After forty years of teaching, I've come to the conclusion that a few changes are in order. I'm not quite ready to close the teaching door and fully retire, but starting this Fall, I will be offering private lessons only. My place in the sewing community is still to support all of you with the technical knowledge and passion for beautifully fitting clothing that will help you grow your skills and develop confidence and creativity

As we begin again this Fall, why not challenge yourself with a project from an independent pattern maker? The sewing world continues to expand outside the Big Four pattern companies. Inspired designs, PDF options, larger scale graphics and sizing geared toward real women characterize these innovative designers. International activity is especially strong , with Style Arc (Australia), Merchant & Mills (England), and Tessuti (New Zealand) worth exploring. Review sites like The Foldline can introduce you to pattern lines you're not familiar with.

Online fabric sources may intrigue you this year. Although we all want to support our local shops, many of us have no resource nearby for quality fabrics. An almost limited range of fabrics is available to discover online. Marci Tilton and Surge Fabric are two of my favorites. You may notice that many online retailers describe fabrics by weight, the industrial way. Don't be intimidated by this. Take advantage of this additional information about the fabric to help you make the best choice for your garment. I've included a fabric weight chart under the News tab to help you.

So on to a new season, filled with satisfying sewing! Classes begin the week of September 15. See you then.

Warmly,
Kathie