Debbie Glenn
Pre-Day Classes
Monday
“Ruban Bleu” Jewelry or Scissors Roll
(6hrs, Fine Machine Sewing, Intermediate)
Embellished bags for
needlework supplies and projects, often referred to as “sewing frivolities”,
were especially popular with Victorian ladies.
The flap of this exquisite white linen, rolled case features a blue
ribbon bow nested above a satin stitched edge.
Outlining, Richleau bars, and blue organdy
inserts add a touch of color and set off the design elements on this nostalgic
bow case.
In this six-hour class, students will
learn how to prepare open areas, create stabilized bars, add insertion fabrics,
and finish pre-cut edges using a shortened zig-zag
stitch. Debbie’s simplified edge
stitching technique eliminates the tedious application of a separate padding
cord yet, produces a clean, stable edge without the stabilizer fuzzies often associated with machine work. Instead a series of straight stitches pad and
then later outline the satin stitch work adding dimension and camouflaging any
minor stitch imperfections. After completing three small notebook samples,
students begin work on a modern frivolity, which holds three pairs of
embroidery scissors and has a generous pocket for additional storage or is
customized to accommodate jewelry.
Students are encouraged to bring their embroidery scissors to class so
the pocket shapes can be adapted to accommodate their personal collection.
Techniques: Australian Windowpane, simplified
satin stitched edges (one and two layer), stabilized Richleau
bars, edge stitching
Tuesday
Tea Time Cozy
(6hrs, Fine Machine
Sewing, All)
Redwork is a form of
outline embroidery stitched in a single color. Our nostalgic, rickrack trimmed,
tea cozy cover features a perky teapot using a straight stitch worked in red
pearl cotton to replicate a hand outline stitch. Embroidered accents, added by hand in
matching red floss, give the entire project a hand made appearance. Students learn how to transfer a motif to
fabric, stabilize the design area, and recreate the blanket stitch using
Debbie’s easy one step straight stitch and the French stem by satin stitching
over gimp using red DMC Broder machine thread.
Quick construction and delightful results make this one project you’ll
be sure to enjoy!
Techniques: Debbie’s easy one step straight stitch technique using pearl cotton as top thread, rick rack application as an in seam piping replacement, perfect linings (how to create linings & under collars that enhance)
Wednesday
Silk Ribbon
Puffing Bonnet
(6hrs, Fine Machine
Sewing, Intermediate- Advanced)
FMS
basics will be reviewed but students should already have mastered the following
techniques
roll
and whip, joining lace to lace,
entredeux to flat fabric, and entredeux to gathered lace
If
you love puffing but hate pulling threads, cutting strips, raveled raw edges,
bulky rolled seams, and tricky trimming... silk ribbon puffing may be the
answer to your dreams! In this 6 hour class
we'll discuss puffing applications and sewing techniques (traditional,
supported, lace edged). Students will
complete notebook samples and construct a precious Japanese lawn baby bonnet
embellished with silk ribbon puffing, lace and entredeux... this sweet
confection is sure to be a cherished addition to baby's wardrobe!
Techniques: Making, gathering blocking, and
stabilizing puffing strips; attaching puffing to lace and entredeux,
reinforcing puffing strips, shaped puffing (curves & corners), bonnet
construction including curved lace trimmed piped crown, entredeux as a trim,
and fancy removable bonnet ties.
2008
Join Debbie for 4 days of machine magic
and learn some of her unique techniques for recreating handwork by machine. Class time concentrates primarily on mastery
of these new techniques. Students make
reference samples prior to beginning garment construction. Confidence gained making samples leads to
successful completion of class projects as well as the incorporation of the new
techniques into future projects.
You
must bring your own Sewing Machine- which must have an adjustable length &
width zig zag, blind hem,
blanket (heirloom appliqué, picot), or pin
stitches (Point de Paris, Parisian hemstitch= stitch looks like ½ of a ladder) are required.
***Please do a stitch test to verify that
your machine has pin stitch which makes 3 vertical stitches between pt A and B
(forward, back, forward) then 2 horizontal stitches between B & C (to the
side, and back) and that the length can be reduced to 2.5 and width can be
reduced to 1.5 While this is
optimum you can substitute a pin stitch with 5 vertical stitches (forward,
back, forward, backward, forward) or 4 horizontal stitches (to the side, and
back, to the side, and back); any more repeats will look too heavy.
