Class Offerings

WEST Meets EAST ARTwear Trunk Show

Welcome to Debi’s Closet! Watch audience members model a variety of artwear ensembles, a mix-and-match wardrobe that includes coordinated jackets, vests, tops, trousers, dresses, and accessories. Debi is a nonrepentant clothes horse with a penchant for blending a variety of exotic and not-so-exotic textiles and embellishments to create some truly wearable looks. 60-90 minutes.

There are supply lists that I have prepared for each class and handouts for most of the following classes which can be reproduced.

Part-day Classes

One Kool Klosure

Bring one kool klosure. How you define it is your choice—button, bead, found object, old jewelry. Add complimentary fabric swatches of your choice. Bring trim, ribbon, yarn. Then let’s “play”! This is a design class for those who want to quickly explore what a closure for a belt, garment, jewelry, or handbag might be. You should have several sketches of possible closures when you’re done. During the course of this class, we’ll examine a variety of belts and garments from my trunk show and discuss design decisions I made in choosing what I did. Feel free to share a “kool klosure” of your own. 2-1/2 hours.

Details, Details, Details—It’s the Little Things…

It’s those little details that often make a garment special. In this class we’ll take a close look at the ensembles in my trunk show for those interesting touches. We’ll examine how the creative uses of stitching, buttons, beads, piping, and trim can add that distinctive look to your own work. Bring a work-in-progress for troubleshooting or a special detail of your own to share. 2-1/2 hours.

Waist kNot, Want kNot

Got a bag full of scraps from those last few garments you’ve created? Got a great stash of weird fabrics you’ve been wanting to play with? Want a way to enhance your wardrobe and quickly? Accessorize! Make a belt! Using Lois Ericson’s What Goes Around Belt Pattern as a jump-off point, you’ll learn how to combine a variety of fabrics and techniques to create the” perfect” accessory to complete your favorite ensemble. Lots of samples! Lots of fun! Basic sewing skills required. Beginning quilting skills helpful. 3 hours.

Elements of Design

Intrigued but daunted by combining various textiles and detailing in a garment? Do you want to develop and/or refine your eye for such a creative endeavor? Come learn by doing with your fellow sewers and me. Bring items that may be puzzling you and we will help you refine your selections and develop a sense of what makes combinations “click” or not. You will begin to look at your stashes differently when we are done! Plan to be inspired and inspiring! 2-1/2 hours.

1-2 Day Classes

Artwear 101: Off-the-Wall and Out-of-the-Closet

Become your own designer! Begin with a jacket or vest pattern of your choice. Learn how to create a one-of-a-kind garment/ensemble that’s YOU. Perhaps you have a stash of fabrics you’ve been saving for that special garment or there’s some embellishments or embellishment techniques you’ve been wanting to use. Here’s your chance to take a chance. Lots of fun and mentoring (including tips for pattern selection) offered. Basic sewing skills required. Beginning quilting skills helpful, but not required. 1-2 days (6-12 hours).

Plain Geometry (or the Rectangle Revisited)

A class for the geometry-challenged…just kidding! The rectangle is a great canvas on which to express your creative urges. Learn how to design and make a vest, top, or jacket using just this basic shape (or some variant thereof). After taking a few simple measurements, you’ll create your own pattern pieces. But that’s just the start of all the fun. Learn to combine a variety of soft fabrics, trims, and closures for that one-of-a-kind look. Basic sewing skills required. Beginning quilting skills helpful but not necessary. It’s amazing what you can do with a few simple rectangles! 6 hours.

DHALI Fetish Pins: Betcha Can’t Make Just One!

Bring out that Wild Woman in you! Learn to create a soft sculpture “Hot MaMa”, “Goddess”, or “Woman Warrior” pin that will proclaim YOU to the world. Wear her on your favorite artwear, outerwear, whateverwear. With Dhali, you will learn the basics of combining fabric, buttons, threads, ribbon, beads, charms, yarn, found objects into one-of-a-kind jewelry. You’ll do some simple straight stitching on the machine and lots of embellishing by hand. Learn some simple beadwork techniques. Betcha can’t make just one! 6 hours.

West Meets East Vest: The Chanchanko

It’s a favorite of wearable arts designers. Starting with just 4 basic body measurements, you can learn to design your own version of this classic vest--even make it reversible! By using an eclectic blend of fabrics, techniques, and/or embellishments, you can create a sensational one-of-a-kind garment. Basic sewing skills required. Beginning quilting skills helpful, but not required. Come play! Come join the fun! You will never look at fabric the same way! 6 hours.

West Meets East Jacket: The Hanten

Take a bit of this, a little of that, and make it your own! With this class, learn how to design your own wearable art garment--how to create a harmonious whole from a variety of fabrics and techniques. By taking just a few personal measurements, create a classic shape that will form the backdrop for your creativity. Basic sewing skills required. Beginning quilting skills helpful, but not required. 1-2 days (6-12 hours).

Ideas Made Material—from Concept to Cloth

Explore the design possibilities of one of four Sewing Workshop patterns—Bento, San Diego, Elle, or Mizono Top. Each is a great starting point for examining how simple changes can create a something quite different from the original. You will see several samples of my own “takes” on each of these patterns. Learn to create your own concept of one of these patterns then realize that concept in cloth. Basic sewing skills required. Beginning quilting skills helpful, but not required. Basic sewing skills required. Beginning quilting skills helpful, but not required. 2 days (12 hours).