Garment Lab: Swimwear, Fridays, June 5th, 12th, & 19th, 5pm-8pm

Instructor: Colleen Connolly

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner & up*, ages 15 and up

Sessions: 3 Sessions, 3 hours per session

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Whether you’re frolicking along the coastline of northern Italy or sunbathing in your backyard, this Garment Lab is created to get you sewing up a swimsuit that will make you feel glamorous and comfortable. Like all Garment Labs, you are welcome to choose a pattern from the suggested list, or find one that suits your fancy out there! 

You’ll learn how to work with swimwear fabric, adjust the pattern to fit your body measurements, sew in lining fabric and swimwear elastic to avoid wrinkles and waves. You’ll also learn about swimwear hardware and notions, and how to create seams on a serger. 

This class is perfect for an advanced beginner sewist, who has sewn up a few projects and is ready to jump into the deep end (ha, Colleen loves a pun) with stretchy swimwear fabric! This class is self-paced, and may require homework to complete in three sessions based on your sewing speed and pattern difficulty. If you’re ready, come on and dive in!

Be prepared - purchase your supplies online or in person before class begins! Class supplies are available for purchase at Modern Domestic. Please note that our store hours are Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. Class supplies cannot be purchased when our shop is closed. 

To purchase supplies in store, we recommend allowing at least 45 minutes to shop. Please note that our store hours are Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm. If purchasing materials online, please purchase supplies at least two days in advance to allow for prepping. If purchasing swimwear supplies from Modern Domestic, please check in before class begins, as supplies are limited and some supplies may not be available at the shop. All class supplies purchased at Modern Domestic get a 10% discount - please inquire for the code. 

Supply List:

- Swimsuit Pattern (Suggested: Cottesloe Pattern by Megan Neilsen or Faye by Closet Core)

- Swedish Tracing Paper (for tracing your pattern & making alterations if needed)

- 2 small spools of Mettler Metrosene All-Purpose Polyester Thread for Sewing Machine 

- 2 or 3 Maxi-Lock Serger Threads in coordinating colors to main fabric for Serger

- Stretch Needles & Optional: Stretch Twin Needle (for Cover-Stitch look) 

- Fabric* (Main and/or Lining - if lining your swimsuit with your main fabric, reference fabric amounts listed in your pattern and add necessary yardage) 

- Other notions needed based on pattern requirements.

Please Note: Modern Domestic has black swimwear fabric, poly mesh, swimsuit elastic, and swimsuit hardware: such as metal rings, sliders, and back clasps. If purchasing from Modern Domestic, check in with the store prior to class start, as supplies are limited and not listed online. 

*Skill Levels: Advanced Beginner - Advanced Beginner - You have a good handle on the basics and are ready to dip your toe into more challenging waters. You’re still fairly new to sewing from patterns and could use help with how to manipulate the pattern to get a better fit. You want to add some new skills to your repertoire (invisible zippers, setting-in sleeves, sewing with a serger, etc.). Classes generally require homework.

Modern Domestic Labs: You're interested in sewing in a group setting and prefer to have an instructor's guidance on specific techniques and/or skills that are proposed in the Lab's topic. You have the ability to sew at your own pace, the expert help to keep you on track and sewing along, and a variety of options (sometimes endless!) when it comes to choosing the project you want to sew.

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