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In Skirt Skills, you’ll be thoroughly introduced to each step of the custom process- while hand crafting the custom-fit skirt of your dreams. You’ll also create reusable tools for your custom sewing future.
Follow-up Course!
A follow up to Skirt Skills – get some new experience under your belt by creating your own custom-fit trousers and jeans.
Follow-up Course!
A follow up to Skirt Skills – gain some upper body strength as you learn to map your top half and craft custom-fit tops that are tops!
When I’m not teaching online courses, I’m making custom couture bridal gowns (and pants!) for women of all shapes and sizes.
Follow along as I meet my brides and design, sew, and finish each step – with oh, so many photos! Get lost in the details and learn new techniques.
Tools, Supplies & Materials for
SKIRT SKILLS
Listed are the tools, supplies, and materials we will use in this course. To take the guess work out of your experience, I’ve found most of my favorites on Amazon and share clickable affiliate links for you see exactly what each item is.
While I recommend you support your local independent retailer, ordering directly from the links below will earn a small commission for me at no additional cost to you. (Thank you!)
If you have a similar item, but not the specific item, feel free to use what you’ve got. Or, take this opportunity to upgrade!
If you have questions, please email me at email@brooksann.com
Part 1
Designing and Sketching
We will use:
- Pencils (sharpened or mechanical)
- Sketch paper (I prefer watercolor paper, but anything will do)
- a camera
Optional
- a camera remote and/or tripod or phone stand
- a printer or a digital drawing program
- a notebook for keeping yourself organized
Part 2
Measuring and Block Drafting
We will add:
- Full Length Mirror
- Large worktable
- A Flexible measuring tape: 60″ or 120″
- Elastic – 1/2″ or thinner (enough to tie around your waist and hips while we measure)
- Scotch Tape
- 18”x2” Clear Gridded Ruler
- A longer ruler or yardstick. This one will work.
- A long curved ruler, often called a “hip curve”. I like this one.
- 12” Combination Square with level
- a hem gauge
- Paper Scissors
- Pattern drafting paper: In my business, I use rolls of brown craft paper similar to this, but for class I will use this white craft paper so my work is easier to see.
- a few paper clips
( If you don’t work in inches, feel free to find similar measuring and drafting tools that use centimeters. )
Optional
- some safety pins
- a calculator
- Needlepoint Spiky Wheel: This is a cool drafting tool, but you can get by without it.
- A cardboard cutting mat (or any large piece of cardboard or foam board) to protect your table, if you don’t have a pinnable tabletop like mine.
- Poster Board
Parts 3 & 4
Mockups, Fitting, and Patternmaking
We will add:
- Muslin (or any neutral inexpensive plain woven fabric): Approximately 2 yards might do, but having a lot more is recommended.
- Fabric Scissors (I also like these– mine are pink)
- Small Scissors/Snips or seam ripper
- Hand Sewing Needles (though often out of stock, these Japanese ones are my favorites, with these in 2nd place.)
- Thread
- Pins
- A Sewing Machine
- Sewing machine needles
- A steam iron
- An ironing table or ironing board
- A tailor’s pressing “ham”
Optional:
- A thimble: Though I’d love to require it, a thimble is optional. This leather thimble is an excellent “starter thimble.” I highly recommend giving a thimble a try!
- Push pins or fabric weights
- If you have trouble threading needles, you might fall in love with this Clover needle threader.
- If you think you might have difficulties fitting fabric to your body, you might enjoy Wonderclips or
- a wrist pincushion or
- a zipper or some velcro
- If you want an upgrade for your sewing machine, I highly recommend a sewing machine extension table.
- a pattern notcher
Part 5
Skirtmaking Time!
We will add:
By this time, you will need the materials for your first custom skirt. During the previous weeks of the class, we will discuss and help pick out and purchase exactly what you are going to use.
Here is most likely what you will need:
- Skirt Fabric: yardage depends on your design. We will be working with woven fabrics only. (No knits or stretch fabric!)
- Matching thread
- Matching 7-9” zippers: I’ll show you how to use standard zippers and invisible zippers.
- a standard zipper foot for your machine
- Hook & Eye and Skirt Hook closures
Optional items:
- Invisible zipper foot for your sewing machine
- Lining fabric
- Light pencils (if using dark fabric)
- Pinking Shears
- 1/2″ and 1″ bias tape makers
- 1/2″ single fold and double fold bias tape
- Unbound Grosgain or Petersham
- Blind hem foot for your machine
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Watch the SKIRT SKILLS Tools & Supplies Video Lesson:
Explore the video player options!
Video Volume, Closed Captions, Transcript with Search,
Quality and Speed Controls, Topic Navigation, and Full Screen.
Bonus link from this video: DIY Professional Sewing Room Table
Explore the Coursework
In Skirt Skills, you’ll be thoroughly introduced to each step of the custom process- while hand crafting the custom-fit skirt of your dreams. You’ll also create reusable tools for your custom sewing future.
Follow-up Course!
A follow up to Skirt Skills – get some new experience under your belt by creating your own custom-fit trousers and jeans.
Follow-up Course!
A follow up to Skirt Skills – gain some upper body strength as you learn to map your top half and craft custom-fit tops that are tops!
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Upcoming Session Info:
ENROLLMENT OPENS:
Saturday Dec 28, 2024
at ~10am ET
Class size is limited.
Course Dates:
Classroom opens January 8, 2025
This is the last session to earn your prerequisite before I offer my tops course in March.
The next Skirt Skills session will begin in June 2025.
Work with the optional 6 week schedule OR anytime at your own slower pace with forever access
Tuition: $395
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