Ms. Figgy's Garment School for Girls: Learn to Sew 15 Classic Pieces

By Shelly Figueroa and Amy Butler

Learn how to make super-cute clothes from scratch with this east-to-use garment sewing guide featuring 15 fun and easy projects!

Need a new dress? A chic clutch to go with that dress? No sweat! Ms. Figgy’s Garment School for Girls teaches you all the skills and techniques you need to create one-of-a-kind fashion pieces you will love. There are step-by-step instructions for dresses, clutches, t-shirts, tank tops, pajamas, skirts, and more.

This guide will teach you how to measure yourself, choose the perfect fabric, and all the sewing basics you’ll need to get started. Patterns are included so that you can change necklines, sleeve styles, and skirt shapes—all while learning how different fabrics drape and feel. You’ll be your new favorite designer in no time!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Sep 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781617450631

Book preview

Publisher: Amy Marson

Creative Director: Gailen Runge

Art Director / Book Designer: Kristy Zacharias

Editor: S. Michele Fry

Technical Editors: Debbie Rodgers and Nanette S. Zeller

Production Coordinator: Zinnia Heinzmann and Rue Flaherty

Production Editor: Joanna Burgarino

Illustrator: Rue Flaherty

Photo Assistant: Mary Peyton Peppo

Style photography by Nissa Brehmer and instructional photography by Diane Pedersen, unless otherwise noted.

Published by FunStitch Studio, an imprint of C&T Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549

Dedication

To my

Figgy’s kids

Acknowledgments

To my amazing students at Figgy’s Sewing Studio: Each day you walk into my classroom and renew my passion for sewing, bring a smile to my face, and keep me young. I love to watch your faces light up with each stitch and see how proud you are when you’ve completed a project. Thank you to your parents, who believe in keeping this lifelong skill and trade an important factor in your lives when the schools were unable to offer such classes.

To my gal pals in LO: Thank you for listening to me and loving me exactly as I am and for taking care of my boys when my plate was overflowing with to-dos.

To an amazingly supportive team at C&T Publishing: Roxanne Cerda, thank you so much for reminding me I have another book in me to write and for believing that I could. Michele Fry, thanks for your patience and understanding; you knew just how to put me at ease so I could move forward right when I was ready to panic. Diane and Nissa, thank you for seeing my vision and making it even better!

To my husband: For each time I fall down and you pick me back up and dust me off, I thank you.

To Franco and Julian: You bring joy to my heart every single day of my life, and I hope one day you look back and remember me working hard for your future while doing something I truly loved.

To my gorgeous, fun models, Chase Spiekerman, Morgan Boyd, Jenna Bowden, and Sydney Hamlin: I’m so happy I got to share this book with you, and I’m so blessed to have such amazing inspiration in my life on a daily basis. You are the reason I do what I do.

To my mom: Thank you for popping popcorn for each one of my classes, for opening the door with a smile while leading the kids to the studio, and for all the oohs and aahs as they walked out. You are my hero in all that you do and in everything you are. God gave me a miracle in you as a mother.

Foreword

Dear Reader,

How wonderful that you landed here with Shelly’s book in your hand, and I hope you’re prepared to go on a fabulous creative journey in garment sewing!

Shelly has a beautiful way of sharing her passion, with a capital P. She will be your guide, step by step, as you explore some important basics for successful garment construction.

What I love about her approach is that she doesn’t assume anything about the skill levels of sewists who work with her patterns. She provides the easiest instructions that not only prepare you for sewing success but also teach you valuable skills along the way. Her book is perfect for beginner sewists and also super interesting for those sewists with expanded skills. Shelly inspires you to play and be creative with her unique combinations of modern tops and skirts that individually are gorgeous, but sewn together become a hip, modern dress! After you’ve completed several projects, you’ll find yourself wanting to sew more, and you will confidently continue to grow your skills and enjoy the gift of sewing that Shelly has given you. Have fun! And be sure to share your joy of creating with everyone in your life!

Happy sewing!

Love,

Amy

Amy Butler is a renowned designer specializing in fabric designs and patterns. Amy’s work is known for its and bright, saturated colors. It features motifs inspired by traditional Asian patterns, retro and bohemian style, and modern influences. Her designs have been credited with inspiring a new generation of sewing enthusiasts. Amy says her artistic energy extends into the way she and her husband run their business and how they work to effect positive changes in their community and beyond. She says, We want to improve the lives of those whom we touch.

Introduction

So you’ve found yourself in love with sewing. You’ve probably made little pillows, bags, and other fun, crafty projects. But now you’re ready for more! I won’t repeat what you’ve probably already done before or figured out—how to thread a needle, use a sewing machine, or sew a straight line. If you can do those things, you are ready to make clothes! And that’s what you want to do, right?

I’m going to teach you some basics with classic styles. Then you will have the fundamentals to fill your closet with pieces that reflect your very own unique style. The clothes you will make can mix and match with one another and other items you have in your closet. And they are great all year long, whether you’re layering them for a chilly fall night or relaxing by the ocean on a hot summer’s day.

You’ll be able to make all these clothes and have fun doing it! So enjoy shopping for fabrics, turn up the radio, and have a good time sewing!

The Heart of Sewing: Fabric

Fabric is inspiring, but your choice of