Learn to Sew
Download a list of the fabric stores located in Fitzroy, Melbourne – all within 1km of Thread Den – Fabric Stores within 1km
We are adding to our list! You can now download a list of stores within 5km of Thread Den – Fabric Stores within 5km
More coming! Stay tuned.
I’ve found several really inspiring campaigns in the last couple of weeks and tried to pop posts about them into the Sewing Journal so that you too can check them out:
Many of us become interested in sewing because we have social and environmental concerns, these challenges are a great way to share the reasons behind why we sew.
If you have one, you probably lie about how big it is…
Your fabric stash.
I heard about a sewing enthusiast recently who only buys fabric for a project. She makes that project and only then buys fabric when she has the next project planned and ready to start. I was seriously impressed – that is incredible will power! I am obviously not like that…
So, as soon as I saw this campaign I loved it. I am just as guilty as the next Fabricophile of having a huge fabric stash.
#MakeYourStash
In its 2nd year the challenge is: to make garment(s) that we will love and wear, using fabric that has been in the stash for more than 6 months.
We’ve come to the close of the annual #whomademyclothes campaign, it starts each year on the anniversary of the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsing.
On 24 April 2013, 1,138 people died and another 2,500 were injured, making it the fourth largest industrial disaster in history… Thats when Fashion Revolution started. The #whomademyclothes campaign in April every year works to highlight transparency in the fashion industry.
To take part, make a pledge to wear the garments you made yourself more and/or in different ways. Then you showcase it throughout May. By the end of May, you will have learnt a whole load about yourself, your style, how you feel about your wardrobe, and how best to spend your clothes-making time going forwards.A test garment.
When making a garment that you haven’t made before, it is a really good idea to produce a toile.
A toile is an early version of a finished garment made up in cheaper plain fabric so that the design can be tested and perfected. Multiple toiles can be made in the process of perfecting a design.
On 24 April 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed. 1,138 people died and another 2,500 were injured, making it the fourth largest industrial disaster in history. 
| Workshop | Teacher | Date |
| Sewcial Sewing | Danielle | 3 May |
| Intro to Grading | Jenni | 6 May |
| Small Sewing Group/Help Needed | Danielle | 9 May |
| Measurements for Dressmaking | Danielle | 11 May |
| Cushion Cover | Danielle | 12 May |
| Simple A Line Skirt | Jenni | 16 & 23 May |
| Simple Shift Dress | Amy & Danielle | 18 & 25 May |
| Understanding Sewing Patterns | Danielle | 18 May |
| Learn to Copy A Garment You Love | Jenni | 19 & 26 May |
| Sewcial Sewing | Danielle | 25 May |
| 1930s Hair & Make-Up | Miss Lee Vintage Stylist | 25 May |
| 1940s Pants with Button Feature | Danielle | 30 May & 6 June |
Teachers may change due to illness and unforeseen circumstances.
We’ve updated our Shift Dress design.
Our popular dress now features French darts which add soft shaping from under the bust down to the waist. The neckline is wider and the pattern is longer. While a shift dress doesn’t have a defined waist, some soft shaping has been added to the waist. The bust to hip ratio has also been changed based on the measurements of the many many students that have taken this workshop over the years. Have a look at several images on our instagram highlights – click here.
This pattern features just 4 pieces and simple detailing, this makes it a great project for those that are early on in their sewing adventures.
While making this Shift, students will learn how to choose their size, pattern placement, tracing and cutting technique. In the sewing room you’ll cover dart sewing technique, how to finish fabric edges with an overlocker, learn how to insert an invisible zip and then discover the surprising method used to sew an all in one facing.
Workshop Description – read more here.
Pattern grading should not be confused with pattern alterations. Alterations are the process of making a pattern fit the nuances of an individual body. Whereas, grading is the process of creating a range of new sizes, or a size run.
Grading may simply be defined as the increasing or decreasing of a pattern according to a set of corresponding body measurements. The secret to professional grading is to understand where the body requires these changes.[1]
Patterns can be graded using: the cut and spread method, pattern shifting or with computer grading.
We teach the basics of Grading in a 3 hour workshop at Thread Den – click here to read more.