Private Sewing and Design Lessons with Maegan McWade

Whether you are an absolute beginner, design student or an experienced designer, Maegan caters each lesson to your specific goals such as,

• Learning the basics of using a sewing machine. Ex: domestic sewing machine, serger, cover stitch, industrial machine.

• Following and understanding commercial patterns.

• Block making and pattern drafting.

• Fittings, tailoring and alterations for professional such as stylist and costume designers.

• Portfolio building and small business consultation
  

  When booking your lesson time, specify what your learning goals are and we will design your lesson to suit.

Tailoring Basics

2-hour workshop
1 class
Beginner level

# of guests: 4

Overview:
This 2-hour workshop teaches students how to thread and operate a domestic sewing machine. Students will work on 1-3 garments from their own closet, learning to pin, mark, cut, and sew a selection of alteration techniques and repairs. Items and alteration ideas ideal for this class are pants, skirts, shirts, and jackets for hemming, side seam adjustments, sleeve shortening, crotch repairs, and more.

Goals:

Students will learn a basic understanding of deconstruction and reconstruction concepts, practice pinning silhouettes in the mirror, prepping garments for adjustments, and furthering their comprehension of garment components, shape adjustments, reassembly, and finishing techniques. Students will use 1 to 3 items from their own wardrobe they wish to tailor. The goal of this class is to leave students feeling empowered and prepared to execute basic alteration types on their own clothes.

Who:
Beginner sewers who have none or some sewing experience, those who are looking to expand their understanding of garment construction.

Supplementaries:
Bring your own clothing for hemming, side seam adjustments, and repairs. Thread, tools, and machines are supplied.

Syllabus:
Hour 1: Demonstration on how to thread and operate a domestic machine. Work in pairs to pin alteration desires in the mirror. Prep, chalk, and seam rip garments for adjustments.

Hour 2: Re-assemble garments with prepared alterations. Receive assistance in executing each step, with tips and tricks for successful sewing.

Beginner Tailoring 3 Class Series

2-hour workshop
3 class dates
Beginner level

# of guests: 4

Overview:
This weekly 2-hour class series teaches students how to thread and operate a domestic sewing machine. In each class students will work on 1-3 garments from their own closet, learning to pin, mark, cut, and sew a variety of alteration techniques and repairs. Items and alteration ideas ideal for this class are pants, skirts, shirts, and jackets for hemming, side seam adjustments, sleeve shortening, crotch repairs, and more. Each week students will gain confidence and knowledge to progress and execute more advanced tailoring techniques.

Goals:

Each week students will work on tailoring adjustments more advanced than the previous class. Building off a basic understanding of deconstruction and reconstruction concepts, students will practice pinning silhouettes in the mirror, prepping garments for adjustments, and furthering their comprehension of garment components, shape adjustments, reassembly, and finishing techniques. Students will use 1 to 2 items from their own wardrobe they wish to tailor. The goal of this class is to leave students feeling empowered and prepared to execute more challenging alteration types and feel confident in creating ways to update and enhance their own wardrobes.

Who:
Beginner sewers who have none or some sewing experience, those who are looking to expand their understanding of garment construction.

Supplementaries:
Bring your own clothing for hemming, side seam adjustments, and repairs. Thread, tools, and machines are supplied.

Syllabus:
Hour 1: Demonstration or quick reminder of how to thread and operate a domestic machine. Work in pairs to pin alteration desires in the mirror. Prep, chalk, and seam rip garments for adjustments.

Hour 2: Re-assemble garments with prepared alterations. Receive assistance in executing each step, with tips and tricks for successful sewing.

Copy Your Favourite Garment

Six 2-hour workshops (12-hours in total)
Beginner level

# of guests: 4

Overview:
Learn how to pattern, cut, and sew a carbon copy of your favourite garment. Learn clever techniques for copying your clothing without destroying or cutting up the original! This class is great for beginners and intermediate sewers looking for an introduction to pattern drafting and sewing. Students who have not used a sewing machine before are encouraged to take a Tailoring 101 class to prepare for the sewing portion of this workshop. This class is taught using domestic machines.

Goals:

Over the course of six 2-hour classes, students will pattern draft and copy their favourite garments, cut out their pattern in new fabric, and sew it together. Ideal garments for this class are non-stretch/ low-stretch pants, shirts, and skirts such as denim, wool trousers, and chinos. We will NOT be covering knit garments in this class.
Students will learn about grain lines, pattern drafting tools and equipment, pattern terminology, cutting and fusing practices, and sewing on a domestic sewing machine.

Who:

Beginner to intermediate sewers who have used a sewing machine before AND who want an intro to pattern drafting.

Supplementaries: Students must supply their own fabric and notions. Pattern paper will be provided.

Syllabus:

Class 1:
Students will learn to prep their garments for pattern copying, be introduced to patterning tools and copying techniques and will trace and extract garment info onto pattern paper. They will add seam allowances, and labels, and cut the pattern out in preparation for the next class.

Class 2:

Students will continue to finalize their pattern details from class 1, cut fabric out and fuse necessary pieces. Students may begin serging and sewing their garments in this class.

Class 3:
Students will continue to finalize their pattern details from class 1 & 2, cut fabric out and fuse necessary pieces. Students may begin serging and sewing their garments in this class.

Class 4:

Students will continue to sew their garments together with guided instruction.

Class 5:

Students will continue to sew their garments together with guided instruction.

Class 6:

Students will continue to sew their garments together with guided instruction.