Unleash your creative side at Esther's First Ever Maker's Retreat! Join us for a 3-day garment making workshop in our historical landmark store. Choose from our expertly curated selection of fabrics, tools, notions, and more. Bring your sewing squad and enjoy dinner, wine tasting, and island exploration together on Bainbridge Island.
Day 1:
Check into your hotel
Meet at Esther's for a welcome lunch and refreshments where you will pick out your fabric and finishes, and start cutting your fabric.
Dinner
Day 2:
10am-12pm Sewing Session
12pm-2:30pm Lunch
2:30pm-6pm Sewing Session
Wine tasting at Eleven Winery and Dinner
Day 3:
10-12pm Sewing Session
12pm-2:30pm Lunch
2:30-6pm Sewing Session
Join us for our monthly meetup, the Symphony BOM class with Piper and Megan. In this meetup, we will review the cutting and sewing instructions for this month's block. The workspace and sewing machines will be made available to those who wish to work in the shop and get help as needed as they dive into piecing this month's block.
Develop new skills and create a stunning quilt, all in a fun and supportive environment.
If your child has not yet signed up for our classes, they need to first take our *checkride* class.
All supplies are included including all notions needed and our sewing machines.
A class tailored to what your teen is interested in working on. Come with a project in mind or make a project plan with Aly's help.
Aly is an enthusiastic apparel sewist who brings her creativity and love of sewing and working with new sewists to each workshop day.
Class is $30.0
supply fee will depend on what your teen wants to make. 15% off discount applies to purchases made for class projects.
Use our machines or bring your own if you have one you want to get familiar with. Our sewing studio is fully stocked with pins, fabric marking tools, scissors, measuring tape and rulers.
If you've completed the 1st class and with to continue taking classes, more project options will be available.
In this class we will focus on simple beginner projects to get the sewists comfortable with sewing. Some projects might be duplicated but for the more advanced or confident beginners or those not new to class, adjustments will be made to add a bit more challenge to the project.
An example of some projects this next month will be, coasters or mug rugs, simple tote bags, zipper pouches, fabric scrap bins, place mats.
I have really taken to the patterns from all these different french pattern makers. Some of them are in English, some are only in French. Not to worry, following the pictures and having even just a tiny bit of French vocab will make sewing up French patterns easy enough. Join us at Esther's as we dive into sewing with our all my new favorite french patterns.
We will start this class out with THE dress. I anticipate this will take 3 sewing/class days to complete but it you need more time, we will have open sew dates available for additional supported work time. To maximize class time, you should plan on having your pattern pre traced out on tracing paper. Need help with that step? Call me at the shop and we can consult on the easiest way to do this. This way you come to class ready to sew your muslin!
*fabric selection can happen on the first day of class either before or after class. We will not be using that fabric until the day of class day 2 ( likely with only cutting happening on day 2 )
Fresh croissants & jam served on the 1st day of class. Yum.
April 12th 1:00-2:00
This is a fun block and so rewarding to do! In this class I will show you my favorite method to make this block that looks difficult but is made completely approachable with the Creative Grids pineapple block ruler!
supply list will be emailed prior to class
Sewing machines provided. Please bring your own rotary cutter if you already have one ( if you don't have one already, one may be purchased on class day of course ), we have a couple in the space but not enough for everyone and this class is heavy on the trimming! ( but it's easy, I swear! ) We have plenty of mats and cutting space!
This class is beginner friendly and appropriate for ages older teens-adult ( since we will be using the rotary cutter all through class, this is not a class appropriate for the younger sewists. )
10:00-12:30
Let's head into the new year with new projects starting with pants. We will be using a shop favorite, the Free Range Pant from Sew House Seven.
You will need the pattern, tracing paper & muslin or an inexpensive ( check our sale section ) quilting cotton.
To maximize time in class, you should plan on pre tracing out your pattern. Need measurement help or help with tracing out your pattern? Call me at the shop for a quick consult and I'll help you out!
Fabric for your finished pant can be selected on the first day of class as we won't be using that fabric right away.
If you are drawn to those impactful and colorful panels from our
favorite quilting cotton brands and designers but aren't sure quite what
to do with them, join us in the class as Piper walks you through the
variety of ways to quilt with panels. Lots of bang for your buck when
you quilt with panels and so many options.
This class is beginner friendly and beginning quilting friendly.
Always wanted to try your hand at bag making? Now's your chance to dive in with this *just right* sized project bag. Make it once and I can guarantee this will become one your your go to makes.
Originally designed and sold by Fringe Supply Co., the Town bag is a great everyday purse and/or a do-it-all project bag, no matter what your project may be.
Techniques involved include sewing a straight seam, working with heavy fabrics, and setting rivets (optional).
Supplies needed for class
The Town Bag pattern
1 yard canvas ( may get an addition 3/4 yard if you want to have to different prints )
Webbing for handles ( you can also make handles out of the same fabric you are using for your bag )
Drawstring or twill tape
All supplies available in the shop or on our website and can be purchased with a 15% class discount.
Friday April 26th 5:30-7:30
It's like a book club because there will be books but all our books will be project based books. We'll pick a different project each month and discuss the how to make steps, get started on the project, have some snacks and talk about sewing. When we meet up the following month, we'll have a show and tell moment where we show our finished ( or nearly finished ) project, discuss wins and struggles of the project and pick our next project and/or book.
First book will be Wabi Sabi Sewing, a longtime store fave. In this first day, we will select our 1st project.
Book Club fee will be good towards store credit on book club day and can be used towards any supplies needed for the selected project.
I love a t shirt quilt, they are so extra warm and comforting. Bring in that stash of old t shirts you just can't quite seem to part with and learn how to make for yourself to keep or to gift. They make such a meaningful gift that will be treasured for years to come.
Class will cover the basics of how to construct your t shirt quilt. Bring in your T shirts to work on, at least 9. We will address fusible interfacing, how to cut your *blocks* accurately and sashing.
Class instruction ends at 2:30 each day but you are welcome to continue to work in the workspace until we close if you need extra work time.
Adventurous beginner friendly.
Sewing machines available for use.
Please include your phone number or email address so we can contact you with class info and send out a materials list.
*minimum of 3 participants to hold class
*sign ups for class close the Monday prior to class date to allow instructor to plan class instruction
May 17th-18th 1:00-4:00
The goal is to leave with a completed quilt top. If you need more time to complete your top, you are welcome to stay additional hours to continue working.
This adorable quilt mixes all the things I love in a quilt, simple shapes, adorable mini panels as the main focal point and animals. It's a great quilt for the animal loving adventurer of all ages. Make it for yourself as a great camping or RV quilt or make it to gift.
Quilt is beginner friendly. Bring your machine or use one of ours. Our maker's space is stocked with cutting mats, rulers and rotary cutters, straight pins and almost anything you need. Fabric supply list will be emailed to you upon sign up. Hope to see you in the shop, this will be a fun quilt!
And as always, there is a 15% discount for supplies and fabrics purchased for the workshop.