I have the wrinkles in all my dresses and blouses to prove it. She showed us how to alter our back pieces in that one small but critical area.

She demonstrated how to easily enlarge my cup size once I’d done all the other alterations first. Someday, I dream of being as relaxed as her — sewing and talking and drawing, all at the same time!

Finally, she showed me the “princess seam”
technique for the rear of my pant leg, that makes
me look like I’m ready for my celebrity close-up.

All of us have creative
desire ... but instead
of a competition, we
pooled all our talents
and treasures to a
tremendous effect.

As you can imagine, all the students had different figures, and it was fascinating to see how she worked with each person’s silhouette.

Illustration by Melinda Beck

I picked out the prettiest fabrics in my suitcase to work with. They happened to be the most difficult: tie-dyed transparent silk georgette with an embroidered border — shoot me now! — and a lavender loose-weave sweater knit that would sooner smother me than go easy.

But with a class like this, you have the time to master these demons. After our class marathon, I can sew French seams like a soldier can strip a rifle in the dark. I can make idiot-proof tailor’s tacks with waxed basting thread. I mitered my mighty collar

points; I steamed invisible melting stabilizers onto knits and purls. I curved a neckline over a breast so that no gap could ever be seen. I am invincible!

I laugh in the face of Viking sergers!

Sorry, the Marines got me a little worked up.

I did turn out to be the most inexperienced sewer in this class, although they’ve seen greener virgins than me. But instead of my ghastly premonitions coming true, everyone in class was thrilled for me and my little “breakthroughs.” I had the pleasure of being with a whole group of women who are as crazy about sewing as I am, the ultimate nest. All of us have creative desire, the kind of drive you see on Project Runway shows. But instead of a competition, we pooled all our talents and treasures to a tremendous effect.

Sewing classes are not inexpensive, for they are a luxury of time and personal attention. I’m reminded of one of my sewing author heroes, John Giordano, who once advised, in his chapter “ 10 Ways to Save for the Sewing Machine That You Want”: “Sell your blood.”

Yes, sometimes you have to break on through to the other side. Runway hostess Heidi Klum may enjoy her little “What were they thinking?” critiques. But I stopped just thinking about it, just watching other people do what I’d always dreamed of. Doing it, and holding the results in my needle-hot hands, is truly the best. ×

 

Hands On: The San Francisco Sewing Experience: sandrabetzina.com/experience.htm

Idiot-proof tailor’s tacks: craftzine.com/go/ttacks

The Sewing Machine Guide by John Giordano: craftzine.com/go/giordano