Camp It's in My Jeans
A Fit & Finish Jeans Workshop
You can make a pair of fabulous and well-fitting jeans at a 4-day workshop in beautiful Rockbridge County Virginia under the guidance of Caroline “Pin Pushion” Cook and Make It Sew’s Accacia Mullen. If you’ve been intimidated by the thought of making jeans, or if you’ve made jeans but want to dial in the fit, or if you want to try something new, this is the class for you.
Classes will be held in a bright and spacious solar-powered sewing workshop on the Maury River and lodging is at a nearby idyllic riverfront property. In addition to four full days of instruction, your camp fee includes 4 nights of lodging, 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners, plus snacks and treats. You will receive a thank-you gift bag and first dibs on a Make It Sew denim boutique pop-up shop. If you’re local and want to make this a day camp, there’s a reduced fee.
Classes happen in this bright workshop space
The workshop will begin with careful measurement-taking and making a mockup of your selected jeans pattern. You’ll learn to recognize fit issues and how to correct them. We all have different bodies and will learn from observing other students fitting their jeans, too. You will learn about pattern manipulation and style details to make your jeans uniquely you.
You’ll put a professional finish on your jeans with the zipper fly, belt loops, and top stitching. With jeans finished or nearly so, you can shop for materials for your next pair of jeans and take home a new belt from our belt and buckle bar.
Learn our favorite top stitching tips
We are putting a strong focus on the fit process in this workshop. You’ll go home with a better understanding of how to make jeans that fit you how you want them to fit, and you may never buy jeans again. The fitting skills you practice will transfer to other garment making, too.
What do you need to bring with you?
A pattern. There are some that we recommend (see below) but you aren’t restricted to this list. If you are considering a pattern not included here, we’d like to review it first so we can give the best assistance.
Sewing machine and your general sewing kit.
Materials. Fabric for your jeans plus a mockup—it’s not a bad idea to do your mockup in the same fabric as your intended jeans. Necessary pocket bag and lining fabrics. Optional interfacing. Thread, zipper, button, optional rivets.
A detailed list will be provided once you sign up. Most supplies will be available for loan or sale but you probably have favorites. If you are traveling and unable to bring your sewing machine, we have loaners.
Enjoy your coffee on one of the porches overlooking the creek. The house is 3.2 miles from class.
Here are some jeans patterns (and jean-like patterns) that we have worked with and recommend:
Ginger from Closet Core; Morgan from Closet Core; Dawn from Megan Nielsen; Lander from True Bias. Both Caroline and Accacia are working on and becoming familiar with additional patterns and designers including the new Jude from Closet Core and Helene from Anna Allen. Your supply list will include our current recommendations for patterns that use both stretch- and non-stretch denim. Ask if you have questions or if there’s another pattern that you want to use.
Lunch and refreshments will be served at the workshop. We will have a group dinner on day 1. You’ll be on your own for dinner on day 2. On day 3 we will have a barbecue dinner at the workshop site followed by optional late studio time, and on day 4 we’ll celebrate our new jeans with one last shared dinner. Students choosing the whole camp experience including lodging will have access to a full kitchen and we can also recommend options for dining out on Thursday.
We will enjoy a group dinner together after the first class day.
Workshop fee is $1300 including lodging—without lodging, cost is $900. Your spot is reserved with a $315 deposit. You’ll receive an invoice for the remainder, due by July 28.
Our classroom has greater capacity than the camp house. This means that there will be a few spaces available for folks to take all the classes and eat with the group but sleep elsewhere.
If you’re interested, please complete the form below.
If we need to cancel this class, you will receive a full refund. You may withdraw by July 19 and receive a refund for the amount you've paid less 4% professing fee. Withdrawing after July 19 will result in forfeiting the amount you've paid unless another student takes your place. Please be sure you are up to date with Covid vaccines. Currently masks are not required though we will be monitoring community transmission rates and we may change requirements.