Sewing Texture

Class Preview

Whether you’re making something new, or livening up something you love, ruffles, pleats, gathers and shirring are easy ways to add style and depth.

Introduction

Meet your instructor, Vanessa Christenson, sewist and author of Make It Sew Modern. Then find out what you’ll learn over the course of this class!

Twisting Technique

Use jelly roll strips to make sophisticated rosettes! Vanessa walks you through various flower construction techniques, with an emphasis on how strip widths and different methods can yield dramatically different results.

Flower Pillow

Adorn a pillow with your twisted rosettes from the previous lesson. Vanessa describes the best placement options and colors to work with, and teaches you everything you need to know to complete the pillow.

Faux Pleats Technique

Get the look of pleats without having to put in all the effort. Learn how to measure, mark, press and secure faux pleats with up-close instruction.

Pleated Baby Blanket

Use pleats to make a sleek and sophisticated baby quilt with Vanessa’s help! Work with anchors and pleats, make a quilt sandwich and finish the quilt with professional tips, resulting in a beautiful gift for someone you love.

Ruffle Technique

Discover how to add dimension to projects with the addition of ruffles. You’ll learn how to create ruffled flowers and other designs before gaining tips on how to sew ruffles onto any project of your choosing and remove the running stitch.

Ruffle Quilt Blocks

Put your new ruffle skills to work as you add them to a ruffled quilted project. Vanessa walks you through ways to use jelly roll fabrics to create your blocks, add ruffled strips, assemble and sew your project.

Gathering Technique

Gathers are useful and versatile for many sewing projects. Explore traditional and modern techniques to create and use gathers in any project you desire! This method can be so fun, you may not be able to stop once you’ve started.

Gathered Detail Bag

Add pizzazz to a linen tote bag with coordinating print fabrics. Vanessa helps you apply your new gathering skills to a gorgeous tote, explaining how to sew the panels, assemble the tote, construct and finish your project with professional tips along the way.

Bonus: Shirring

Learn to shirr, a useful technique for sewing garments, accessories and home decor. Vanessa breaks down techniques for shirring and sewing in this fun bonus lesson.