Sewing Seminars

Speaking Fees

• 2½ hour seminar, Monday – Friday $675.00
• 3½-4 hour seminar, Monday – Friday $800.00
• 2½ hour seminar, Saturday or Sunday $1,150.00
• Two 2½ hour seminars, Monday – Friday $1,300.00
• Two 2½ hour seminars, Saturday or Sunday $1,575.00
• Weekday ‘Hands On’ Full Day $1,300.00
• Saturday or Sunday ‘Hands On’ Full Day $1,575.00

A deposit of $500 to cover airfare, additional & excess baggage is required to reserve your seminar date. Sandra’s speaking fee due on seminar date.In addition to seminar fees, the sponsor is also responsible for:

• Lodging and transportation
• Porterage fees
• Baggage/Shipment fees
• Participation in the Threads ‘seminar schedule’ ad (announcing seminar dates and locations-only if booked 9-12 months in advance)
• Airfare (may be shared by other sponsors on a circle trip – generally between $350 and $725 for continental US travel)
• If with in driving distance of San Francisco a ground travel fee of $30-$100 per day will be charged

Nuts & Bolts

Plan on high enrollment because of Sandra’s visibility from hosting the Sew Perfect television show, being a syndicated columnist, and authoring several books and articles in Threads. You should have no difficulty filling your seminars.

Stores: Sandra’s office manager will call you before the event to discuss books and DVDs you might want to buy on consignment, at 50% off, for the event. You may return what you don’t sell within 30 days of the seminar date as long as it is in resalable condition. Sandra has 6 books available: More Power Sewing, Sewing Step by Step, Power Sewing Toolbox V.1 & V.2 (set) and Fast Fit.

Guild Groups: Sandra will bring products for sale and offer them at a discount to your participants.

Please contact the Power Sewing office at info@powersewing.com for more information and to book your next seminar.

Power Sewing Toolbox

3 Hour Lecture (includes 1/2 hour break)

Let Sandra Betzina share her latest techniques from her book: POWER SEWING TOOLBOX.

• Eliminate facings with slick easy bindings for rounded and V necklines and armholes.
• Learn construction techniques for stretch mesh, bulk free darts in heavy fabrics, ripple free pleats and how to sew 2 different but difficult fabrics together.
• PLUS, get the inside story on sewing with bias, making a lining pattern, covering a shoulder pad and embellishment techniques for sleeves.

Power Sewing’s Masters Class

3 Hour Lecture (includes 1/2 hour break)

Become the master of technique so that your details are what everyone looks for!

• Learn to reshape and re-cut collars to avoid bulk on points and ends.
• Master sleeve plackets and cuffs to rival the custom shirt makers.
• Make welt pockets with flap details, reduce sleeve cap ease and create molded flawless sleeve caps.
• Master difficult seam joints, non gaping lapels, double piping, stacked trim, creative closures, and perfectly spaced top-stitching.
• Then learn the secrets of pressing and molding so that your garment looks flawless.

Fashion & Fabric Trunk Show

3 Hour Lecture (includes 1/2 hour break)

Sandra Betzina is back with a trunk full of new clothes and patterns to inspire you! In this class, Sandra will concentrate on details which make her garments unique and functional.

• Learn how to stabilize and finish necklines in knits and wovens so they do not stretch out of shape and lie flat against the body.
• Learn how to inset a finishing strip into a neckline, line knit pants, make perfect sleeve plackets, sharp collar points and some clever new pockets.

Working with Difficult Fabrics

3 Hour Lecture (includes 1/2 hour break)

Never let a certain fabric intimidate you again! Sandra provides instruction on how to work with the following fabrics:

• Not slippery silks, napped fabrics such a velvet, loose weaves, beaded and sequined fabrics, unstable rayons, single, double sweater knits and stretch mesh.
• Plus, get a handle on what techniques work for cutting, marking, seams, pressing and hems.

Couture Finishing Techniques

3 Hour Lecture (includes 1/2 hour break)

Let Sandra Betzina teach you techniques which separate the rookies from the pros when it comes to garment seam finishes:

• Learn the Hong Kong finish as well as a variety of other seam couture finishes used as embellishment.
• Then learn some clever sleeve solutions for the large arm which not only camouflage, but embellish a simple sleeve.
• Master not only mitered binding, but a double fringe in a sleeve without the bulk. Then learn why and how to weight a hem.

This seminar is chock full of the details an apparel sewer will want to know!

Zipper Know-How

3 Hour Lecture (includes 1/2 hour break)

Let Sandra Betzina give you the inside scoop or putting a zipper in any fabric for any application.

