DIY Design: Take Sewing Classes Online

by Amber Eden (Subscribe to Amber Eden's posts)
Posted Jan 5th 2010 at 1:50PM

Sew far, sew good. Photo: Getty Images

Now that the new year is upon us, you can sweep away all those unfinished projects and plans for DIY wardrobes that never hatched. Is there a better time to sharpen your sewing skills than during the doldrums of January? A plethora of online classes offer both general instruction and essential sets like sewing a button or putting in a lining. See the full roster here:

Follow the crowd: PatternReview.com is a favorite among the online sewing community and their classes are great for both the price and the access to big names in the industry. This month you can learn how to knock off your favorite outfit with Kenneth D. King, install a lining from Sarah Veblen, or make the perfect little black dress expert Susan Khalje.
Button, button: Here's a free online video from eSewingworkshop.com that devotes 30 minutes just to sewing buttons. Who ever would have thought that there was so much to know!
Perfect pockets: Cool slit pockets (a.k.a. welt pockets) on blazers can be a daunting addition. So in order to make your jacket look oh-so-polished, here's a great welt pocket video that will show you how.
Brushing up: The Beginner Sewing Lab 101 with Shannon Gifford is good for beginners. Gifford teaches a whole start-up series, so after that you can do 102, 103, 104 ....
Sew like a Pro: If you want to take it to the next level, try Learn to Sew like a Pro. It's an online six-month course that is tailored to your time table and teaches seam finishes and construction techniques. For just $125 you can become the next great garmento!

Next week on DIY Design: Take the mystery out of sewing with knits for some of the easiest garments ever.