Lectures & Workshops

by Connie Amaden-Crawford

Here you can find information about the content of Connie's classes.
Please refer to Connie's schedule for dates of upcoming seminars.
We do not offer on-line sign-ups for these events. Most lectures and workshops are hosted by third-parties. If you are interested in attending, please refer to Connie's schedule for contact information.
If you are interested in organizing an event, please contact our office.

FITTING AND STYLING FOR THE "GIRLS" (FULL DAY PROGRAM)
It's about draping your personal fit for an A/B cup, C/D/DD cup, F/G cup, and H/I cup. Using your personal measurements and cup sizes, learn the art of fitting a pattern for various cups sizes. Connie will demonstrate the different drapes needed to make the various cup sizes (A/B cup, C/D/DD cup, DDD/F/G cup, and H/I) and shoulder/armholes to create a perfect custom blouse (sloper). Using finished sewn blouse shells (60 various sizes from sizes 8 to 20 and 1X to 6X), Connie will fit each attendee for their personal fit.

Connie will also demonstrate how to use this custom blouse pattern to style any shirt, blouse, vest, dress or jacket. Drawing from her 35 years in the fashion industry, Connie will demonstrate how to use this custom blouse pattern to style any blouse, vest, dress or jacket design of your own and how to interchange various patter pieces from other existing patterns. In addition, Connie will demonstrate many pattern and draping techniques to create your personal designs. This will include princess seams, favorite collars, custom necklines, plackets, ruffles, flounces, yokes, sleeves, and other fashion details that are popular today. She will demonstrate how to fit out the gaposis of a neckline, making a shoulder and armhole fit properly, and how to match the collar to your necklines.

Using 1/3 scale patterns, you will also try a few of these design elements.
Bring: Paper sciessors, scotch tape, plastic ruler, (18" X 2" gridded) & stapler.

Fashion Forecast - Fabric and Design Inspiration (1 hour class)
Connie will share the latest trends in designs, fabrics and colors for the coming season. She draws on information from the professionals who interpret the catwalks from Paris, Milan, London, and New York. From the runway to realty, this forecast information will give reliable predictions to meet the needs of the fashion minded.

GRADING - Making Your Pattern Larger or Smaller (2-1/2 hour class)
Learn fashion industry grading techniques. First Connie will illustrate the theory and method of grading and how to select different grades for different sizes and people. Using a specially made grading ruler, each attendee will be given a basic pattern and grading ruler to grade in a step-by-step method. This process will help those who have always wanted to change a size but were afraid.

Bring Supplies: Painters masking tape, sharp pencil and pen.

Creating & Fitting Princess Seams and Strapless Gowns (2-1/2 hour class)
Connie will teach you how to draft, drape and fit your favorite princess seam blouse, dress or jacket. Using a princess seamed blouse and dress, she will demonstrate how to contour and shape the front ad back princess seams to adjust the bust cup, the waistline fit, and the hip proportions. Connie will demonstrate fitting and sewing a strapless bodice to create your favorite formal gown.

Fitting Sleeves & Armholes (2 hour class)
Learn the key to making correct armholes and properly fitting sleeves. Using her patternmaking experience from the fashion industry, Connie will demonstrate how to make the armhole fit your body. She will demonstrate on ladies from the audience how to make the sleeve fit correctly into your custom armhole.

Sew Like a Pro (2 hour class)
Hear the inside scoop for tips and techniques used in the garment industry to sew fast and achieve professional results. Learn how to produce smooth sleeve caps, which is the best foot for zipper & gathering; perfect topstitching; setting invisible & mock fly zippers, insert pockets, along with fail proof methods for working with slipper fabrics or fabrics with pile.

Bag a Jacket Lining by Machine (2 hour class)
Lined jackets are most comfortable, easier to wear and will last much longer. The garment industry developed these methods to line a jacket and achieve professional results. Learn the necessary steps to completely assemble and insert a lining by machine with no hand sewing.

Drafting and Styling Skirts (2-1/2 hour class)
Three skirt slopers will be demonstrated to give you the staring points to develop quick, easy skirt designs or to copy your favorite designer. Learn which sloper to use to create a multitude of skirts, including fitted skirts, skirts with fullness, and skirts with style lines. You will also learn how to fit different waistline shapes and keep the hem parallel to the floor, how to design yokes, fitted & flared gores, kick pleats, style lines, sarongs, flounces and more.

Drafting and Styling Pants (2-1/2 hour class)
The pant sloper will be demonstrated to give you the inside scoop on how pants are developed in the fashion industry and how pants maintain balanced inseams, side seams and grainlines. You will also learn how to fit different waistline shapes and the different proportions for smaller figures vs. larger figures as well as full tush and flat tush.
Learn how to create a multitude of pant designs, including various pants leg shapes, pleated pants, pants with waistline fullness and elastic waists, yokes designs, and more.

Advanced Pattern Class (2 or three days)
This is a special fitting and pattern workshop. Everyone in attendance will be fitted with a pre-made custom blouse pattern (CS1201) and then complete the pattern to use in class. This pattern includes sizes 8 to 20 and 1X to 6X from A/B cup, C/D/DD cup, DDD/F/G cup, and H/I cup. Connie will demonstrate how to interchange various pattern pieces to make a shirt, vest, blouse, dress or jacket design of your own. In addition, many pattern and draping techniques will be shown. Bring one design you would like to know how to make.

In addition, Connie will demonstrate many pattern and draping techniques to create your personal designs. This will include princess seams, favorite collars, custom necklines, plackets, ruffles, flounces, yokes, sleeves, and other fashion details that are popular today. She will demonstrate how to fit out the gaposis of a neckline, making a shoulder and armhole fit properly, and how to match the collar to your necklines.

Using 1/3 scale patterns, you will also try a few of these design elements.
Bring: Paper scissors, scotch tape, plastic ruler, (18" X 2" gridded) & stapler.