing a joyful experience. She believes “Sewing is an art form. If you look at it as just practical, you will miss the joy.”

The Islander Sewing System emphasizes that the key to creativity is total awareness of materials and machines. The techniques are so deceptively simple that they become second nature. This means that you can quickly turn your ideas into reality without having to resort to complicated and cumbersome methods.

Margaret’s 35-year background of training and experience cover garment production comprehensively (in addition to her prior background in textiles, couture, fitting and tailoring). As a technician at a Los Angeles training center for garment industry workers, she mastered every aspect of production, including speed systems, production sewing, cutting, pattern drafting and pattern grading. Based on this training, she developed her first “Industrial Shortcuts for Home Sewing” course in the early 1970′s. As the demand for her expertise grew, she founded the Islander School of Fashion Arts.

*********************************************

Mickey modeling one of her shirts

About Mickey, in her own words:

Like many young girls, I learned how to sew from my mother, who did not really enjoy sewing nor was she very good at it.  Despite the lack of encouragement and formal instruction, I continued sewing for myself and family members. My early projects were all variety of monstrosity, but I had fallen in love with the art of sewing.  Determined to learn correctly, I signed up for a beginner-sewing course.  This class was a turning point for me. The instructor had taught me what the grain line was and how to sew a straight seam.  All those years of sewing and figuring things out for myself had paid off.  When I finished the course, the instructor hired me as a teacher.  I started with my own beginner-sewing course. I was on a new career path, and have been teaching and working in the sewing world ever since. I started with beginners and now teach all skill levels.

I am also a Certified Islander Sewing Systems instructor. I am known far and wide as the “Shortcut Queen”.  Those who see my work are amazed at how little time it takes me to get such professional results.  The Islander Sewing System uses the same professional techniques used in the garment industry. No pins, no basting, no kidding!

My greatest reward is watching my students’ excitement and confidence grow as their sewing skills develop and improve.

Liz White, Mickey Hudson and Laura showing 2 of the 3 shirts Laura made, using the techniques learned in Mickey's Shirt, etc. class.

Liz and I have been taking Mickey’s classes together. Liz, being a pin-a-holic, amazingly sewed 2 shirts of her own without pins!  A miracle witnessed by me.  I made the red shirt first.  After having cut it out, I spent under 3 hours sewing everything except attaching the cuffs and working the buttonholes.  The colorful dotted shirt I made a couple days later.  It has princess seams, 3/4 length sleeves with turnback cuffs and stacked buttons.  Both of these shirts were made without pins, and using the Islander Sewing System.

Walter in 3rd of 3 shirts made by Laura

Walter is wearing the 3rd shirt I made in 6 days.  Again, I used the Islander techniques.  Walter and I bought the fabric for this shirt at Portsmouth Fabric Co, Portsmouth, NH, while we were on vacation in February.  I matched the pattern across the front opening.  You cannot see it in the picture above, but Walter chose some really cool buttons.  They are made of Mother of Pearl.  The background is black and there are Asian characters on each button.

Here is a closeup:

Close up of Walter's Japanese Shirt

All the rage here at Laura’s Sewing School, we are having such fun and interest in making Amy Butler’s gumdrop pillows that I have scheduled a one day workshop for us to go wild and make them together.  I will order the stuffing and patterns and you will purchase the fabric of your choice.  You can see the details (dimensions, materials list) about the pattern on Amy Butler’s website.
These cushions are made of drapery weight fabric.  You can find that weight of fabric here in Arlington, at Fabric Corner, at Freddy Farkel’s in Watertown (also known as Fabric Showplace) and online.  Fabric Corner just ordered a large selection of Amy Butler home dec fabrics and they have received 12 of them! They will go fast, especially because they will be posting them for online sale, too. So, you may want to get there as soon as you can to pick up the fabric.  If the weight is fine, it can be any brand of fabric.  You just don’t want a fabric which is too loosely woven, or unravels easily.  Fabric.com has a nice selection of Amy Butler printed twills if you want to use her fabric designs.  There are 8 panels, all the same, which are sewn together like sections of an orange.  They are packed with a LOT of stuffing.  I found hand sewing the first one, Amy Lou actually did that work since it was her project, rather tedious.  So, when I made MY first one, I used an invisible zipper to close the pillow once it was stuff.  Much easier and quicker.

Kids absolutely love this pillow. They have found it as a great place to sit and bounce and roll on or off.  Adults do find it useful as a footrest.   You can make them with one fabric or two.  If you cut it from one fabric, you fussy cut it, making sure that it is cut in the very same place on the fabric, for all the pieces.  This makes interesting, kaleidoscopic patterns, especially if the fabric has symmetry.  You can see this on both of Amy’s pillows.  Even though I used 2 fabrics in the pillows for my nieces, I did cut all of the large-scale, patterned fabric in the same place.  There is an octagonal patch on the top of the cushion.  I fussy cut that, centering it on a flower or pattern.

