School of Sewing

School of Sewing

Learn it. Teach it. Sew Together.

Watch the trailer Peek inside the book

School of Sewing: Book Reviews

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Learn It

Fantastic! You’re learning to sew! Yay, you! Once you work through School of Sewing,check out these fabulous and well-written tutorials below. These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to great free patterns and tutorials available online, and now you have all the skills you need to make these to!

Note: The author is not responsible for any changes in content from an external site.

Gifts

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BOXY BAG

By Kelby Sews

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SNAPPY MANICURE WALLET

By Noodlehead

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CAMERA STRAP COVER

By LBG Studio

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FAUX PLEATED PILLOW

By V&CO.

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RIC RAC NAPKINS

By The Purl Bee

Clothing

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INFINITY SCARF

By Pink Chalk Fabrics

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POPOVER SUNDRESS FOR GIRLS

By Oliver + S

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REVERSIBLE BUCKET HAT FOR KIDS

By Oliver + S

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CITY GYM SHORTS

By The Purl Bee

Sewing Studio

Quilts & Quilting

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WONKY LOG CABIN

By Tallgrass Prairie Studio

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HANGING SLEEVE

By Tallgrass Prairie Studio

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LIBERATED CROSS BLOCK

By Lolly Quiltz

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RUGBY STRIPE QUILT

By Teaginny Designs

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STAR BLOCKS

By Cluck Cluck Sew

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STRING QUILT BLOCKS

By Film in the Fridge

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MACHINE BINDING

By Red Pepper Quilts

Teach it

Teach It

So you want to teach someone to sew? You’re fantastic. Did you know that?

We’ve made these free class outlines for you to use. They are designed to match the projects in School of Sewing. You’ll find a list of class materials, skills taught, class prep suggestions, and teaching and troubleshooting tips.

If you are teaching in a local fabric shop, you’ll want to download the “Shops"files, they as it include suggested add on sales.

For individuals using School of Sewing to teach friends and neighbors, download the "Individuals” files.

Thank you for passing on your love of sewing! Be sure to share your photos and progress with us.

File Downloads

Shops
My First Quilt, Set the Table Place Mats, Pleated Purse, Essential Tote Bag, Tech Case, Carry All Clutch, Zip It Pillow, Zipper Pouch, Ruffled Wristlet Key Fob, Simple Strings Apron, Lined Drawstring Bag, Speedy Pillowcase
Individuals
My First Quilt, Set the Table Placemats, Pleated Purse, Essential Tote Bag, Tech Case, Carry All Clutch, Zip It Pillow, Zipper Pouch, Ruffled Wristlet Key Fob, Simple Strings Apron, Lined Drawstring Bag, Speedy Pillowcase

Sew Together

#schoolofsewing

Share your #schoolofsewing moments with us! We’d love to feature your group in a blog post. Send a photo or two and a quick e-mail about your group.

See all School of Sewing Blog Posts

Photos from #schoolofsewing on Instagram


The Book

School of Sewing Book Cover

Get Your Copy

Grab a copy at these online retailers or ask for it at your favorite local fabric shop!




About the Book

School of Sewing allows you to follow in the footsteps of a group of beginners who shared one goal- to learn to use their sewing machines. This book is an engaging, detailed lesson plan designed to guide you along that same journey, whether you are learning alone or as a group. It begins with easy-to-follow instructions for how to use a sewing machine and advice on buying fabric and tools and then progresses through 12 projects— one three-hour lesson a month, perfect for friends to learn together. Your own School of Sewing will be proud to show off or to gift these trendy projects, which include a pillowcase, zippered pouch, tote bag, and patchwork quilt, each with optional details for “extra credit.”