An alternate stitch which may be used is the
blanket stitch.
Please do a stitch test to verify that your machine has a blanket
stitch which makes 1 vertical stitch between pt A and B (forward) then 2
horizontal stitches between B & C (to the side, and back) and that the
length can be reduced to 2.5 and width can be reduced to 1.5
Thursday
Dainty Heirloom
Diaper Set
(6hrs, Fine Machine
Sewing, Intermediate)
Knowledge
of basic FMS techniques (pulling threads to gather lace, lace to flat fabric,
French seams) required
Expand
your heirloom skills while making a lace trimmed satin batiste Gertrude style
topper and matching panties for a special summer baby! A dainty shell hem neckline, lacy scalloped
hemline, “hand” whipped bodice release tucks, and an old fashioned shoulder
button closure are just a few of the features which set this precious set
apart. Students learn how to replicate
whipped tucks by machine (to mark fabric, thread a machine for no tie release
tucks, and stitch precision tucks), sew lace to a stabilized trimmed edge using
Debbie’s unique two step corded pin stitched lace application, and create a
delicate shell hem edge.
Techniques: Shell hem, whipped release tucks, and
corded pin stitched scalloped lace edging
Friday:
La Petit Jardin Circa 1920
(6hrs, Fine Machine
Sewing, Intermediate)
Knowledge
of basic FMS techniques (pulling threads to gather lace, lace to flat fabric, French
seams) required
Join Debbie for a day of machine magic
and learn how to transform a simple yoke dress into a precious Parisian baby
frock with distinctive European flair.
While the pastel embroidery creates a dimensional flower garden in both
these dresses, it’s the balanced design and haute couture details which make
them “extraordinaire”.
Beautiful blue baby couture daygown -both sides of the full length front placket are edged gathered French lace, a fully lined and interfaced yoke supports the weight of the pin stitched serpentine hemmed skirt, inside as beautiful as the outside with the tiniest French seams and lace bound armholes, perfectly symmetrical white lace trimmed Peter pan collar and banded puff sleeves…and almost everything is embellished with precious pink granito posies!
Saturday
& Sunday
Frilly
French Christening Gown & Bonnet (12hrs,
Fine Machine Sewing, Intermediate- Advanced)
Knowledge of basic FMS techniques
(pulling threads to gather lace, 
lace
to flat fabric, French seams) required
These
Italian organdy and French lace confections incorporate vintage details from
several dresses and bonnets in
Debbie’s personal collection.
Special features on the bonnet include two drawn thread hemstitched
tucks set off
by machine featherstitching (like those found on a“bonnet blanc pour bebe du premier age” from
a frothy triple lace frill (inspired by a c.1890 Ayrshire bonnet), luscious silk satin ribbon rosettes, and an
easy to
construct gathered crown (similar to that on a
1920’s Parisian nightcap). The daygown
has the sweetest inverted V
yoke trimmed in pin stitched lace insertion embellished with
pinwheel roses and wisps of floral embroidery.
A
simple
neckline frill, double lace and beading trimmed puff sleeves, and inverted side
tucks make this a sweet little
dress, but it’s the elaborate drawn thread
hemstitched tucks alternating with rows of feather stitching and embroidery
on the skirt that transform it into a stunning christening
gown fit for a royal Miss!
Students
will learn how to prepare fabric for machine drawn threadwork, remove the
appropriate number of threads,
adjust machine stitches to replicate hand work,
and secure tucks using the basic hemstitch, use a pleater
to create
stroke gathers, adjust a machine feather stitch
so it looks handmade, apply cut away lace without fuzzies,
make ribbon
rosettes, pinwheel roses, and so much more. This special French inspired heirloom set
is sure to make baby look like
a little cherub on her special day!
Techniques: Drawn thread work & feather stitch by machine,
hemstitched tucks& lace neckline, pin stitched lace
application & placket, mock stroke gathers, ribbon rosettes,
and pinwheel
rose embroidery