Blueprints of Fashion

A workshop with Selene States

As blueprints of fashion, patterns are the fundamental building blocks for producing clothes. As aesthetic and practical objects that accompany us on a daily basis, clothes inform and mediate our everyday embodied experiences as social beings. A hundred years ago, the majority of people had a close personal relationship to making their clothes through home sewing patterns.

 

Part of our opening exhibition Our Very Fabric

Date: 20/5/26 Time: 6.30-8:30pm Location: The Generator, Packe Street, Loughborough LE11 3EZ Cost: Free

Book your place on Eventbrite.

Suitable for adults and children aged 12 and over. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Maximum 12 places - everyone in your party needs their own ticket.

This workshop will explore:

• a basic literacy with and handling of historical paper patterns

• how to read pattern illustrations and diagrams, their markings and guides

• fabric selection and economical layout plans

• how to transfer patterns to fabric through historical basting and chalk methods

• the relevance of laying out to pattern match and to align with fabric grain

• the advantage of testing designs on toiles, and the do’s and don’ts to repairing patterns

This workshop is devised for sewing enthusiasts of various skills: it will cover the basics of

pattern literacy for absolute beginners while also providing niche information to advanced

pattern sewing nerds.