You’ll Learn:

  • sewing machine types, recommendations and how to shop for the machine of your dreams
  • how to make fabric selections and understand color theory
  • how to navigate the fabric store, including interfacing, notions and fabric types
  • what the essential sewing supplies are that will get you started with the right gear
  • how to trouble shoot problems when they occur
  • professional finishing techniques
  • numerous sewing skills, including zippers, ruffles, buttonholes, pleats, binding, sewing a curve and machine quilting
  • how to sew 12 beginner projects, using step-by-step photos
  • tips and advice from fellow beginners in a fun, approachable and relatable way

About Lucky Spool

Beautiful Books, Made Together, One Book at a Time

Founded in 2013, Lucky Spool is building a community of talented artists and designers who want to collaborate with a publisher to bring their creative visions to life in books. Lucky Spool’s beautifully illustrated and photographed titles are created one at a time. Each title is produced to be a mainstay of any needlecrafter’s home library. As a collection, Lucky Spool books are provocative and visionary, inspiring sewists, quilters and knitters of all ages and skill levels. Visit us at www.luckyspool.com to see more of our high-quality crafting books.

Fabrics in the Book

These are the fabrics that were Used in the School of Sewing listed by project.

  • Speedy Pillowcase

    Main Sample: Pointelle Navy from Chromatics by Art Gallery Fabrics, Cuff in Clementine Shot Cotton from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics.

    Extra Credit: Interweave Chambray in Denim by Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Flange in Curry Hatch from Architextures, Cuff in Blue Branches from Botanics, both by Carolyn Friendlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

    Step-outs: Blue Branches and Blue Coleus, both from Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

  • Lined Drawstring Bag

    Main Sample & Step-outs: Main body in Curry Coleus, Lining in Blue Tree Line Stripe, both from Botanics by Carolyn Friendlaner for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Accent in Cross Square Red from Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt for Free Spirit Fabrics, Strings in Eucalyptus Shot Cotton from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics.

  • Simple Strings Apron

    Main Sample & Step-outs: Railroad Denim Twill Strip in Indigo, Strings and pocket in Railroad Denim Medium Denim Stripe in Indigo. Both by Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

    Extra Credit: Main fabric in Metal, Strings and pockets in Slate, all from Modern Solids by In the Beginning Fabrics.

  • Ruffled Wristlet Key Fob

    Main Samples (Top to Bottom): Blue Coleus and Ruffle in Blue Stems, both from Botanics by Carolyn Friendlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. TEAL?? from Modern Solids by In the Beginning Fabrics and Ruffle in Fern Mid Stripe from Botanics by Carolyn Friendlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Interweave Chambray in Pepper and Ruffle in Curry Coleus from Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander. Both from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Essex Linen in Flax by Robert Kaufman Fabrics and Ruffle in Pumpkin Aboriginal Dot by Kaffe Fassett for Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics.

    Extra Credit: Eucalyptus Shot Cotton from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics, Ruffle in Fern Hatch from Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

    Step-outs: Blue Tree Line Stripe and Ruffle in Blue Foliage Grid. Both from Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

  • Zipper Pouch

    Main Sample: Aqua Shot Cotton, lining in Charcoal Aboriginal Dot from Kaffe Fassett. Both from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics.  Extra Credit: Exterior in Pumpkin Aboriginal Dot by Kaffe Fassett for Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics. Appliqué in Essex Linen in Flax by Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

    Step-outs: Exterior in Railroad Denim Medium Stripe in Indigo from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Lining in Script Honeycomb from Minimalista by Art Gallery Fabrics.

  • Zip It Pillow

    Main Sample: Blue Stems from Botanics by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Binding in Aqua Shot Cotton by Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics.

    Extra Credit: Clementine Shot Cotton and binding in Pumpkin Aboriginal Dot. Both from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabric.

    Step-outs: Blue Hatch from Architextures and binding in Blue Coleus from Botanics, both by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

  • Carry All Clutch

    Main Sample: Charcoal Aboriginal Dot from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics. Lining in Springtime from Modern Solids by In the Beginning Fabrics. Page 114: Essex Linen in Flax from Robert Kaufman Fabrics and lining in Cross Square Red from Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt for Free Spirit Fabrics.

    Extra Credit: Exterior in Interweave Chambray in Denim by Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Lining in Grey Aboriginal Dot from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics.

    Step Outs: Exterior in Fern Mid Stripe from Botanics and lining in Lake Hatch from Architextures, both by Carolyn Friendlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

  • Tech Case

    Main Sample: Exterior in Interweave Chambray Denim. Pocket in Blue Stems from Botantics by Carolyn Friendlaner. Both from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Flap in Celemtine Shot Cotton from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics.

