Georgia Tee or Dress Class (March 23 & 30, 2025)

Two classes: Sundays March 23 & 30, 2025, 10-2:30 p.m. @ Anthology Studio, 77 Suffolk St. W., Guelph

It's here - the perfect closet staple for beginning (or experienced) garment sewists: the Georgia Tee or Dress from Elizabeth Suzann. The Georgia is one of my most worn me-made garments; I reach for mine again and again. A basic, boxy tee, tunic, or dress that can be used a base pattern for endless variations and made in a variety of fabrics for year-round wear. Its perfectly scooped neckline hits right at the collarbone and doesn’t show bra straps; substantial cuffs give weight and luxury to the piece but are straightforward to construct.

Join me in making a beautiful piece of clothing you'll love while learning the basics of garment sewing - sizing and simple fitting, tracing and reading a pattern, a variety of seam finishes and construction techniques, bias neck binding, and topstitching - with guidance and support every step of the way.

Elizabeth Suzann is one of my favourite designers, with elegantly simple and timeless designs and a strong ethic rooted in sustainability and the joy of slow fashion.

Difficulty: Confident beginner! No previous garment sewing experience is necessary. Basic sewing skills, including threading your machine, sewing a straight line, and following a simple pattern, will be helpful. If you're in doubt, take Sewing Machine Basics first!

Suggested Fabric:

Light- to medium-weight fabrics with no stretch will work exceptionally well. Linen, cotton, silk crepe, seersucker, Tencel, rayon - pretty much anything with a bit of drape will work for this pattern. Lighter fabrics will add more drape, and heavier fabrics will result in a more structured garment. You can even try this in a wool or wool blend for a cool weather option. See detailed fabric requirements here.

You'll need:

- Woven fabric of your choice (fabric quantity requirements here; find detailed sizing info here)

- Coordinating all-purpose thread

- Basic sewing notions (scissors, pins, seam ripper, marking tools, etc.) I also have lots of shared supplies available to use.

- Sewing machine (machine rentals are available for the class at a cost of $40 for the session - contact me in advance to arrange rental!)

Cost: $200, including printed and pdf pattern, not including fabric or supplies

Instructor: Becky Swainson (@gather.and.make)

Participants: Max. 7

Location: Studio Anthology, 77 Suffolk St. W., Guelph