Do you have lovely outfits that you can’t wear? Special fabrics in your stash that deserve to be worn? A wardrobe full of clothes but have nothing to wear? Or, you would love a capsule wardrobe? Or looking forward to topping off your outfits by accessorising? Or even need to upstyle your home décor? Or maybe, you need to find out more about sewing buttons, replacing zips, darning, reinforcing or patching your jeans, adjusting hemlines, or, minor alterations to create a new-look you!

Bring your clothes that are dated, wrong-sized, hand-me-downs, op shop bargains, family treasures, as long as you would long to transform them. And bring any great patterns and fabrics too. Bring your ideas and dreams … with just a little guidance and practice you will breathing new life into your clothes and on the way to a new look you … a new you.

This is a fun class, which will partly follow what you, as an individual, need to work on, as well as learning new techniques, and ways to use them. Additionally, there will be a group project, so that everyone is included, in addition to your personal projects.

Course Outline:

You’re welcome to bring to class anything you wish to work on as your personal project. Or, if you are starting from scratch, come to the first class where you can discuss your ide-as and follow up by organising what you will need. This way you will have opportunities to acquire a greater understanding on what styles, colours and fabrics could work for you.

Learning Outcomes:

You will have increased skills and confidence in giving your clothes a new lease of life. Or how to create outfits so that you will be on the way to having a wardrobe with stylish unique creations that you can be proud of.

The journey will include basic pattern alterations, dressmaking skills. We will also look at how the best styles and colours will differ for individuals. Discover what styles will work best with what figures, and colour palettes for individuals.

What to bring:

Make a kit up for yourself:
Various needles, such as hand sewing (sharps) embroidery (crewels) and tapestry.
Snippers, rippers, pins and fabric scissors.
Assorted threads, including machine sewing threads. (You may find some treasures at The Sewing Basket shops, the closest one is in Caringbah).
Bring what you need for any individual project you wish to undertake. Remember you may also need a zip, buttons, interfacing etc.
You are welcome to bring your own sewing machine.

About the tutor:

I was fascinated by sewing from an early age. It wasn’t long before I was creating uniquely individ-ual garments that were much admired. When at University, I worked with a bridal and special occa-sions dressmaker for many years. And on the way I was growing to love how colour and patterns effected designs in everyday life and how some clothes will improve your life, and others won’t.

I have been teaching all my life and I enjoy sharing and helping people to forge ahead on their indi-vidual creative journeys. I am there to support them as they create new experiences & explore their own creativity for themselves. It is a magical experience.
After years of teaching, I returned to my first love and completed a Cert 3 and a Diploma in Fash-ion & Technology at TAFE and a Millinery course. I also completed the TAFE courses in Creating Costumes, Upcycling and Making Wearable Art. I have now undertaken extensive study in Fashion Psychology and enjoy helping individuals in private session to make more of their lives, and benefit-ing from that, by understanding how and what will bring empowerment to their lives, simply through what they wear and how they wear it.

I have been teaching Upstyling for three years, and what I really love is the joy that students have when they realise they can do it and have crafted their own individualised creative clothes not only to wear, but transform.

Other Information:

• To ensure resources are ready for you at the start of your course, we ask you ideally enrol at least one week before the course commences.
• All courses need a minimum number of students to run ("we try our hardest to get those") . If your course does not have enough students it will be cancelled prior to the commencement and you will be informed.