    Extra Credit: Exterior in Grey from Modern Solids by In the Beginning Fabrics. Flap in Interweave Chambray Pepper from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Pocket in Curry Hatch from Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

    Step Outs: Exterior in Grey and Pocket in Slate, both from Modern Solids by In the Beginning Fabrics. Flap in Interweave Chambray Pepper from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Lining in Curry Hatch from Architextures by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

  • Essential Tote Bag

    Main Sample: Straps in Eucalyptus Shot Cotton and Lining in Ice Shot Cotton, both from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics, Exterior in Sky City Map by Zen Chic for Moda Fabrics.  Striped Sample: Stripes in Coral, Orange, Fire and Red (bottom stripe), Lining in Sea, Straps in Red. All from Modern Solids by In the Beginning Fabrics.

    Step Outs: Exterior in Fern Hatch from Architextures, Lining in Curry Seagrape from Botanics, both by Carolyn Friedlander. Pocket and Straps in Essex Linen in Flax. All from Robert Kaufman Fabrics

  • Pleated Purse

    Main Sample & Step-outs: Exterior in Interweave Chambray Pepper. Lining in Curry Hatch from Architextures and Pocket in Ash Tree Line Stripe from Botanics, both by Carolyn Friedlander. All from Robert Kaufman Fabrics

    Extra Credit: Straps and Upper Body in Essex Flax from Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Main Body in Pointelle Navy from Chromatics by Art Gallery Fabrics

  • Set the Table Place Mats

    Main Sample: Eucalyptus Shot Cotton by Westminster/Free Spirit. Binding in Curry Coleus from Botanics by Carolyn Friendlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

    Extra Credit: Main fabric in Essex Flax by Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Accents in Eucalyptus and Aqua Shot Cotton from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics and Sea from Modern Solids by In the Beginning Fabrics. Binding in Grey Aboriginal Dot from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics.

    Step Outs: Backing in Springtime and Main Fabric in Grey, both from Modern Solids by In the Beginning Fabrics. Binding in Aqua Shot Cotton by Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics.

  • My First Quilt

    Main Sample: Background in Essex Linen Flax by Robert Kaufman Fabrics. Binding in Pumpkin Aboriginal Dot from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics. Accent Fabrics: Interweave Chambray in Denim, Hatch in Curry from Architextures by Carolyn Friendlaner, Blue Branches from Botanics by Carolyn Friendlander (all from Robert Kaufman Fabrics), Pumpkin Aboriginal Dot, Shot Cotton in Aqua, Clementine and Galvanized (all from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics), Pointelle Navy from Chromatics, Script Honeycomb from Minimalista (both by Art Gallery Fabrics) and Sky City Map by Zen Chic (from Moda Fabrics)

  • Other

    p 40-41: All fabrics are from the Modern Solids line by In the Beginning Fabrics.

    p. 45: Top to bottom: Essex Linen in Flax from Robert Kaufman Fabrics, Eucalyptus Shot Cotton from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics, Sea and Robin’s Egg, both from the Modern Solids line by In the Beginning Fabrics.

    p.46 Precuts: Botanics collection by Carolyn Friedlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics

    p. 48: Fabrics are a mixture of Shot Cottons from Westminster/Free Spirit Fabrics and the Modern Solids line by In the Beginning Fabrics. Fabric Collection example bolts are from the Botanics line by Carolyn Friendlander for Robert Kaufman Fabrics.

The Author

Shea Henderson

Shea Henderson

Shea Henderson is owner of the pattern company Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio. She is a former middle school math teacher turned sewing pattern designer– two careers that are, surprisingly, not so different from each other! Her work has been published in Modern Quilts Unlimited and Quilts & More magazines and she is a contributor to the book Modern Baby. Shea is one of the founding members and former president of the Kansas City Modern Quilt Guild. When not designing, Shea can be found teaching a group of friends and neighbors the craft of sewing. She lives in Kansas City, MO with her husband and three young children.

Follow Along with Shea

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shop.emptybobbinsewing.com
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