Sunday 9 August 10.30am-4.30pm

Tutor: Mel Forrest

Level - confident beginners - 5 places

If you know how to use a sewing machine and have tried your hand at basic garment sewing (such as our Pyjamas class), this workshop is an ideal opportunity to build on your skills. You’re in safe hands as Mel is a very experienced dressmaker and teacher. And Montana is a brilliant garment to sew as its relaxed shape and fit make this dress a favourite for all body shapes and ages. Both comfortable and versatile, this dress will work for a variety of occasions.

Montana is a pull-on dress (hurrah - no zip!) with extended shoulders that has a loose silhouette - so you can wear it with sneakers or slides and with/without a belt. The skirt has slight gathers that fall from a high waist and best of all, this is a no-fuss dress which can be sewn in a day.

Using the Style Arc pattern provided, Mel guides you through simple garment construction. Techniques covered include pattern lay plans and grain lines, understanding and marking pattern notations, cutting out the correct size, stitching seams, hemming, and creating a lined bodice using the burrito method. Most of Hometown’s wide-width (and normal-width) fabrics will be suitable. We know several students have made more in different fabrics.

This class is suitable for dressmakers who already know how to use a sewing machine and have some experience of garment sewing. The workshop fee includes your own copy of the paper pattern, so you can make more at home. Please note we’ll be using the standard sizes on the pattern and won’t be covering pattern adjustments during the day. Machine sewn.

IMPORTANT: As the pattern is available in 2 sizes, UK 4-16 or UK 18-30, please put your required pattern size in the comment box when booking. You can check your body measurements against the chart.

Recommended Fabrics:

Woven lightweight cottons, embroidered lawns, linen, linen-handle, cotton/linen mixes, gingham, chambray and lightweight denim are all suitable and we stock these at Hometown. Other suitable fabrics not stocked by us are rayon or crepe.

Materials and equipment required:

• 150cm / 58-in wide fabric - sizes 4 to 12 require 1.8m; sizes 14-22 require 2.75m and sizes 24-30 require 3.75m

• or 112cm / 42-in wide fabric all sizes require 4.25m

• 100m cotton / sew-all thread to match your fabric

• 25cm of G700 interfacing or H220 medium iron-on- interfacing

• Sewing Machine, including straight sewing foot, spare bobbins. Don’t forget your lead and foot pedal (or hire a machine if you prefer)

• Basic sewing kit: sharp fabric scissors/rotary cutter (as you prefer), fabric marking pen/pencil/tailors’ chalk, pins and stitch ripper.

• Fabric weights and thread snips (if you use them)

• Pinking shears (if you have a pair)

  
  Look at Mel’s instagram for her many me-made garments.

  We recommend that all dressmaking fabrics are pre-washed prior to the class. If you need additional haberdashery supplies during the day, you’re able to purchase these in the shop.

  Refreshments are provided during the day with a break for lunch. You’re welcome to bring your own lunch, or there are a wide variety of tearooms and delis in the high street.

  If you have any questions, please phone us on 01634 838880 before booking. Note: we do not send out reminder emails before a workshop, as all the information you need is here! For location and car parking info, please see our Contacts page.

  Please check dates carefully before booking as we do not offer refunds on workshops. For full booking terms, please read here.