Date: October 19, 2019
Time: 10AM to 4PM
Location: Bender Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, 6125 Montrose Rd, Rockville, MD 20852
Creating great fitting pants are one of the #1 goals on a sewer’s bucket list, but finding a decent pattern and making all the necessary alterations can be a real challenge. In this full-day workshop, we will create a pattern using a pair of pants from your closet that already fit you pretty well — they don’t have to be perfect — and work step by step through the process of pattern drafting, modifying, and testing. Don’t worry, if there are elements of fit you would like to improve on the originals, we will make changes accordingly. Any style of pants is okay (jeans, dress slacks, elastic waisted types, and more).
In the class we will:
- create an accurate paper pattern from a pair of pants you already have, making any modifications necessary to improve fit or style
- sew a very simple (pocketless) test garment from fabric you bring in order to test the pattern. See info on tester fabric, below.
- learn how to make changes to your pattern like altering pocket styles, length, leg fullness, waistband styles, zippers, and more
- understand differences between working with stretch and non-stretch materials for pants
- better understand the fundamental aspects of the pattern itself (such as crotch length, crotch depth, inseam & outseam length) and how small changes in these areas can impact the fit of pants
Instructor: Allison Lince-Bentley
Allison Lince-Bentley has been teaching sewing for over a decade in the Washington, DC region, helping students of all levels and ages — from complete beginners to aspiring designers — grow their skills and creative potential. She currently teaches from her home-based workshop, Tilden House Studio, focusing especially on garment design and construction. She has experience working with people with disabilities and learning differences, and enjoys the process of understanding what each person needs most on their own sewing adventure. Her work as a sewing instructor has been featured in media outlets including the Washington Post, the Washington City Paper, Capital File magazine, NPR, and Fox 5 News, Threads Magazine, Voice of America, and WTOP 103.5FM radio.
$150 Early Bird (June 1, 2019 – August 15, 2019)
$200 Late Bloomer (August 16, 2019 – October 18, 2019)
Registration will be open until the class is full (6 students).
Note: Some students have reported problems with the payment system when registering online. If your registration payment isn’t loading properly, please contact us directly at twinsnneedlesevents@gmail.com or through the contact us page and let us know so we can help you and confirm your participation.
Materials List
Students should bring:
- One or more pairs of your pants from your closet that fit pretty well. We will only be making one pattern, but we can analyze the differences between multiple pairs from your closet and potentially combine elements you like.
- 2.5 yards of “tester” fabric, at least 45″ wide. Your tester fabric should be something inexpensive that has a level of stretch that mimics your original pants is as close as possible
- 18” clear grid ruler
- Styling Design Ruler (if you don’t have one of your own, we can provide one for you to use)
- Pencils
- Colored Pencils (we recommend at least three colors)
- Eraser
- Paper scissors
- Tracing Paper
- Scotch tape
- All purpose sewing thread
- Basic sewing supplies (including fabric scissors, pins, tape measure, seam ripper)
- Sewing machine in working order. You will only need to do a straight stitch. Please contact us by October 1, 2019 if you want to rent a machine.
Lunch and Beverages
Lunch will not be provided. Out of respect to our host site, packed lunches should be appropriate for a kashrut “diary” meal (vegetarian, pescetarian or egg-based meals are good choices). Meals do not need to be formally kosher-certified, but should be within the general guidelines. There are a few restaurants within walking distance and many restaurants that deliver to the JCC. Please contact us at twinsnneedlesevents@gmail.com if you have questions about food guidelines.
A selection of teas and instant coffee will be available all day at no charge.
Transportation and Parking
The red line Twinbrook metro stop is an 15-20 minute walk to our location.
Surface parking is free in the attached parking lot.