Garment alterations are a fun and empowering way to level up your sewing skills and expand your wardrobe options. Professional tailor Lauren Taylor is here to guide you through the entire process of this essential skill set! Whether you are working with handmade, ready-to-wear, vintage or thrifted clothing - this class will teach you how to see flaws in garments as exciting opportunities for improvement.
WHEN: The class with be held from 10am to 5pm Thursday August 7th, 2025 in our brightly lit workshop space in Edmonton. Lunch and afternoon snacks will be provided.
DETAILS: Students are encouraged to bring a variety of garments, both handmade and ready to wear. Although we may not get through every single piece by the end of class, students can expect to leave with the knowledge and confidence to be able to continue their practice at home. Students are required to bring their sewing machine*.
What students can expect to learn in class:
- Effective seam ripping techniques for a variety of stitches, including straight stitches, serged finishes, and chainstitches
- How to assess a garment’s fit and style, and how to determine what changes need to be made
- How to pin fit a garment and transfer the adjustments in preparation for sewing
- How to take apart a garment, look inside, and determine the best method for executing whatever adjustment needs to be made based on the construction of the original garment
- Basic garment repair
- How to determine whether a garment can successfully be altered or repaired, best practices for using trial-and-error to approach for alterations on existing garments, and how to troubleshoot any problems that may arise
The exact techniques covered in class will depend on the garments that are brought in by students. Don’t know what to bring? Here are some suggestions of topics that can be covered:
- Altering a garment for a better fit
- Making design changes to a garment - shortening or removing sleeves, changing necklines, or collars, adding or removing style ease/volume, adding or removing pockets
- Changing hemlines - topstitched, blind, rolled, using the original hem on jeans
- Garment repairs - holes, split seams, tears, replacing elastic, replacing buttons, replacing broken zippers, adding patches and repairing worn fabric
- Making a garment smaller or bigger
- Repairing or replacing garment lining
- Garments for friends, family members, loved ones, etc.
TESTAMONIALS: Hear from some of our past participants!
...it was a great workshop! I've been sewing for years, but that was my first ever "formal training" and I am so glad I attended. The biggest thing I think I gained was a mindset shift, Lauren really showed me what is possible. The workshop gave me the steps and baseline knowledge to expand my sewing into a fully new direction. I was interested in alteration and mending, but did not really know how to start. I look at my mending pile totally different now! - Hanna
I found Lauren’s simple tips the most useful. How to size darts; what pins to use when; when to reshape vs when to alter - some of the sew-life changing learnings. Lauren helped with the alterations I brought to the class, but the long lasting learnings are what I have come to value most. - Monica
PRICE: $250 CAD
Required skill level: This class can accommodate most skill levels, from beginner to professional. For beginner students, it is important that to have a general understanding of clothing construction and the process of assembling a garment (including pressing, maintaining accurate seam allowances, sewing curved and straight seams, finishing seams, etc). Students should be comfortable threading and operating a sewing machine, and be able to work independently with minimal instruction.
Minimum age is 18 years.
*If you are coming from out of town and would like to make arrangements to use one of our machines, please contact us at formerandlatterfabrics@gmail.com
Key Information
Lauren Taylor is a sewing enthusiast and rad sewing instructor based in Nashville, TN. 100% self-taught, Lauren has been sewing for most of her life and makes anything and everything! In addition to teaching fun sewing workshops, Lauren also works professionally as a tailor for a local fine suiting store, as well as on set wardrobe + alterations for commercials, tour wardrobes, and red carpet events in the country music industry. Lauren can be found at LLADYBIRD.com and at @LLADYBIRD on Instagram.
Payment in full is required to book a spot in our workshop and due to the limited number of spaces available registration is non-refundable. Discounts cannot be applied to classes. Up to two weeks in advance of the workshop, participation can be transferred to another sewist.
All participants will be contacted by email two to three weeks prior to the workshop with all the necessary details for the workshop.
The workshop is located in our Brick-and-Mortar retail store and we ask all participants to be respectful of the space, equipment, other participants and shoppers.
The workshop will require the use of sewing machines, pins, needles, irons, cutting tools (scissors and rotary cutters), etc. By your participation in any class, workshop, lesson, or workspace usage, you agree to release and hold harmless Former and Latter Fabrics, its instructors, and employees from any and all claims and liability related to any accident that may arise as a result.