HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR A CLASS?
Alewives Fabrics is pleased to be holding classes in our brand new classroom! We've got plenty of table space for cutting, ironing and piecing, plus humongous design walls and terrific lighting... thanks for being so patient as we renovated our beloved old building!
***Payment is required at the time of registration. If you have not paid for your class, you are not in the class. it is upon receiving your payment that you will be issued a supply list. We are unable to sign anyone up for a class without first receiving payment confirmation. Please see our "Class Policies" page at left for more information. Sign up for your class by visiting the shop in person or calling us at 207 563 5002 with your credit card information ready... thanks!!!***
washi dress
with rhea butler, sundays, june 23, 30 and july 7, 1:00-3:30pm
$45, plus materials
The Washi Dress has been on the scene as a printed pattern by Rae Hoekstra for less than a year now, and it's already become one of the all-time best-selling patterns here at Alewives Fabrics! What is it about this dress that everyone loves? For starters, the pattern can be made as a shirt or as a dress. The Washi can be made with or without cap-sleeves, and there are no buttons or zippers to put in. The fit on this dress is easy and comfortable, with a row of elastic shirring in the back. Rhea will teach her students some easy tips for customizing the fit of the dress, and how to sew with elastic thread. Make a quick internet search for the Washi Dress and you will see how this dress has taken the sewing world by (super-fashionable) storm!
fabric floorcloth
with barbara neeson, saturday, july 6th, 10:00am-12:30pm
$20, plus materials
The Fabric Floorcloth requires no-sewing and no previous experience. Barbara developed this particular method for creating fabric floorcloths herself and we've been teaching it all over New England for the past 9 years! Floorcloths are a great way to use fabric: they are beautiful, practical and durable. Use as a welcome mat, in front of the kitchen sink or under your pets' food and water dishes. Floorcloths will last for years and wipe clean easily with a cloth and some warm, soapy water. Get inspired by one of our many samples at the store, and leave the workshop with a completely finished floorcloth of your very own!
vinyl beach bags
with shawna tierney, tuesday july 9 & 16, 10:00am to 12:30pm
$30, plus materials
The Vinyl Beach Bags are a FREE pattern we found on the internet and we just love these little guys! Make a bag or two to take with you swimming at the beach or lake to keep your little ones' toys corralled in style. The bags would also be great for keeping your personal beach needs at hand, with just enough room to keep a book, pair of sunglasses and bottle of sunscreen dry. The bags can also be used for knitting or sewing projects, and Shawna will teach you a formula to make a vinyl beach bag in any size you like.
slow sewing retreat on sprucehead island
with barbara neeson and rhea butler, saturday, july 13th, 10:00am to 4:00pm
$45, includes lunch
Spend the day at the Neeson's home on Sprucehead Island! Bring your "slow-sewing" (anything you don't need a machine for: can be knitting, embroidery, applique, English paper-piecing, anything!) and pull up a chair on the wraparound porch overlooking Mussel Ridge. Or, grab a quilt and spread out on the private beach, digging your toes into the sand and basking in the sun. Sounds like a great way to spend a midsummer's day, don't you think? Barbara will prepare some delicious morning snacks, coffee and tea for your arrival, and then a proper feast will be set out at lunchtime! Eat and sew your way through the day and make new friends while stitching to your heart's content. Transportation to and from Sprucehead is not provided, but we will be happy to help coordinate carpooling with retreat participants. If you'd be willing to drive, please let us know and we can arrange for a special discounted price for the retreat!
english paper-piecing for beginners: apple cores
with pam richards, saturday, july 20th, 10:00am to 1:00pm
$20, plus materials
No sewing machine and no experience required! We love our English Paper-piecing here at Alewives, but after all the hexagons we've gone through we thought it might be time to "branch" out into the apple core shape. Pam will teach her students a couple different methods for basting the apple core shape, then students will learn how to join their apple cores together. Use your apple cores to make pillows, placemats, mini quilts, bags, or anything else your imagination can think up!
