Classes & Private Lessons

We teach beginning through advanced sewing.   Classes are held in Smyrna.   Contact sew3022atl@gmail.com for updates and additional classes.  Private lessons are available.    . Additional classes in men's shirts, sewing with knits, designing from your fitted block, fine dress making and trench coat are available

Moulage to Master Pattern private lessons
Personal Fitting class requires intermediate to advanced sewing skills

This is an strong intermediate to advanced class designed for students to learn to fit and make personal blocks / master patterns to use in sewing for themselves.  Prerequisite are Basics of Sewing and Garment Making classes or approval by instructor. This is a personal fitting and pattern making program. Students will achieve a CUSTOM fitted block for themselves and tools to understand how that was achieved. They will then use the bust dart block developed in the class to make the shoulder seam and armscye princess patterns. From the fitted bust dart block students will make a top or blouse and learn how to make facings, add button plackets and collars. Students also learn how to move darts and change necklines.  A copy of this custom fitted pattern will be used to develop the shoulder seam and armscye princess patterns. With these patterns students will make a top or jacket. Instruction includes how to add ease and make adjustments for a jacket as well as discussions about silhouette and proportions. A pattern analysis process will be explained a well as how to add details from commercial patterns to the custom pattern. The lab portion of the class will include making three garments, one jacket and two tops. This class requires intermediate to advanced sewing skills. Please contact instructor at Deanne Smith at sew3022atl@gmail.com for questions or more information. The muslin of the block is sewn from a bust dart blouse block pattern.  

Students must be proficient in garment sewing, sewing terminology, applying zippers, making darts, setting sleeves, facings and interfacings.  This class is structured as 10 weekly  two  hour lessons.  The cost is $1,000 and is payable in two installments of $500.  

Private lessons are currently offered.  This class consists of ten weekly two hour lessons of instruction and lab.  Students work at their own pace.   The total cost of the ten lessons is $1000  payable in two installments of $500 due at the first and sixth lessons.  

The class includes instruction and lab work on accurate measuring and cutting, how to plan your sewing projects, seams and seam treatments including French seams and how to choose the appropriate seam treatment for your project and fabric, closures, zippers, buttons and buttonholes, how to apply facings and interfacing, darts, bias bindings and piping, waistbands, fitting a skirt, lining and hemming. 

In the class you will make a throw pillow with a zipper and learn how to turn corners, make a tote bag and learn how to plan, make and apply pockets, add lining and handles with interfacing, make a scarf using jersey or chiffon and how to handle those fabrics.  You will take your measurements, apply those to the skirt block pattern and make a lined skirt with a zipper, darts and hand sewn blind hem.  Men students make trousers drafted to their measurements.

This program is designed to give you the skills to sew beginner to advanced beginner projects.  Although there are class projects each project is specifically designed to systematically build your skills and proficiency.

The objective is to provide the skills and knowledge to complete your own sewing projects. 

Contact  Deanne Smith at sew3022atl@gmail.com for for class times available. 

This class includes Pattern Theory: How to select and use patterns for successful garment sewing. Why to draw in seam lines on your pattern pieces. Reviewing patterns for technical quality. How and why to check patterns for general ease, balance, sleeve ease, side seams, and walk in the sleeves. How to add or subtract ease as desired. Reading and interpreting pattern instructions. Tips on how to choose the right fabric for your project. Choosing the lining or interlining and interfacing. Learn about drape and hand as well as weight and weft and warp. Learn how these interact with your garment. Learn how to identify the suggested fabrics. Discussion of sources of fabrics; local retail and online retailers. In this class students will learn about cutting and grainlines, staystitching and understitching as well as planning seam allowances and seam treatments in making a top or blouse and an unlined jacket with hong kong seams. This class is appropriate for a beginner that is proficient on the sewing machine and is familiar with sewing and pattern terminology. More advanced students will learn advanced sewing techniques as well. Contact instructor  Deanne Smith at sew3022atl@gmail.com for questions and more information.