As we approach the last workshops of 2016, we’re excited to announce the launch of our 2017 workshops for The School of Making. Founded on the ideas of cultural preservation of education, The School of Making continues to be our platform for an open exchange of ideas, maker skills, supply chain transparency, and education. We invite you to be a part of the growing movement and join us next year for one of our workshops @ The Factory—a unique learning experience inside our studio, with our team.
We’ve taken your feedback from our previous workshops to develop new and improved scheduling, projects, and programming. This is what you can expect in 2017:
We kick off the year in February with our Classic One-Day Workshop at The Factory with the Alabama Chanin and The School of Making teams. This popular format includes a discussion of the physics of sewing and an overview of garment construction and embroidery techniques. We’ve added new projects to the day-long program, including a Fitted T-Shirt Top, Table Runner, and Poncho, alongside classic options like our Corset and Swing Skirt. We will now offer six stencil designs to choose from, along with new colorways. A second Classic One-Day Workshop is scheduled for October. Our One-Day Workshops include lunch from The Factory Café and take place on Friday, allowing you time to plan a weekend getaway. We encourage visitors to extend their stays and spend the weekend in Florence exploring our town and all it has to offer. Visit our Travel series on the Journal to help plan your trip.
Our Two-Hour workshop is reconfigured as an Intro to Hand Sewing and covers important guidelines to get started sewing on your first project. While this workshop is well suited to beginners, intermediate and advanced sewers are welcome to participate. Projects for the Intro to Hand Sewing workshop include The Everyday Tee, Scarf, Poncho, Apron, Bucket Hat, Baby Blanket, and more. You can also use our updated selection of stencils and colorways with these projects. This workshop takes place at The Factory in March and September and lasts two hours in the morning, followed by lunch from The Factory Café. All of our workshops are conducted in a casual, open forum and we invite you to bring questions to the sewing table. We suggest that participants plan a full day at The Factory and spend the remainder of your afternoon taking advantage of our store resources and the 2:00pm studio tour.
One of most exciting updates to our programming is the Three-Day Workshop, which evolved out of the Classic Studio Weekend. We’re hosting two of these events next year, one in May and one in November. This workshop takes place from Thursday to Saturday and allows more time for in-studio experience. Arrive on Thursday for project selection, explore our fabric archives, and get acquainted with our studio. We’ll host a tour of The Factory along with a special evening out—a tour of the Shoals music studios, followed by an optional dinner. Guests spend all day at the studio on Friday and Saturday, learning the history of Alabama Chanin with Natalie, and working on sewing, construction, and embroidery techniques. Our head chef, Zach, will prepare special meals—Friday breakfast and lunch, small bites, snacks, and everyone’s favorite, Saturday Brunch.
In its third year, our Classic Studio Week Workshop is an in-depth immersion into the variety of techniques and processes used in the creation of Alabama Chanin garments. The weeklong event dedicates time to each step of the garment creation process, from design to pattern alterations to stenciling, construction, and embroidery and is hosted at The Factory in June. Bonuses include yoga, fresh meals, community and studio tours, lessons, instruction, and special offers.
In 2017 we are reintroducing our Individual Studio Day, which allows you to work one-on-one with our master seamstress, Diane Hall, on a project of your choice. Spend the day at our studio and enjoy a farm-fresh lunch from The Factory Café. Choose a date that best fits your schedule (and ours).
(P.S.: Check back in the coming months as we add a few more off-site workshops, which our team is developing.)
Visit the Journal, subscribe to our mailing list, and follow along on Instagram @theschoolofmaking to stay up-to-date on our latest news and announcements from The School of Making.
2017 WORKSHOPS AT-A-GLANCE
February 24: Classic One-Day Workshop @ The Factory
March 17: Intro to Hand-Sewing Workshop @ The Factory
May 18 – 20: Three-Day Workshop @ The Factory
June 12 – 16: Classic Studio Week @ The Factory
September 1: Intro to Hand-Sewing Workshop @ The Factory
October 20: Classic One-Day Workshop @ The Factory
November 9 – 11: Three-Day Workshop @ The Factory
Individual Studio Day Workshop @ The Factory