This class is suitable for experienced sewists – this means you’ve been sewing for at least a couple of years, have sewn fabrics other than stable wovens and knits (such as sheers or satins), maybe tackled a couple of larger projects like a coat or an evening gown.

Let out your inner sewing scientist! Learn to do perfect rolled hems, neckline finishes, pattern matching and much more. Maryanne’s 40 years experience are yours for the day in a huge mad skills extravaganza.

Instead of making a garment, you’ll be practising finishing techniques that are demonstrated to you. By the end you’ll have a series of samples you made yourself of the techniques, attached to notes sheets that you can use as reference in your sewing.

This is what experienced sewist Lauren had to say after attending this class:

“I still can’t quite believe I managed to get that silk chiffon to do something that even vaguely resembled what it was supposed to look like!  I really found it so useful to be learning these techniques on samples, rather than getting stressed out that I might ruin a garment!  And it was so much nicer to learn all this stuff from you, in person, rather than from a book or internet article/blog post […] Best day sewing I’ve had for ages :)”

We’ll be working with the wispiest silk chiffon and the slipperiest satins, because if you want to learn to tame a tiger, you don’t want to practise on a kitten, right?

Taping and pattern matching – just two of the techniques we’ll be sampling.

We’ll be sampling at least these techniques, maybe more by request:

• Bias facing on a curve (think bias finishing necklines and armholes)
• Chiffon – finishing seams, roll hems and necklines  (this will apply to all wovens)
• Pattern matching a pocket
• single ended and double ended darts
• Taping and easing
• Piping

Tuition includes all the textiles and trims we will be using on the day. If you can, bring your own sewing machine, or use one of ours.

This class is taught by our Mad Skills expert, Maryanne Cathro.

To register or inquire about this class, you can email us at info@mademarioncraft.co.nz   Please specify the class and date in your email.