The New Home Ec

For most of history, making clothes wasn't about being clever and crafty - it was a matter of thrift and survival. You either learned to make them, or you befriended someone who did. End of story - unless you were particular to fig leafs. These days, the ease of buying clothing has definitely freed up time, but it's left many of us without ever experiencing the thrill of wearing something we have pieced together ourselves. But how can we wear homemade duds when we don't know a hem from a haw? Worry not. From Boston to San Francisco, creative teachers are offering new takes on the Home Ec classes of yesteryear. Think lingerie and PJ bottoms, miniskirts and T-shirts. Here are a few of the best nouveau sew classes throughout the country.

At the Make Workshop, beginners learn to sew lingerie, handbags, leather boots, and hats.

The Make Workshop
New York, NY

The Make Workshop is housed in an old industrial New York City building. You can get industrious in a skirt- or dress-making seminar (take home the pattern and practice variations on the theme until your closet begs you to stop). Make-sters can also learn to sew lingerie, handbags, leather boots, and hats - even with no previous sewing experience. "People come in not knowing how to sew a button, but they're excited," says workshop founder Diana Rupp. "Sewing is a creative outlet. Time just flies by. It's also great for the environment. You can learn to repair and revamp clothes instead of throwing them away." One of the students' favorite offerings is a class with Sublime Stitching embroidery guru Jenny Hart, who teaches how to add excitement to old clothing by embellishing pieces with creative embroidered details, whether they be stitched images of sushi or mermaids or good old monograms.

The DIY Lounge
Portland, OR

The sew-curious can step into the DIY Lounge, a charming, vintage-inspired space that feels like a rec room. Susan Beal, author of the book Super Crafty, teaches basic sewing and A-line skirt-making. "We get high school students and women in their 50s. And sometimes friends take the class together," she says. "I didn't learn to sew until I was 26. Now it feels good to go into a fabric store without fear."

Crafty Planet
Minneapolis, MN

At Crafty Planet, instructors help newbies spin their bobbins with "beginner-friendly" classes such as the one for sewing PJ bottoms. Teacher Trish Hoskins points out that learning to sew teaches us more than just how to create a neat seam: it teaches us how to learn. "As adults, we are used to being competent. We've forgotten what it's like to learn new skills, especially physical ones. Patience helps." Crafty Planet also offers a colorful selection of fabrics - from Japanese prints to retro-y patterns of robots, teeth, and kittens. Hoskins calls Crafty Planet "a mini ecosystem of inspiration," where students can "go wherever their eyes and minds take them."

Posted on August 21, 2006