Design, Draft and Sew Custom Work Pants

About the Course

This series includes:

• April 27th: 4:30-7:30 pm: Sewing Studio Orientation & Sloper Creation: Familiarize yourself with our sewing studio and equipment while creating your own personalized pants sloper, the foundation for perfectly fitting pants and future designs. This foundational skill can be applied to create slopers for future projects, enabling you to design everything from skirts and dresses to jackets and more.
• May 4th: 4:30-7:30 pm: Pattern Drafting Basics: Learn the specific techniques for drafting a custom pants pattern, including key measurements and adjustments.
• May 11th: 4:30-7:30 pm: Fly Construction: Master the art of creating both button and zipper fly closures for a professional finish.
• May 18th: 4:30-7:30 pm: Pocket Design and Construction: Explore various pocket styles and learn how to draft and sew them seamlessly into your work pants.
• May 25th: 4:30-7:30 pm: Workpant Construction, Waistbands, and Finishing Touches: Learn how to create professional waistbands and apply finishing touches that elevate your workpants. Step-by-step guidance through the entire process of designing, cutting, and sewing your own pair of durable and stylish work pants.

Skills Prerequisite: This class is for intermediate to advanced level sewers who want to level up their skills and preferably have worked through a commercial pattern before. It is possible for a self-motivated beginner to practice getting comfortable on a sewing machine before and during the class. If you would like to sign up for sewing training before the course starts or have any other questions, please email info@nextfab.com.
Support, Studio Usage, and Homework: Some homework may be required to complete the project. You can work in the Textiles Studio outside of class for the duration of your included two-month membership. We can offer support in the studio most days of the week.

Q. What is included in the Maker Series package?

A. Registration in a Maker Series grants you:

• The scheduled classes and training to complete the selected project (over $600 of class instruction)
• 2 months of active NextFab Membership, starting on the first class date (valued at over $298)
• Adobe at Home Access ($49 value over 2 months!)
• Special member pricing to continue membership beyond the 2 months: $129/month (over 30% discount from our standard membership)
• A cohort of peers, new skills and confidence gained, and a sense of community within the Philadelphia creative ecosystem (priceless value!)

Q: Is this Maker Series right for me? I have ZERO experience!

A: While the Maker Series itself is designed to elevate makers, this specific work pants class is geared toward intermediate sewers. This means you should already be comfortable using a sewing machine, and, ideally, you’d also have some experience working with commercial patterns.

If you have absolutely no sewing experience, you’ll likely find this class challenging. However, if you’re a highly motivated beginner and willing to put in extra practice time, it’s possible to catch up. We highly recommend getting some sewing machine practice before the class starts. This will allow you to focus on the pattern drafting and industrial sewing techniques rather than struggling with the basics of machine operation.

To get the most out of this work pants class, consider taking a beginner sewing class or practicing basic sewing skills beforehand. We offer sewing training, and you can email info@nextfab.com to inquire about options. Investing a little time in foundational skills will make your experience in the work pants class much more enjoyable and successful.

Q: If I am a previous member of NextFab, can I join the Maker Series?

A: Absolutely! If you are a previous member and looking to complete the class project or get a major refresh of skills you haven’t used for a while, the Maker Series is a perfect way to get your feet wet again.

Q: I have a schedule conflict with one of the class dates. Can I make it up?

A: Yes. The Maker Series package accounts for one (1) makeup class date per student at no additional cost. Advance notice/active communication with your instructor is required to coordinate when you can make up the lesson before the next scheduled class date. Subsequent absences from the pre-scheduled classes will incur an educational fee of $60/hr to make up the material.

Q: Should I join the Maker Series or join as a regular member and take classes?

A: This depends on your goals. If you are feeling inspired and want to learn new skills but don’t have a particular project in mind, the Maker Series is perfectly suited to get your feet wet and help you find your way in the craft.

If you have a particular project in mind and want to learn all the skills needed and complete your specific project, our membership plus a credit package ($249/mo) is your golden ticket. Ultimate membership comes with $200 of class credits monthly, so you can get started taking the classes you need on your schedule. You can even book Private Training sessions with those credits if you need hands-on help completing your project.