Alterations 101: Practical Skills for Everyday Clothing Fixes

Tired of clothes that don’t quite fit or pieces sitting in your closet waiting for repairs? Join us for Alterations 101, a hands-on course designed to teach you the essential skills to confidently hem, mend, and tailor your wardrobe.

Over the course of four classes, you’ll learn:

🧵 Class 1: Measuring & Hemming Pants
Learn how to measure accurately and master two essential hem techniques—one by hand, one by machine. Bring a pair of jeans and dress trousers to practice on and leave with skills you’ll use again and again.

🧷 Class 2: Tailoring the Waist on Jeans or Trousers
Discover how to take in the waist on jeans or trousers for a custom, comfortable fit. You’ll learn step-by-step how to assess, mark, and sew for a flattering finish.

🪡 Class 3: Dress & Skirt Alterations
Get hands-on with dresses and skirts as we tackle how to hem and take in garments for better fit and function. Perfect for everything from casual wear to special occasion outfits.

🧵 Class 4: Mending & Repairs
Save your favorites from the donation pile. This class covers patching holes, sewing tears, and practical mending techniques that bring worn items back to life.

Whether you’re brand new to sewing or brushing up on old skills, this class will give you the confidence to tackle common clothing issues with ease. Let’s make your wardrobe work for you—one stitch at a time.

Skill level: Beginner / Intermediate

Skills you’ll learn: Clothing repair, hems, alterations

Time commitment: class will take place over 4 sessions 2.5 hours each (10 hours total)

Prerequisite: Participants should have completed our Sewing 101 course or have equivalent foundational skills.

• Sewing machine
• Matching thread for each project
• A garment to repair for each class following the planned project

Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design from Western Michigan University. When not teaching at Fabricate Studios or traveling, you can find Sarah at her studio Revive Threads Co. where she loves creating sustainable clothing by upcycling amazing treasures and vintage fabrics. All of the clothing at Revive Threads is made from 90%-100% recycled materials.

Before launching Revive Threads Co. Sarah worked full-time in the industry using her skills in professional pattern making, technical pattern drafting, draping, and bringing paper to life at an apparel company in the metro Atlanta area. Sarah has over 8 years of hands-on experience that she willingly shares with the students at Fabricate Studios.