Beginning Sewing

Teacher: Cathy Hawley

Grades:   6-12

Meets: Tuesday

Class Description:   A child’s preteen and teen years are the perfect time to learn the art of sewing. It opens the door to creativity and imagination and develops skills which last a lifetime and provide great pleasure.

This hands-on class introduces the student to hand sewing skills through embroidery. Basic stitches are taught and practiced throughout the semester. Projects include stamped cross stitch tea towel and embroidered, embellished pillowcase.  Additionally, the student will be guided through 5 other projects, chosen to develop sewing skills and knowledge. The final project will be to complete a simple garment. The student may choose, pajama pants, elastic waist skirt or gathered apron with patch pocket.

Topics covered during the first semester include:

• tools used in sewing, cutting, measuring, pressing

• sewing machine basics, parts, threading

• how to read a pattern, sizing, measurements, symbols

• fabric construction, fibers, content, selection

• layout, cutting, marking and stitching

• adding a casing, gathering, adding a patch pocket

• introduction to Crazy Quilting as time permits

 First semester projects include: (note projects may not necessarily be completed in this order)

• cross stitch tea towel

• Hand-made pillowcase, embellished with embroidery, eyelet lace and ribbon trim

• needle book

• pin cushion

• picture frame pillow

• fabric notebook cover with patch pocket

• simple garment of student’s choice

Second semester students will learn:

zippers, facings, sleeves, gathering, button holes. Students will make another garment. There will be a quilting option if there is interest the last 6 weeks.

Maximum number of students: 6

Cost per student (numeric only): $30 per month

Homework:  See "Projects" listed above in Class Description

Supplies that the students should bring to class: 

Required:   Let’s Sew: A Beginner’s Sewing Guide by Nancy Lieman  ISBN: 0-931071-54-2

Helpful but not required:

• Simple Embroidery (Klutz) by Marilyn V. Green ISBN: 1-57054-957-5

• Sewing machine in good working order, 8” plastic embroidery hoop, basic sewing supplies, scissors for cutting fabric and fabric and notions for specified projects. Complete list of supplies listed below.

• Teacher will provide: Praise, patience and encouragement, cross stitch transfers for tea towel and pillowcase, tea towel, embroidery floss, embroidery needle, fabric/supplies for needle case and pin cushion projects, iron and ironing board.

Complete Supply List for Sewing

• Textbook as specified in course description

• Sewing Machine in good working order

• Sewing machine needles for woven cotton fabrics

• Fabric Shears (purchase a good quality dressmaking shears if possible, dull scissors are very frustrating to any seamstress) 

• Pins (I recommend the ones with the colored ball-type heads.)

• Seam gauge

• Seam ripper

• Tape measure

• Water soluble fabric marker

• 8”round plastic embroidery hoop

• 4 1/2” embroidery scissors (optional)

• Embroidery floss (if student desires additional colors not supplied by the teacher)

Supplies listed by project:

Note: Preliminary list, minor Adjustments in yardages may be made by the teacher as necessary. Teacher will add or subtract projects as necessary to keep with the pace and ability of the class.

Cross stitch tea towel

• Supplies provided by teacher

 Needle book project

• Supplies provided by teacher

 Pin cushion project

• Supplies provided by teacher

 Hand-made pillow case project

• 1 2/3 yds.    45” wide White 100% cotton fabric or 100% white muslin fabric

• White thread

• 1 ½ yds. White eyelet trim

• 2yds.  5/8” wide gross grain ribbon in color selected by student to compliment       embroidery work

• Thread to match ribbon

Picture frame pillow project

• 14”x14” pillow form

• Simple picture from color book

• 12”x12” scrap white cotton or White muslin fabric from previous project

• ½ yrd.  Cotton fabric- color and pattern of student’s choice to compliment picture

• 14”x14” fusible fleece

• Ultra fine point black Sharpie marker

• Crayons 24 count or larger

Notebook cover project

• Binder 1 ½” or 2”

• ½ yrd. 45” wide cotton fabric student’s choice

• 1/3 yrd.coordinating fabric for patch pocket

• Thread to match fabric

• 1 yard gross grain ribbon

Simple garment of student’s choice

• Pattern

• Fabric

• Thread

• Elastic

• Yardage and additional notions determined by garment selection

Note: Make a point to get on the mailing list for JoAnn Fabrics and Hancock Fabrics to receive money-saving coupons.  Hobby Lobby also has fabric, pattern and notion specials.

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