Thread Den

Learn to Sew

Workshops

Why make your own knickers?

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Do less washing, make more undies

You’ll feel fab!

Imagine if you chose fabric to match your favourite bras and made a couple of pairs of complimentary knickers for each one. You could be rocking a matching set every day of the week… Imagine it! So posh!

You could have the nicest knickers on the line. Totally make the housemates and neighbours jealous.

Save $$$

Thought of how much money you could save by buying a metre or so of fabric, a few metres of lingerie elastic and making up a few pairs?

Or recycling an old t shirt into some undies? That awesome band name that you love could be placed proudly across your bum! 

Be comfortable

We’ve updated this workshop format so that you can bring along other underwear patterns to make in class! Chose the style you like the most.

In the class description we have recommend several great beginner patterns.

PLUS – We’ll be running a seperate class for men’s boxer briefs as they are quite different. So the boys won’t miss out – and if you love wearing the boy’s, this will be the class for you (coming soon).

Read the full class description – click here.

Fabric Identification

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Our in-house Fabricophile: Meagan has created a 2 hour workshop where participants learn how to identify what is in their fabric stash.

Covering a bit of fabric history, production and environmental impacts to build a good basis of understanding. You will start to build your own fabric identification resource. The let’s get to know fabrics: wovens, non-woven and knits, how they are made and the most common weave structures. Learn how to work out has it been made from synthetic fibres or natural? Take your fabric knowledge to the next level and discover what to look for when conducting a burn test.

New Embroidery Workshops

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The new embroidery workshops are taught by Hozanna, a Japanese designer and embroidery artist currently in Australia. You can see her inspiring work under her label Towelket Tokyo by clicking here. 

In our beginners embroidery workshop you will learn techniques that will allow you to create a beautiful neat monogram over three hours.

In our intermediate embroidery workshop you will learn more embroidery stitches over four hours. Using the new stitches you will create a beautiful floral design.

Hozanna’s style reflects nature and uses earthy tones, she embellishes her beautiful creations with embroidery to make them even more stunning. Hozanna’s work in Japan involved fashion design, pattern drafting, dressmaking, crochet, knitting and embroidery! She explained that in a small industry it’s important to be able to do it all. Hozanna believes in making everyday items beautiful to bring you continuous pleasure and enjoyment while you use them.

Hozanna graduated from Bunka Fashion College or Bunka Fukuso Gakuin in Japanese. 

Learn embroidery

 

Shift Dress Design Update

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French dart shift dress

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.

Terminology – is grading, alterations?

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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.

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Easter Sewing Event

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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.

Bra Made In Class

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This beautiful white underwire bra was made by a student in our Bra Making Course. 

In our course students learn to make a bra that has multiple cup pattern pieces (this means more support), wires, hooks and eyes, adjustable straps and full (wider) band. We provide details of wonderful suppliers for gorgeous bra fabrics and laces during booking and advise of the pattern that students need to purchase.

To accommodate different skill levels, you can take this course over 16 or 8 hours!

  • 16 hour course students make a toile bra first and learn how to undertake pattern adjustments before cutting into their fabulous fabric. The course starts two weeks before the 8 hour option –
  • 8 hour course students join after the first two workshops, they choose their size based on measurements and learn to make a beautiful bra.