#thread den

Thread Den's pattern drafting program is designed to enable you to be creating and producing garments designed by you. Learning to pattern draft will open up a world of unique style and creativity that you will have for a lifetime.

Our program is made up of individual courses: 

The Skirt - January 2018 (last minute tix discount now online)

The Bodice - April 2018

The Torso - July 2018

Five week course developed by Jenni

Over the five week course students will:

Draft and fit a skirt block to your own measurements

Cover styles including: A Line, Pencil, Circle Skirts

Design gathers and wraps

Learn about darts and princess seams

Draft splits, pleats, gores

Enhance designs with different pockets, zips, other closures, waistbands, facings and more

We utilise a number of techniques; working on calico, pattern paper, cardboard, full size and in third size scale. You will build up a reference tool that you will have for a lifetime of pattern drafting.

Skirts start Thursday 18 Jan.

Meet Jenni - your pattern drafting teacher

Jenni's super powers comes from; Her  stand-up comedy experience! Her innovative fashion lifestyle brand - click here. Her years of experience in business, import/export , as well as sales and sales administration. Not to mention her education! Jen holds an Honours Degree, a Diploma and a cert 3 in Fashion Design. As well as a Cert 4 in Business Management.

Skirt inspiration:

Grace Sewing Challenge - Finalist 4 - Serefina

The lucky last finalist!

Serefina employed pleating, tokyo binding, pattern alterations to make it fit and the special ingredient... love!

It's unlined, with bound seams, pockets and some beading. 

She went with a 'what-would-grace-do-on-a-budget-but-she-still-has-to-look-fabulous' vibe. We don't think you'd ever know the wearer was on a budget in this dress!

Stay tuned to find out who is crowned the winner of our first Sewing Challenge!

Grace Sewing Challenge - Finalist 3 - Melina

Melina sewed this dress using the Vintage Vogue reissue V1084 pattern and fabric purchased from The Fabric Store. The fabric is a combination of a light to medium weight linen in a pale tan colour and a navy geometric lace. She was wanting the lace to really pop without any distraction, but needed a bit of weight to get the drape and body right for the dress.

Melina cut the pieces individually, making sure to match my lace pattern as best she could, then stitched the two layers of fabric together within the seam allowance for each piece and subsequently treated the double layer thereafter as a single layer. To finish off the seams, she folded and stitched where possible or simply trimmed the linen down leaving the lace to protect the edge. Thankfully the linen isn't prone to excessive fraying, just wrinkling!

The pattern called for facings for the front and back and a centred side zipper as shown. Everything was sewn on her trusty Bernette 66 machine.

Stay tuned to find out who is crowned the winner of our first Sewing Challenge!

Grace Sewing Challenge - Finalist 2 - Adele

Adele really enjoyed the motivation to sew something pretty at the end of a long day with three kids!

Some of the techniques Adele used in her evening dress include: pattern alterations, draping, boning, beading, a rolled hem and an invisible zip. The French lace was died to blend with the colour of the silk chiffon!

Grace Sewing Challenge - Finalist 1 - Rosie

Rosie's clever little hands produced both her hat and the dress!

Her Dress is a cotton fitted bodice with contrast piping and gathered skirt. The bodice is lined and has bra cups sewn inside, empire line detail and cap sleeves. There is a zip fastening at the back.

Her hat features three wired sinamay dishes cut from circular patterns, bound with contrast sinamay at the edges, sewn together in a pleasing configuration and grosgrain flat bows sewn on. Secured with comb and hat elastic. Sinamay bias strips cover all support wire underneath. 

A few of us a working away at our costumes for an upcoming Murder Mystery Party.  The theme is Murder: 1940s PARIS SPIES & WAR! We love leaving things to the last minute, but we are nearly finished and close to showing you our creations! So make sure you pop back next week to see our clever costumes made by us!

Amy is making up a Colette Pattern, the Ceylon which we has the structured silhouette that is similar to the 1940s. Her fabric is a dark blue drill with a lovely sheen to it. Perfect for her character... a young Austrian Folk Singer.

Colette "Ceylon" Dress

Laura is making a Butterick reproduction pattern from a gorgeous green silk blend. She also hails from the Austrian Folk Singing family, but has had a hiatus from performing while she pursued her artistic dreams (painting feet).

Butterick Retro B5281

Dan is going to use a couple of the patterns from classes at Thread Den to put together her outfit.  The Vintage Sailor Pants from a floral linen and a Pussy Bow Blouse (not sure yet about the fabric for that one!). As a wealthy Russian Aristocrat she can afford to flaunt the fact she doesn't need to worry about wartime austerity!

Thread Den's Pussy Bow Blouse.

Recently we were asked to have a look at a beautiful Trapeze Dress pattern for Pattern Fantastique, The Celestial Dress and we loved it. We loved it so much that we've used it as the foundation for a new class at Thread Den!

Everyone wants an easy to wear, flowing and still flattering dress in their wardrobe.  With this pattern you can have a variety of tops, tunics, mid length dresses or maxi dresses!  All from one very versatile pattern.  We've added just a couple of details to also be able to teach some additional skills in class.

There is knife pleating in the front and back.  You'll see below in the two made up that we've secured the pleats at the hem line on the shorter style, the longer has them left free.  

Our models are both showing off their beautiful baby bumps, but this pattern is such a breeze to wear that it works beautifully without a belly too! 

We've contrasted the main fabric on one and if you take a peak, you'll see that Amy cleverly popped the main fabric on the inside of the sleeve also.

The sleeves are a unique design, almost kimono-esk. With a heavier weight cotton they will keep the structure, with a lighter weight they relax.

The neck line is finished with a facing and depending on the weight of fabric, you can do a traditional hem or a rolled hem finish.  

Credits:

Photographed at Montsalvat in Eltham  by Dan Bamford.

Pattern variations by Amy Skipper.

Modelled by Amy and Mel.

Both made by Amy Skipper.