I propose that the workshop be on Sunday, March 15th.  From 10am-4pm.  That should give us plenty of time to work and eat and stuff and finish one gumdrop cushion.  The next one, you will be able to do on your own and much faster.  I will provide the stuffing and the pattern. You provide the fabric, thread (good quality polyester like Gutermann or Mettler) and an invisible zipper in a matching color.  The only part of the zipper to show will be the tab.  Buy a 12-14″ zipper or longer.  It will work for either size pillow.  And, if you have to buy a longer zipper to get a color match, it is very easy to shorten.  Better too long than too short!  The Fabric Corner sells invisible zippers and the presser foot to apply it to your project.  I just talked to them about ordering enough for all of you.  The presser foot is adaptable to most sewing machines and can be used over and over again.  It is reasonably priced and worth buying.

I will have to price out the patterns and stuffing.  So, I will have to get back to you on the price for the class.  I think that we can have 5, possibly 6 students for the day.  Let me know if you want to take the class and I will let you know the price.  If the 22nd of March is better than the 15th, let me know.  I am flexible about the date.  If you are available during the day, M-F, I could possibly meet with you for a workshop on a Thursday.  I am excited about this project.

Keep warm and safe and cozy and we will see each other soon.

Laura

I have a special interest in this since my daughter is in 3rd grade this year. She has an American Girl Doll “from” Colonial Williamsburg. Elizabeth is her name. The February vacation (2006) after she received the doll, we visited Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. I have a friend, Amy, who coaches the Fifes and Drums corps there and often plays music on flute and piano for events in Williamsburg historic area. The visitor center allows parents to rent costumes for the children to wear. They are simple white dresses and mop caps for girls. I have to admit that I cannot remember what they had for boys, other than 3 cornered hats. It was fun for my daughter to walk around wearing the dress and cap, carrying her doll, who was in her own costume, too.

I remember when Amy started working there over 10 years ago. She talked to me about how she had to make her own dress. It had to be out of certain materials and sewn all by hand!

Well, I am not so interested in being that authentic. Meaning, I plan to use a sewing machine for most of the construction. Luckily, McCall’s Pilgrim or McCall’s Fancier Colonial and Simplicity have issued patterns for different eras in American history. Unfortunately, these patterns are only available for girls. They offer no patterns of this era for boys. The following do have patterns for both. There is a company in Colorado, Patterns of Time, which offers many historic patterns. Sewing Central offers patterns and material. You may find Kannik’s Korner on the previous 2 sites, but they do offer a few patterns for girls and boys. Harper House offers many patterns from various eras. Their link takes you to the page for Children’s Colonial clothing. All of these linked names will take you as close as I can get you to pages for patterns for Children. You may find it fun to explore the sites. I have never used the patterns of these independent companies. They may be best suited to an experienced sewer.

The patterns vary in difficulty. Last year, I made costumes for my neighbor and her daughter. They were very simple, and we can use the patterns I drafted, too.

I have purchased the McCall’s and Simplicity patterns so that I can make samples for you to see. I may end up making the more elaborate dress while we are working on your projects. I will hang it near the front window so you you can observe the progress of the outfit. As soon as I finish the first dress, I will post it online here. I will find a pattern for a boy’s outfit, too. They can be easier to manufacture from their current wardrobe by altering pants and dressing with the right accessories.

I have been trying to find a time in my class schedule that would work for us to meet as a group on this topic of sewing. I would like to propose Wednesday evenings. Or, it may be possible to do a Thursday 11am-2pm time slot. If those times do not work for you, join any class. My classes allow you to work on what you want at your own pace, so it would be fine to come at a class time that is convenient. Though, I think that working together on these outfits together can be helpful, inspiring and a lot of fun.

Here at Laura’s Sewing School, we LOVE to teach beginners. We love all of our students, but we are happy to open the fun world of sewing to new enthusiasts. I have yet to meet a machine I couldn’t figure out. And, I will be able to demystify its workings for you. We can make some fun projects right from the beginning.

There are still spaces left in the classes starting in January 2008. So, give us a call or send an email. We are happy to answer any of your questions and if you want, sign you up for a class.

Vicki has worked on contract for Wirkkala Designs for many years.  She has been a great sounding board for me.  She embodies the teaching philosophy I have.  She is flexible and encouraging and positive.  Don’t miss this chance to get some great insight on how to make your patterns fit you beautifully!

Begins January 9, 2007.  Cost is $210 for 6 weekly, 3 hour classes.  You must be an experienced seamstress to take this class.  Working with a commercial pattern, of your choice, you will be making a “muslin” of it to learn how to adjust to your body and transfer those markings and knowledge to your pattern.  Feel free to contact us for more details.