Gail Yellen has been teaching sewing and serger technique classes, garment construction and embellishment workshops for 10 years. Chock full of valuable ideas and information for garment, quilt and home décor sewers, her classes are geared for all levels of sewing skills. Her “artful patterns with possibilities” have clear, easy-to-follow instructions and feature graceful, flattering lines. Gail particularly loves to show sewers embellishment techniques that can transform the most basic garments into art-to-wear. An active member of the American Sewing Guild, Gail loves meeting enthusiastic sewers all over the country and would love to teach a class at your favorite sewing center/store or for your sewing association.
Fees and references on request at gail@gailpatrice.com.
1. Serger-y 101 Workshop:
Whether you’re a novice or an experienced serger owner, this comprehensive, hands-on workshop is great for learning and perfecting all of your serger’s stitches. What makes the edge of a rolled hem roll? How can you avoid stretching the seam on your beautiful knit tee? Learn how and why to manipulate tensions and change differential feed for various fabrics. We’ll talk about the wide variety of beautiful decorative threads sergers allow us to use and see loads of lovely samples. You’ll leave with a workbook loaded with valuable information, samples and the knowledge to tackle any serger project successfully.
This 8-hour workshop is geared for all skill levels of serger owners. Students must be familiar with threading and changing needles on their machine. A kit (including fabric and workbook) is provided.
Participants should bring:
Serger with instruction manual and all accessories, extra needles, topstitch needle, 4 cones serger thread, basic sewing supplies: scissors, ruler, pencil; optional: bodkin or large eye needle (to weave ribbon)
2. Cosmetic Serger-y Workshop
What is Cosmetic Serger-y? It’s the blending of construction and decorative serger techniques. While the serger is traditionally used for finishing edges, let me show you how it can also be an important embellishment tool in your creative arsenal. Whether you’re a new serger owner or have been using one for years, you’ll learn some very cool techniques that will add a whole new dimension to your garment, home décor or quilt projects. We’ll explore the wide variety of decorative threads that work well with your serger to create decorative stitches and take your artistry to a whole new level. You’ll leave with a workbook loaded with valuable information, samples and the knowledge to tackle any decorative serger technique successfully.
This 6-hour workshop is for all levels of serger owners. Students must be familiar with threading and changing needles on their machine.
Participants should bring:
Serger with instruction manual and all accessories, extra needles, topstitch needle, 4 cones serger thread; basic sewing supplies: scissors, ruler, pencil; optional: bodkin, or large eye needle (to weave ribbon).
3. Cover Hem Workshop
Because the cover hem has lots of built-in stretch, it’s a wonderful way to hem knits, but did you ever think of all the other ways you can use this versatile stitch? In this hands-on workshop we’ll do a separating zipper application, a lapped seam, a no-facing neckline finish, an elastic application, and stitch “in the round.” Then it’s time for fun! When you put decorative thread in the chain looper, watch what happens. Did you know that you can actually “draw” on fabric with a chain stitch? The cover hem is a workhorse and a whole new embellishment tool–all in one!
4. It’s All About Embellishment
The right embellishment can make any sewing project go from mundane to marvelous! Applique, reverse appliqué, “holes,” charm-filled “holes,” shrink thread, beading, cool button stacking combos and stamping–we’ll experiment with all of them and discuss composition and pleasing placement. I’ll have lots of samples to look at and photograph if you wish.
Supplies: ½ yd. lightweight, fusible knit interfacing, ½ yd lightweight appliqué fabric (quilting cotton is fine or something similar), medium weight base fabric, sewing machine, basic sewing supplies. If you want to try beading, bring some along with a beading needle and thread–(or you can watch me demonstrate.) If you have buttons or charms that you’d love to use, bring them along too.
Note: This class can be formatted as a 6-hour hands-on workshop or a 3-hour lecture/demo.)
5. Let’s Get Some Closure
Buttons, buttons combined with beads, covered buttons, stacked buttons; loop and tie, bows, grommets, snaps, frogs, decorative pins–we’ll look at them all. Closures don’t have to be expensive to be fabulous.
- Placement: Is the decorative closure strictly decorative or functional as well? Do you plan to wear a necklace?
- Design Continuity: Is your jacket funky, romantic, dressy, casual? Does your jacket have an ethnic flair?
- Repeating a Shape: Echo a shape within a print-circles, squares, triangles, swirls, stripes, etc.
- Changing colors on buttonhole stitching and buttons: a good solution when you don’t have enough of one particular button while adding another embellishment dimension to your project. This is also an easy way to repeat multiple colors in a print fabric.
- Subtle closures against a busy background: Let your fabric take center stage.
- Eye-Popping closures on quiet fabric: The perfect closure can transform a simple jacket to simply magnificent.
This 2 1/2-hour lecture/demo is a relaxing, enjoyable format. Loads of samples and plenty of question and answer time. Attendees are encouraged to bring along a variety of their own buttons and beads to experiment with stacking, an 8” square of fabric, needle and thread.
6. Collage It!
Go green and gorgeous with the ultimate recycling project! Do you have some favorite wool sweaters that you no longer wear but just can’t part with or do you patronize a favorite thrift shop? Here’s the perfect project for you! Using the Counterpoints Jacket pattern, let me show you the process of how to create your very own one-of-a-kind collage jacket from sweaters. We’ll talk about the felting process, interfacing, combining colors and textures, and stitch choices. How do you insert on-seam side pockets without a traditional side seam? What are the various options for closures? And how do you get that perfect neckline fit? From initial sketches to the finished jacket, I’ll show you the step-by-step process of how I made my collage jacket from a few of my mom’s sweaters.
7. The Stockbridge Skirt
This 8-gore skirt will instantly become your new favorite wardrobe addition. It is absolutely beautiful on all figures and versatile. Make it in any fabric–denim for a casual look or silk for a special occasion. It’s easy to fit and comfortable. And the no-bulk elastic waistband technique is a snap. You’ll learn how to use a “fitting elastic” to assure a perfect fit and a level hemline. What works best for a gored skirt hem? We’ll look at the options. I’ve made this skirt over and over and I’ll show you lots of variations and embellishment techniques. This one-day hands-on class is good for all levels of sewers. The pattern construction is easy and attendees will learn a variety of new garment construction skills.
8. The Williamstown Skirt
With its unusual diagonal seam and graceful gores, the Williamstown Skirt is lovely as is, but lends itself to all sorts of embellishment possibilities. Learn how to eliminate distorting a bias edge and achieve a perfect fit. You’ll learn how to use a “fitting elastic” to assure a perfect fit and a level hemline. What works best for a gored skirt hem? We’ll look at the options along with lots of embellishment possibilities. This one-day hands-on class is good for all levels of sewers. The pattern construction is easy and attendees will learn a variety of new skills.
9. The Islesboro Jacket
Make the Islesboro Jacket in casual fabric as the perfect complement to jeans or create it in silk with matching pants for a knockout evening outfit. On-seam side pockets keep the look sleek and slim. Create your own embellishments, follow the one in the pattern or keep it simple and let the fabric speak for itself–this jacket will be one of your all-time favorites. And we’ll explore a variety of closure options.
10. The Berkshire Jacket
This classic jacket is a wardrobe workhorse. It’s perfect with a dress, skirt, pants or jeans. Love the look of a welt pocket, but don’t feel confident about the technique? I’ll show you a Japanese tailoring technique that yields professional results every time! Dressy or casual, you’ll make this jacket over and over.