ioftheneedle: Sewing Machine Abuse and How to Stitch in Thin Air

A 3-Day Workshop

On Saltspring Island, British Columbia

With Karin Millson

This course is suitable for all skill levels

When: April 27, 28 and 29th

Where: Mahon Hall

Time: 10 – 4 (1 hour lunch break)

Cost: $290 + Booking fees

Materials List will be supplied

Maximum class-size 12

TO REGISTER VIA EVENTBRITE
CLICK HERE

SALES OPEN FROM 3PM 22ND FEBRUARY

Examples of what you will learn

Have you ever thought :

“How do I get this sewing machine to sew how I want it to?”

or even,

“How can a sewing machine sew in space?”

Sign up for this workshop with Karin, and you will learn how to do these things and more. Karin likes to challenge the instruction manual. She will teach you the rules and then how to wilfully break them.

Judicious use of sewing machine needle types allows challenging threads can be worked concurrently. Here thick DMC crochet cotton with fine metallic machine hread

Join Karin and you will be able to make your machine stitch in ways you didn't know were possible, with threads that you would have thought were of no use to a sewing machine and on surfaces that one doesn't naturally think of as sewing machine fabric. You will use the machine as an art tool.

Machine stitching on multiple layers of ironed bubblewrap

One participant’s partner remarked “Honey, I think there is something wrong with your sewing machine” after he was surprised by the textural stitches that had been produced during the class.

In fact there was nothing wrong with the machine and the course participant was able to make adjustments, at will, to create flat stitches, even stitches and looped stitches in patterns and shapes that were not even in the instruction manual and she could even make stitches in thin air.

And so she had learnt how a sewing machine sews in space.

During the workshop you will also be encouraged to make marks on white fabric in an innovative and non-intimidating way:-

-: and then mimic those shapes, lines and visual textures with the new stitch techniques that you learn.

Black, white and silver drawing, mimicked in varied machine stitchery on organza, paper and metal

with some machining in free space

-----------------------------------------------

FAQs

Do I need to bring my sewing machine?
Since this class is based heavily on the use of a sewing machine, participants need to bring a machine that is suitable (see below)

Karin has 2 such machines available for use in the class. Email her at ioftheneedle@me.com to book one.

Exploiting the possibility of changing tension settings to create looping and dotted stitches

Can my machine do this?

If your machine can do the following it will be suitable, I will teach the less experienced how to do these things:-
The type of machine that is optimum (though others are suitable) for the studies is a basic, mechanical, sewing machine. The ability to do zig zag, free motion, vary both stitch length and width at will and easily adjust top and bottom tensions (a vertically loaded lower bobbin is usually the best, but other machines can be accommodated) are required. If you are new to free motion stitching, please contact me (details below). Even a machine that you think cannot do free motion can usually be given a disguise to make this possible.
There is no need for numerous fancy stitches.

· The machines will be worked in free motion setting for some of the class. A suitable foot should be brought to class, or a modification might be possible Karin is happy to discuss this. Karin has several free motion feet for Bernina and Pfaff machines for class use, contact her to book one.