Restyling Clothing for Comfort

Restyling Clothing for Comfort,

by Pat Kane of Costumes and Custom Clothing,

Sept. 21, 12-4 PM, Old Berlin Town Hall, Berlin, MA*

Attend this workshop to find out how you [because you can sew!] can restyle and modify your store-bought clothes for comfort and better looks.

This is a HANDS-ON PROGRAM, so bring jeans that are a bit too tight, shirts that don't fit.... Re-do the clothes that you love but that no longer fit properly or are uncomfortable. [Clean clothes only, of course!]

Bring your sewing machine, too, to learn double needle stitching for knit hems. Machines that will do a zigzag stitch can use double needles.

Techniques taught in this workshop include: adding side elastic to slacks waistbands, adding a wedge of wide elastic to jeans, ripping seams using a razor blade [so much faster!], setting up your machine for double needle work, sewing sample hems in knits, determining individual proportion for better looking clothing, and other secrets of looking good in your clothes.

Items to bring to the workshop:

Your own sewing machine, with extra bobbins

Sewing scissors, machine needles, thread to match whatever you are re-working

Notebook, pen or pencil-- for taking the notes you want; there will be no handouts in this workshop

Cash for buying any elastic, yoga top material, or double needles from the instructor.

This program will be taught by Pat Kane, whose specialty is fit both for the stage costumes and for custom clothing she builds for her clients.

Pat Kane

Costumes and Custom Clothing

Concord, MA

Surface Design for Fashion: Painting on Fabric

By Maureen Egan, Member ASDP and Silk Painters International (SPIN)

October 26, 2013, 12-4 PM, Old Berlin Town Hall, Berlin, MA*

In this lecture and demonstration program, we will get a look at some fashion applications for fabric paint and dye. Painting can be used, like many other means of embellishment, on just a part - large or small - of a garment, as well as on yardage or whole garments.

Among the wealth of topics to be covered are:

the differences between paint and dye and the challenges of each

the types of fibers that can be painted,

tools and techniques

ways to incorporate painting into fashion sewing.

painting styles

The program format will be a lecture followed by demonstration. There will be a break for refreshments. The final portion will be an opportunity to try out paints on silk and cotton fabrics. You might want to bring an apron.

FEE: $5 advance registration (by October 18); $10 at the door as space permits.

To sign up in advance, call or email:

Cathie Ryan, or leave a message at (508) 667-3986

Confirm your reservation with a check payable to NEASDP also to

Cathie at 41 Birch Drive, Sterling, MA 01564.

*DIRECTIONS TO BERLIN TOWN HALL::

Berlin Town Hall, 12 Woodward Avenue, Berlin, MA

From Route 495: --Take the RT-62 W exit, EXIT 26, toward BERLIN/CLINTON.
--Turn LEFT onto MA-62/COOLIDGE ST. Continue to follow MA-62. 2.0 mi

--Woodward Ave. is on the right and Town Hall is on the hill to the left at #12 Woodward Ave.