Make A Tailored Vest- Tailoring Skills Fundamentals

About this experience

We've got lots of garment-makers here, and it's time to bring in some specialty tailoring skills!

Prerequisites: Students should be comfortable with sewing with a machine, have made several garments at minimum, and are looking for a new challenge. Certain parts of the class will move quickly to get to the challenging aspects, and there may be homework! There will be hand-sewing so some familiarity and dexterity with hand sewing will help you get the most out of this class.

In this 12 hour course (6x2hr or 4x 3hr), students will create a classic tailored blazer with darts, welt pockets and hand-sewn buttonholes. Along the way, you'll develop countless skills to elevate your garment sewing skills and establish a careful, methodical way of working that gives confidence to
stitch complex construction details.

Materials Required:

Pattern: Belvedere Vest (included in fee). This is a menswear pattern but very easily adaptable to women's bodies, and contains all the details we want to work on. If you are making it for a loved one, please come with detailed measurements taken!

Material: As a film costumer and tailor, Lori has excellent sources, as such, she will have kits available to purchase that include a classic and high quality material, interfacing, lining and pockets. ($50 payable on first day to Lori directly, as she is sourcing it from Vancouver) If you have fabric already, you may bring it! See the image for detailed requirements. Please let us know in the notes if you'd like to bring your own so she can plan. 

A rough breakdown of the course, of course things can change as the group needs are adjusted to! 

-Start by understanding the elements of a tailored garment by observing a de-constructed vest.

-Discuss fabric choices, check over pattern, prep fabric, cut fabric

-interfacing, pocketing, lining. mark all cut pieces ready for constuction

-apply interfacing, sew darts, sew welt pockets, pocket bags, grading seams,

-Sew back lining,  front edge facing and lining, armholes,rgrading seams,
pressing, attach front and back pieces including back lining belt

-Understiching techniques, pressing, attach buckle or cinch, close in the
lining with hand stiching. mark buttonholes, tutorial for a professional
keyhole buttonhole by hand

-Mark and stitch hand made buttonholes. Final press!

*Also note: This truly is a learning journey, with a teacher guiding each of you towards your sewing goals. It's a small group class, and people work at their own pace. Students who prefer to take a little more time, or who miss a class may need to work on homework between classes, or book in for Open Sew time. We have Supported Open Sew on a regular schedule, as well as non-instructional Sewcials and open Studio time that can be booked if you don't have a sewing machine at home. We do our best to encourage and support you in finishing your project, but make no guarantee of completion if students miss classes or need extra time. We are all individuals in learning style!