Learn to Sew Melbourne
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. 
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.
Sewing terms change internationally, which is confusing, slopers and blocks are one of those terms:
In Australia when we refer to a pattern block, we are referring to the basic shapes that sewing patterns start from. There is a skirt block, bodice block, pants block, torso block and sleeve block. The USA refers to these as slopers.
A block can be fit to a standard size or custom to fit you perfectly. You then use this as the basis to draft your own designs and variations.
Book into our pattern drafting program and you will not only custom fit your own block, but learn to draft your own design variations. Read more here.
This Easter join us at Thread Den to add to your #MeMade wardrobe. Choose our popular skirt workshop: a classic circle skirt to be held over Friday and Saturday afternoon, or a one off workshop featuring the Indie pattern designer – Pauline Alice – making the Reina Blouse on Sunday and Monday.
If you live far away from Melbourne, this is a lovely chance to come to town, stay a night and sew up a storm with us.
To make these special Easter workshops more fun, we have a goodie bags with surprises from our friends inside. Those that have put in goodies include; Maison Burlesque, Homelealass, Cinema Nova, Spruce Craft Co, Ethical Clothing Company, Megan Nielsen Patterns, Closet Case Patterns, Jimmy Buttons.
This post from Kristin Nichols reminded me of how many people in our sewing community are working on much beloved old machines. We have seen a few and heard of plenty of foot pedals that start smoking, and machines that smell and then start to smoke. So read this timely post – Getting Stitched on the Farm – and in a nut shell:
At a bare minimum to get yourself started on crochet you’ll need a crochet hook and some yarn. As you become a premier hooker you’ll build up an arsenal of hooks of all sizes, and you’ll also find it handy to have stitch markers and a yarn needle.
Different brands have slightly different benefits to their hooks. Bamboo hooks can be nice to work with but sometimes little splinters will grab your yarn. You can also get steel and plastic hooks, ultimately any cheap hooks can be a bit grabby and tough on your hands after hours of absent minded hooking. Soft rubber handle hooks are more gentle on your hands and they are a much better choice for people suffering from arthritis and finding it difficult to grasp a thin hook.
There are (unfortunately) three different ways to refer to the sizes of crochet hooks, these are outlined in the table below.
Steel crochet hooks are finer and generally used with lace weight yarns and crochet threads.
