1^st lesson free

Catherine

Rate $71
Response 1h

$71/h

1^st lesson free

Sewing

Experienced tutor in Sewing in Indianapolis, Catherine offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Sewing

Lesson location

- online

About Catherine

From learning to sew on a button to making a wedding veil, I love to share what I've spent a lifetime as a professional designer, seamstress, and fiber crafts person making.

My "toolbox" is loaded from over 30 years of experience making costumes on Broadway including Lion King, Wicked, New York City Ballet and Metropolitan Opera. With a Masters in design my skills include every step from developing a concept, sourcing materials, drafting patterns and sewing in couture studios, millinery (hat making), embroidery and embellishments. Currently the "shows" I contribute to are making brides be everything they want to be.

Because much of my work has been highly collaborative, I have a experience leading people of all ages and backgrounds through projects as modest as learning to hem a pair of pants to facilitating teams of professional seamstresses to make a costume for a Broadway show.

I love what I do and sharing it with others. My favourite part is enabling someone to do things with their own two hands that they didn't even know it was even a possibility.

It kind of just happened. The projects I started were too big to do myself so I found and trained at first volunteers. Then it grew. I hope to never stop learning and sharing my experience, skills and creativity.

I've seen all my life but have a Master's degree in costume design I possess all the skills to come up with a concept, draw it, then make it including not just sewing but dyeing, crafts and embellishments.

My volunteer work for the children of my community became my portfolio that won me a substantial scholarship to one of the most competitive programme in the country. After graduating I ran costume shops bursting with students, professional artisans, and senior citizens.

About the lesson

First I ask what they want to learn and what they want to do with the skill. Then I listen to their answer. Listening is so often overlooked that I mention it specifically. Then I come up with a proposed plan to reach their goal. It is important to break a task into performable sections. When agreed upon, we get started. Whether sewing a hem or an evening gown, the process always begins with a plan.

I've worked with all ages. I've worked with Brownies, and girl scouts to make simple things like Panama pants or Barbie clothes including laying out a pattern, cutting it out, and simple sewing machine skills. I've developed a series of craft classes that I led in assisted living communities in my community, run undergraduate drama summer stock theater costume shops producing several productions simultaneously as well as professional shops of highly trained and skilled professionals.

To understand that your first work may not meet your expectations. Sewing is a skill, but not a hard one to learn with just a wee bit of persistence. That, the skill of sticking with it will reward you in the future no matter how well or far you go with learning to sew.

This prom season a young woman came to me to do a bustle for herborom dress. I could see how keen she was about it so I offered to teach her how rather than charging her to do it myself. She accepted with glee. After consulting her Mom, we arranged a time for her to visit my studio with her Mom. I taught her for the fee of a piece of fresh fruit, and showed her my work, around my studio and answered her questions about becoming a designer herself. She was a real delight to know.

A few things worth thinking about before reaching out
Noone wants to look inept or a bit dense. It's unfortunate that some who sew proficiently can be a little tough on lesser skilled sewers. I've seen how being a bit smug or haughty can crush or intimidate. People also can be harsh on themselves, too. I try to help a person I'm working with to appreciate their effort and tenacity to help them quiet that inner critic that can really style learning something new.

Rates

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Pack rates

5 h: $355
10 h: $710

free lessons

This first lesson offered with Catherine will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

1hrs

online

$71/h

Details

My fees reflect the time, effort, materials and challenge of what a student wants to learn. I try to be fair and bring a goal within reach. Sometimes that can't be measured in terms of money.

Experienced tutor in Sewing in Indianapolis, Catherine offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

About Catherine

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

free lessons

online

Details

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Experienced tutor in Sewing in Indianapolis, Catherine offers private lessons tailored to your needs.

Lesson location

About Catherine

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

free lessons

online

Details

Other tutors in Sewing

Geetika

Nivya

Riya

Tauts

Mohadesé

Mary-Ann

Elizabeth

Nicole

Katherine

Sia

Joanne

Enyse

Sugandh

Sasikala

Emily

Sujitha

Matilda

Bri

Edvânia

Aysha Ganam

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