Thursday August 27 (5-8pm), Friday August 28 (9am-5pm), Saturday August 29 (9am-7pm), & Sunday August 30 (9am-4pm)
This is an in person workshop at our Charlottesville shop.
Have you always wanted a pair of jeans that fit your body perfectly? Join us for an immersive three-and-a-half-day workshop where you'll learn the art of custom jean making from start to finish. Whether you're an adventurous beginner with garment sewing experience or an experienced sewist looking to master denim, this class will give you the knowledge and confidence to create jeans you'll be proud to wear.
Class Overview:
We'll begin Thursday evening by getting acquainted, exploring a variety of finished jeans, discussing patterns, taking measurements, and selecting the perfect fabric, notions, and thread for your project.
Throughout Friday and Saturday, you'll transform your fabric into a beautifully constructed pair of jeans while learning professional techniques through live demonstrations. We'll cover essential details such as pockets, fly zippers, belt loops, waistbands, buttonholes, and topstitching. Individual fitting sessions ensure your jeans are customized to your unique shape, and you'll learn how to adjust your pattern so you can recreate your perfect fit again and again.
Sunday is dedicated to finishing your jeans, refining details, and asking any final questions before we celebrate everyone's accomplishments with a group photo.
More than just a sewing class, this workshop is a collaborative and supportive experience where you'll enjoy plenty of one-on-one instruction, learn alongside fellow makers, and leave with both a custom pair of jeans and the skills to make many more.
Come ready to learn, sew, laugh, and discover just how satisfying it is to create the perfect pair of jeans—made by you, for you.
Some Suggested Patterns:
Required Skills:
This workshop is appropriate for intermediate sewists and above. You should have previously sewn at least a few garments, and feel comfortable following a commercial pattern. You have a familiarity with cutting out your pieces, maintaining a consistent seam allowance, and different seam finishes. Enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are the most important skills, so please ask us if you have questions about if this workshop is a good fit for you.
For the first class please bring:
- washed and ironed fabric
- polyester thread (Sew All + Extra Strong or Mara 70)
- 90/14 or 100/16 Jeans Universal sewing machine needle
- you can bring your own machine or use one of our Bernina studio machines
- do not bring any other tools or notions like pins or scissors, we have everything you will need in the studio.
Preparation required:
Pre-wash, dry, and press your fabric as needed before class. Choose which jeans pattern you would like to use. We can print the A0 or Copy_Shop pattern file for you!
Please familiarize yourself with our class policies before enrolling.
