Clothing was stitched for over 30,000 years without the use of a sewing machine. In this 2.5 hour class we will practice this skill by hand-sewing a sample sleeve with a cuff attached using only hand-sewing techniques. The class will use an antique hand-sewn shirt from the early 19th-century to guide the construction process. Studying the stitches of an anonymous seamstress is a fantastic teacher and a good reminder that sewing clothing with needle and thread is possible. It reconnects us to the past, ourselves and to what is possible through practice. The skills we will practice in this class:

• Basting.
• Felling.
• Gathering the sleeve to the cuff.
• Attaching the cuff.
• A flat-felled seam.
• Note: We will not be doing buttons/buttonholes or topstitching.

Skill Level: All levels welcome, beginners to advanced.

Cost: $35 members, $40 non-members

Questions: Email programs@cvfg.org

Supplies: Click Here for the Supplies List as a PDF

Sign up here: https://cvfg.org/event/hand-sewing-techniques/

About Sarah:
As the owner of Sewn Company, Sarah Woodyard is committed to hand-sewing preservation as a teacher and practitioner. She teaches virtual hand-sewing workshops, private lessons, and stitches custom hand-sewn clothing. Sarah became a Journeywoman Milliner and Mantua-maker in 2015 completing her seven-year apprenticeship at the Margaret Hunter Millinery Shop in Colonial Williamsburg where she worked for ten years. She holds her M.A. from the University of Alberta.
Find Sarah on Instagram @sewnstories #rememberwhatyourhandscando