With an emphasis on the cultural preservation of education and the living arts, The School of Making supports creating memorable experiences, the exchange of ideas, and the opportunity to develop sewing and making skills in an educational and inspiring environment of our workshops.
Our next available workshop, the Patternmaking Workshop, from The School of Making takes place in late July. As we plan ahead, we’d like you to know we are taking all necessary precautions for the safety of our guests and team, and each workshop participant will be provided with a Reusable Non-Medical Grade Face Mask. Our team will also be wearing masks throughout the duration of the workshop. We will be expanding the designated workshop space in The School of Making—allowing our guests plenty of room to spread out. Each guest will have their own table and workspace to work on their projects. We’ll provide hand sanitizer and will conduct thorough sanitizations at the end of each day.
We have availability for the following workshops in 2020. We invite you to be a part of the growing movement and join us for a unique learning experience with our team.
Patternmaking Weeklong Workshop from July 20th – July 24th
This workshop highlights Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns and focuses on taking measurements, creating a customized sloper using our T-shirt pattern, making alterations to existing The School of Making patterns, and reviewing how to create and grade garment patterns for cotton jersey. The Physics of Sewing and The School of Making Construction lessons help students understand best practices when working with cotton jersey and with The School of Making hand-embroidery techniques.
Classic Studio Week from August 10th – 14th
This week-long event invites participants into The School of Making’s expanded studio for a total immersion into our philosophies, methods, materials, and products. Participants will experiment with several different techniques in hand sewing and will be guided through each step in the process of creating a garment from The School of Making. Techniques include design basics and the physics of sewing, stencil design and creation, airbrush and stenciling of garments, fit and pattern alterations, discussion, and critique. This Monday through Friday event includes yoga sessions, time for sight-seeing, and some delicious, locally-sourced meals.
One-Day Workshop @ Nina, Chicago, September 18th
Natalie will be at Nina Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, teaching a One-Day Workshop that includes a discussion of the physics of sewing, reverse appliqué, and an overview of garment construction and other sewing techniques. This workshop is suited to beginners and experienced sewers alike. Guests will create a hand-sewn project from a selection of custom kits. Enjoy coffee and refreshments provided by Nina Chicago.
One-Day Embroidery Workshop on October 9th
Our Embroidery Workshop includes a discussion of the physics of sewing, embroidery stitches, and an overview of garment construction and other sewing techniques. The kit selections focus on variegated striped kits that focus on exploring various embroidery techniques. Participants will learn to use the die-cut grids in The Geometry of Hand-Sewing to practice and develop your embroideries. These reusable cards can be stitched through for practicing or used as stencils for transferring grids to fabric.
Three-Day Workshop from November 5th – 7th
Our popular Classic Weekend Workshop is reintroduced as our Three-Day Workshop in a new and improved format. This workshop opens our studio doors at The Factory in Florence, Alabama, and allows participants to work with our in-house team, a selection of our most loved DIY garment patterns, and our extensive DIY stencil library. Participants create a customized, hand-sewn garment or project of their choice from Alabama Stitch Book, Alabama Studio Style, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design, or Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns. We offer a range of options that can be tailored to any skill level. The three-day schedule also includes a tour of the Shoals, history of Alabama Chanin with Natalie, and a studio tour.
Learn more about and register for all of our workshops at The School of Making here.
Contact Bonnie, our Workshops Coordinator at workshops@alabamachanin.com or 256-760-1090 ext 113, for workshop questions or to register.