Sewing I: Sewing Machine Basics Class

With Briana Di Natale

Note: Personalize your bag with your own style, favorite fabrics, or sentimental materials. If you plan to bring your own supplies, please read our Bring Your Own Material Guidelines.

Are you this close to throwing away something that just needs a button or hem or hole fixed? Need a special gift but just can't find anything special enough? Looking for clothes that make you feel excited about getting dressed every day? Learn sewing machine basics in this perfect-for-beginners class. We provide the machines!

What you’ll make:

  • A reversible tote bag with a flat bottom that you can use for groceries, books, anything at all. Never pay for a shopping bag again, or it’s perfect as a bonus gift.

Foundational sewing skills you’ll learn:

  • Fabric handling (choosing, cutting, pinning)

  • Machine operation (threading, tension, potential troubleshooting)

  • Seam construction (sewing, seam allowance)

  • Component creation & attachment (lining, straps)

  • Special techniques (flat-bottom, hand sewing)

You’ll be able to make this bag over and over in different sizes, or apply your new skills to many different sewing projects. You’ll also be ready to move on to our other sewing classes where we’ll work with stretchy materials, make clothes and more (coming soon!).

Sure, YouTube is loaded with how-to-sew videos, but nothing beats learning in the company of others with an instructor helping you past any roadblocks you come to so you can progress quickly. The sewing community is close-knit and friendly so please come and join us!

  • Prerequisites: None. No Experience Required.

  • Class Capacity: 8 maximum, 3 minimum

  • Materials Provided?: While we do provide upcycled materials, we highly encourage you to bring your own! Personalize your bag with your own style, favorite fabrics, or sentimental materials. If you do plan to bring your own supplies, please read our Bring Your Own Material Guidelines.

  • Age Limit: 13+ (guardian required if under 18)

  • Partner Ticket Available?: No

  • Available for a Private Class?: Yes (info)

  • Clothing/Equipment Requirements?: None

About Your Teacher

Briana Di Natale has been a dedicated sewist and knitter since 2011. Her favorite projects to create are clothing and accessories. She almost exclusively wears things that she has made herself.

Briana learned to sew from her mother who attended FIDM in Los Angeles when she was a child. She grew up surrounded by her mother's patterns, pins on the floor and wearing clothing she sewed for her. Her grandmother is also a sewist and quilter so sewing is in her blood and soul. She has a giddy passion for encouraging and teaching others to sew.

See some of her work @frolicinthefiber or at frolicinthefiber.etsy.com