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Seminars

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What is it all About?
In my design business, I make shop models for shops around the country. The first of each month I send out whatever is scheduled for that month -- so at the end of each month, I have a large collection of great new samples - and many times new patterns - that I can share with my friends around the valley - before they ship out.

So . . . I had the idea to have a 2 hour event - every month - at 3 different locations in the valley (east, west and north/central) -- each event would be the same - just held at different locations.. Each event would be an opportunity to share the new Shop Models and New Patterns - but it would also provide an opportunity to share Tips, Techniques, Ideas, etc. The event will be 2 hours long and the program would change each month. For instance, one month I would talk about Bust Darts, another month I would talk about Pants Fitting - another month I might talk about Waistband Techniques, etc - I think you get the idea.

I do need to charge for the event - gas, handouts, facility rental, etc - but I want to keep the expense as low as possible. The charge will be $7.00 per person (for the events at Zoe's Trunk and Sun Valley Quilts). I do not know the expense of the 3rd location yet (it will be at a hotel along the north part of the 101).

You would need to rsvp (by email) if you plan on attending - we would need to know how many chairs to set up and a vague idea of the people count :-) If you forget to RSVP, come anyway, but please try to email so I have a headcount- - you can pay at the event.

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Note: I am just organizing these seminars - here's what I have figured out for now (Tuesday, May 27)

East Valley - at Zoe's Trunk - 4th Saturday of every month - from 1:00 - 3:00 - $7.00 - pay me direct (there)
West Valley - at Sun Valley Quilts - 4th Friday - 10:00 - 12:00 -- $7.00 - pay me direct (there)
North/Central - to be determined - I am working on research and arrangements with a few hotels along the top of the 101 - close to the freeway - Date will be either the 4th Thursday or 4th Friday - exact time to be determined.
$7.00 - pay me direct (there)

* There will be patterns available at each location (yes, even the North/Central)
* If you a particular subject you would like me to cover in a seminar, please let me know

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RSVP for a Seminar
Please email me at sales@brensan.com and provide the names of who is planning on attending. You can pay at the event - I just need to know how many to expect. Please use your email program and send the email direct (my spam blocker doesn't like it when I put a link from the webpage - puts everything in the spam folder - sigh!)

Schedule of Seminars
The complete schedule is listed - in date order - on the Bren's Calendar Page

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Subjects Covered in Seminars
The following is a list of possible subjects that I can cover in future seminars in the Phoenix area. This is a 'think-tank' - and therefore subject to change and refinement. This list is offered as a starting point and your input and comments are very much invited - just email me at sales@brensan.com and let me know if you are interested in something that is not currently included on this list.

OK - here goes . . . . . . . . . remember, this is only a start and tentative descriptions - let me know what you think!
Scheduling announced later - after we've had time to refine this list and see what is the most popular.

Upcoming Seminars - (see calendar for exact dates/time/etc.- - -

Pants/Slacks - (August) - Alterations, where to start for a great fit, speed tricks, the easiest fly zipper insertion ever, tummy control panels, why I never mark notches on waistbands, converting a front zipper to a hidden pocket zipper, moving darts, flattening those pesky pleats, more . . . .

Waistbands/Waistlines -( September) - Tricks for professional results, stabilizers and good/bad points about different stabilizers depending on the garment, why use a center back seam in a waistband, using elastic as a filler (fabulous!), stitched-in elastic waistlines, adding a lining/slip, reducing bulk in an elastic waistline, facing a skirt/pants instead of using a waistband, belt loops, more . . .

Zippers - (October) - Installing centered, lapped and hidden zippers, using zippers as decoration, window zippers, hiding zippers in a garment, fast & easy fly zipper (also covered in pants) more . . .

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Future Ideas - - -

Sleeves - - Alterations for comfort and fit, sleeve heads in jackets (fast, easy and worthwhile!), quick design changes, speed sewing a shirt sleeve, facing a short sleeve, adding a perspiration guard, more . . .

Hem & Edge Treatments - Piping, frayed edge (same fabric or separate inserts), separate bias fabric edging, binding, easy facing hem for round hemlines (for skirts or tablecloths, etc), very narrow rolled hemlines (for sheer fabrics), more . . .

Decorative Extras/Wholecloth Techniques - I know, you're all quilters and you already know how to cut up fabric and put it back together to create a fabulous whole-cloth, but I've got LOTS of other ideas for things you can do to make your FABRIC first, and then turn it into a garment. Techniques include crinkling, using fibers, insertions in seams, other slice/dice techniques, soutache/braids, more ideas with fibers, contrast Fabric Strips (on collars, sleeves, etc - how to measure and plot them) contrast inserted in seams, frayed appliques, extra flaps, using soutache/braids/beads/etc., closures, decorative buttonholes, more . . .

Collars - Making them quicker, easier and prettier (is that a word?), changing the shape of them for added style, adding contrast or edging, changing the neckline of the garment to use collars from other patterns, designing your own easy 'fake' collar, more . . .

Pockets - tricks to prevent stretching, adding pockets in seams and in-between seams, as part of the opening/closure of the garment, adding your own, better patch pockets, add a seam and a pocket at the same time, more . . . This will include a little discussion on welt pockets but welts/bound pockets covered under separate discussion.

Push a Pattern - How to add new design seamlines, change the style of a collar, copy a neckline from a different pattern (so you can use the other collar), add decorative flaps, using elastic for design effects, extensions or layers, more . . .

Necklines - Fitting scoop necklines and altering the pattern, shaping necklines, reducing/enlarging necklines for wearing ease, using lining as a facing (sleeves or sleeveless), designing a distinctive neckline, all-in-one facings, binding a neckline, bias strip facing as finishing method, more . . .

Making Better Blouses/Shirts - You already know how to assemble a blouse/shirt, but this discussion is about tricks and techniques to make a basic shirt a fabulous shirt without adding a lot of sewing time. Better facings, better stabilizing, better buttonholes, more interesting closures, better collars, tucks/darts/ease, adding a perspiration guard, more . . .

Piping - This is my favorite decorative technique, nothing else is so easy, so affordable and so effective. How to making piping, why use different filler sizes, bias versus straight piping, double piping, piping as a edge, piping in a seam, joining seams (that cross each other) with piping, more . . .

Bound Buttonholes and Welt Pockets - Yes, they CAN be easy. My method is a blending of several techniques and I think I can take the mystery out of this (scary?) technique. Discussion will include marking, stabilizers, actual method and variations such as triangle-shaped welt pockets, sizing a buttonhole for your button, more . . .
* * * If you think you will never use a welt pocket or a bound buttonhole, give this seminar a chance and see all the ways I have used them in truly WEARABLE garments (including a shirt for my husband when I didn't have enough fabric for a patch pocket - only I would end up making a couture cotton short/sleeve shirt for a guy!!!)

Washable Tailoring - OK, this is the inside secrets on how I make my jackets. Most of you know by now that I do not dry-clean anything -- and that I pre-wash EVERYTHING. Over the years, I have learned or developed my own set of techniques which are fast (I hate handwork), effective and (gently) washable. The discussion will cover stabilizers, innerlining, sleeve-heads, shoulder pads, collars, facings, buttonholes/closures, more . . . . .