Great success in alterations

Sometime in the fall, I bought this jumper from my favorite Etsy seller, Tialey Vintage.

Very cute, but looks a little big, right? So I did some alterations thanks to my handy sewing machine and my more handy sewing lessons, and turned it into this fine number:

I took an inch or two from the sides and shortened the hem and I'm good to go. HOORAY sewing skills.

♥

Ginger Root Design announces winter sewing class schedule

If your new year's resolution has anything to do with being crafty, being resourceful, or reducing the number of times you prick your fingers with a needle trying to hem your pants, Ginger Root Design can help. Sign up for any of the following classes and get your thread on.

Beginning Sewing

The ultimate class for guys or girls just starting out, or wanting to learn how to finish off their projects with a professional touch. This course offers all the basics of hand sewing: how to begin and finish seams securely, 4 different stitches (including 2 different hemming stitches), attaching buttons (both tailored shirt and winter jacket buttons), and affixing other closures. A great class for those who want to tackle a variety of wardrobe woes. 2 hour class. $40.

Available Classes:

• Monday, January 10th, 7:30 PM
• Wednesday, January 12th 7:30 PM
• Thursday, January 20th 7:30 PM
• Saturday, January 22nd 9:30 AM
• Thursday, January 27th 7:30 PM
• Wednesday, February 2nd 7:30 PM
• Monday, February 7th 7:30 PM
• Tuesday, February 15th 7:30 PM
• Monday, February 28th 7:30 PM

Be Your Own Tailor: Make it a Mini

Why toss out a perfectly good dress or skirt when all it needs is an update? We’ll teach you how to revamp your dress or skirt by losing some length and showing some leg. Bring in the garment you wish to transform and we’ll help you to mark, cut, press, and hem it to perfection. No sewing machine necessary. Prerequisite: Beginning Sewing. 1.5 hour class. $35.

Available Classes:

• Monday, January 17th, 7:30 PM
• Thursday, February 3rd, 7:30 PM

Be Your Own Tailor: Hem Your Pants

Do your hems keep falling down or dragging on the floor? No need to go to a tailor -- Fix it yourself! Bring in a pair of slacks with droopy hems or length a few inches too long, and we will help you find the right length and rehem them. No machine necessary. *Note--No jeans or khakis. Pre-requisite: Beginning Sewing. 1.5 hour class. $35.

Available Classes:

• Thursday, January 13th, 7:30 PM
• Wednesday, January 26th, 7:30 PM
• Saturday, February 12th, 9:30 AM
• Monday, February 21st, 7:30 PM

Be Your Own Tailor: Mending 101

Are those moth holes keeping you from wearing you favorite sweater, or does your favorite shirt have a 2” hole in the side seam now held together with safety pins? No worries! In this class we go through various ways to stitch that moth hole closed without an obvious eyesore of a patch. AND by using a stitch from our beginning class we also show how to mend a side seam by hand with a look similar to a sewing machine. We will also touch on how to fix a fraying button-hole. Please bring an item with moth holes to class, as well as an item with a small hole in a seam. If you do not have an item, let us know in advance and we will provide a sample to work on. No machine necessary. No further supplies needed. Prerequisite: Beginning Sewing. 1.5 hour class. $35.

Available Classes:

• Monday, January 24th 7:30 PM
• Tuesday, February 22nd 7:30 PM

Sweater Hat Making

Get prepared for the winter weather with our Sweater Deconstruction Class. We show you how to turn an unflattering, pilling, or shrunken sweater into a slouchy winter hat. Perfect for keeping out the cold, this hat is a great way to go green this winter. If you are feeling ambitious to make 2 hats from your sweater, and are in the spirit of giving to someone in need, we will be collecting extra hats made by our students to donate to Martha's Table, a local charity in DC. NOTE: This class requires a sweater to cut up and repurpose. No machine necessary. Prerequisite: Beginning Sewing. 1.5 hour class. $35.

Available Classes:

• Monday, January 31st 7:30 PM
• Thursday, February 17th 7:30 PM

Call them at (202)567-7668 or stop by the shop at 1530 U Street (basement).

