Intro to Knitting - Oct 15th, 2-4pm

Fall is here, and while I'd rather summer last forever... there's nothing I like better when the weather turns colder than to curl up with a cup of tea and a nice full bag of yarn. Enter Dylan Uscher, the brains behind Dylanium Knits. I knew as soon as I met him that he was the perfect person to teach knitting classes at The Make Den! His fingerless fall gloves with customize-able details like colour, gauge and stitch patterns are the perfect beginner DIY project. Learn the essential skills like how to cast on, knit, purl and bind off. His 4 week beginner class will teach all the tips on needle size, yarn selection, gauge, measurement and more. Classes run for 4 consecutive weeks. Each class is 2 hrs long and the class fee is $96~ + $15~ materials fee. Email themakeden@hotmail.com to register!

Intermediate Sewing Part I & II

Intermediate Sewing I is a tailored shirt-making class.   Week 1 covers the basics of drafting bodice blocks and convertible collars, collars with a stand and mandarin collars.  In week 2 students develop their blocks to fit themselves and in week 3 we begin to assemble the body, collar and sleeves of the shirt.   Sewing in sleeves in the round and flat felled sleeves will be demonstrated.  Week 4 and 5 will be spent reviewing cuffs and plackets for both the front of the shirt and the sleeves, and week 6 is spent making button holes and sewing a narrow hem. This is an awesome class if you have mastered the basics and want to learn more traditional tailoring techniques.

Intermediate Sewing II is a shorts or pant-making class. Learn how to sew in a zipper with a fly front, western, slash and patch pockets, waistband and belt loops. Most importantly, make yourself a pair of pants or shorts that fit you perfectly!
Both classes do require basics sewing skills but do not need to be taken together.

The fee for 6 weeks is $250~, which includes HST and covers all patterns, notions and the use of our machines. Classes run for 3 hours. Intermediate Sewing II is starting on Saturday November 5th at 1pm and again on Saturday February 18th, 2012 at 1pm . Intermediate Sewing I is starting on Saturday January 7th at 1pm, and again on Saturday April 7th, 2012 at 1pm.
Email themakeden@hotmail.com to register

Fall/Winter Sewing Classes at The Make Den

Learning how to sew is empowering, exciting and really fun. New classes are starting all the time. We'd love to have you!
Send your name and the start date you're interested in to themakeden@hotmail.com to register.

Summer at The Drake Hotel

Here are more final images from Chelsea and Andrea's final photoshoot from Summer Portfolio Camp at The Drake Hotel. Many thanks to Kiki for helping set up the shoot, and to Desire for arranging make-up.

Final Portfolio Images for Kayla and Cal

Some students spend their summers eating popsicles and playing video games. Not Kayla and Cal, though. They spent their summer this year pinning, stitching, drawing and sewing up a storm at the Summer Portfolio Camp. They paid visits to the fabric district on Queen St. W, developed trend boards, practiced fashion illustration - and most importantly - sewed their own clothes!
Here are the final results, in photos taken at The Drake Hotel on Queen St. W. Cal is wearing a hand-draped, taffeta mini-dress with an orange sash and exposed metal zipper at the back. Kayla is wearing a lace 70's inspired maxi-dress with draped chiffon over the sweetheart neckline.
Photo credit: Jenn Nguyen