♥

Sewing classes on the calendar at Ginger Root Design

Erin with a customer

I have chosen to resurrect QL to give you this breaking news: more sewing classes added at Ginger Root Design.  All the hot deets, below:

Beginning Sewing   
Wed 11-17, Tues 11-23, or Thurs 12-2         
7:30pm-9:30pm          $40
The ultimate class for those just starting out, or needing a refresher since those home ec classes in junior high. This course offers all the basics of hand sewing: how to begin and finish seams securely, 4 different stitches, attaching buttons (both tailored shirt and winter jackets), and affixing other closures. A great class for those who want to tackle a variety of wardrobe woes.

NEW!!   Sweater Deconstruction  
Tues11-30 or Mon12-6        
7:30-9:00 pm                 $35
Beat the winter chill (and perhaps a jump on holiday presents!) with our Sweater Deconstruction Class.  We show you how to turn an unflattering, pilling, or shrunken sweater into a slouchy winter hat.  Perfect for keeping out the cold, this hat is a great way to go green this holiday season.  If you are feeling ambitious to make 2 hats from your sweater, and are in the spirit of giving to someone in need, we will be collecting extra hats made by our students to donate to a local charity.  NOTE: This class requires a sweater to cut up and repurpose.  No machine necessary.

Get on this, my children. Sewing will save your closet.

♥

Ginger Root Design sewing lessons are fun and worthwhile

I can't lie, I have a little bit of sewing experience. But most of it was obtained by trial-and-error sessions with a borrowed Singer that we kept on the dining room table in my senior year group house. So when Kristen and Erin announced that they would host sewing workshops in their new store, I jumped at the chance.  And look what I made!

It might not look like much, but that's 2 hours of straight-up sewing right there. We practiced four basic hand stitches and learned the proper way to apply buttons to shirts and coats. And with four students and two instructors to guide us, everyone got the individual attention they needed—especially Your Girl Blogger, who is a right-hander with a tendency to do things left-handed. 

It's going to take some practice over time, but I plan to use what I learned for small projects....and for as long as I'm too fed up with my sewing machine to figure out what's wrong with it.  (Note to Erin and Kristen: Do you provide any sewing machine tutoring services?!)

Here is the schedule of upcoming classes (with descriptions!):

Be Your Own Tailor: Make It Mini Oct 18 or 21 7:30pm-9pm 

Fall is here, so get out the tights and hike up those skirts! we’ll teach you how to update your dress or skirt by losing some length and showing some leg. Bring in the garment you wish to transform and we’ll help you to mark, cut, press, and hem it to perfection. No sewing machine necessary.

Be Your Own Tailor: Hem Your Pants Oct 14 7:30pm-9pm

Do your hems keep falling down?or dragging on the floor? No need to go to a tailor- Fix it yourself! Bring in a pair of slacks with droopy hems or length 1 or 2 inches too long, and we will help you find the right length and rehem them. No machine necessary. *Note--No jeans or khakis

There are also plans to add more classes in November and beyond, including basic sewing, sweaters deconstructed, and mending. Classes are $35 each. You can reserve a spot or inquire about future classes by calling 202-567-7668, or by visiting 1530 U St NW.
 

Sewing classes available at new U St. boutique

When I first met Kristen and Erin of Ginger Root Design/ReVamp, they were kind enough to invite me over for a lesson in bag repair. (It took me ages, but I finally finished the bag! I can use it now!)

While we sat and sewed and listen to multiple Metric albums, the girls told me that they were considering holding sewing classes. Informal and small, they would teach the basics to those who want to be able to fix things on their own.

Now that their store is open, sewing classes are here! Five sessions are available this fall to cover everything from the very basics in hand stitching, to pant-hemming and mini-skirt-making.

The first one is this Monday, October 4. I'll be there to go over some sewing fundamentals and sharpen my skills. Yes, you'll get all the gory details afterward, potentially with pictures of my pricked fingers covered in bandaids.

Classes are $35 each, paid in advance to reserve your spot. Call 202-567-7668 for more info.