• Learn how to put a zipper in a welt pockets, separating zippers, fly front zippers, hand-picked zippers, invisible zippers which are truly invisible and a zipper opening in a pocket for a skirt or a pair of pants.
• Sandra will also bring step-by-step samples as well as finished garments for each application.

Zippers will never intimidate you again!

Inspired by Chanel

3 Hour Lecture (includes 1/2 hour break

Peak inside a Chanel jacket and get the scoop on what you need to know to duplicate these $3000 treasures!

• Learn a foolproof way to match plaids, tame princess seams so that they are pucker-free, and sew perfect seams on a corner.
• Then compare the inside with a few other well known designers.
• See Sandra’s take on Chanel with several of her own jackets.
• Find out what you need to know about interfacing, lining, weighted hems, self fringe, double fold trim application, mitering, invisibly stitched patch pockets, flawless welt pockets, in-seam buttonholes and the Hong Kong finish.
• Finally, learn the art of pressing.

Fast Fit

3 Hour Lecture and Seminar (includes 1/2 hour break)

Areyou often disappointed in the fit of your garments? Confused about what size to buy? Have you outgrown your old size in one area and not another? Are you intimidated by good fabric because you are afraid of yet another fit failure? Let Sandra Betzina explain her fit formula and how it will work for you!

• Lots of new pattern alterations, including altering the bust without affecting the armhole, downsizing for the short, up-sizing for the tall, and high hip considerations.
• Learn how sizing differs from one pattern company to another, what size to buy, how to alter for narrow shoulders, full back, sloping shoulders, full hips, protruding or flat seat, full tummy, large waist, small waist, sway back, and more.
• Turn pant “hopefuls” into a thing of the past.
• Eliminate baggy seats, pockets and pleats that pop open, accommodate full thighs, and reshape crotch curves to mimic your body curves.

Creative Closures & Pocket Openings

3 Hour Seminar

Successful garment openings are decided before construction begins. Sandra will give you guidelines so that you can make the right decision for your fabric.

• Learn the finer points for flawless machine buttonholes, easy but perfect bound buttonholes, shaped faced openings, button loops, button opening in a seam, and snap sorcery.
• Learn how to put in flawless invisible zippers, plus how to make several different kinds of easy & creative pockets.
• Sandra will show examples to illustrate all her special techniques.

Everything You Want to Know About Pants

3 Hour Lecture and Seminar (includes 1/2 hour break)

Get some help on the best styles and pant lengths for your figure.

• Find out what fabrics are compatible with different styles.
• Learn the pattern alterations to camouflage the flat or protruding butt, big tummy, full thighs, skinny legs, high hip and more.
• Get the low down on different waist treatments: elastic, tailored and faced waists.
• Finish up with pockets, pant linings, and crisp invisible hemlines.

Sandra will bring plenty of pant samples!

Today’s Fit Lecture

3 Hour Lecture and Seminar – *Limited to 20 Students

Disappointed in fit again? Commercial patterns don’t fit – until now that is!Sandra Betzina has designed a new sizing block for Vogue Patterns called Today’s Fit with alphabetical rather than numerical sizing ranging from 34-1/2 to 57 inch hip. Come see for yourself!

• Try on pants and jackets made up in all sizes.
• Experience the difference: no more baggy seat in pants, no more twisted sleeves, no more excess fullness in the upper chest, comfortable necklines, well fitting shoulders, and enough room in the tummy and waist at last!
• Let Sandra fit you personally in pants and a jacket, identify your fitting problems and give you alterations for future projects.

Today’s Fit Class

4 Hours- *Limited to 12 Students because of “Hands On Fitting”

Disappointed in fit again? Commercial patterns don’t fit – until now that is! Sandra Betzina has designed a new sizing block for Vogue Patterns called Today’s Fit with alphabetical rather than numerical sizing ranging from 34-1/2 to 57 inch hip. Come see for yourself!

• Try on pants and jackets made up in all sizes.
• Experience the difference: no more baggy seat in pants, no more twisted sleeves, no more excess fullness in the upper chest, comfortable necklines, well fitting shoulders, and enough room in the tummy and waist at last!
• Let Sandra fit you personally in pants and a jacket, identify your fitting problems and give you alterations for future projects.

Hands On Pant & Jean Fitting

6 Hours-*Limited to 12 Students

Tired of trying to get a pair of pants that fit? Begin the class by trying on pant and/or jean slopers in different sizes (brought in by Sandra herself) to determine what size you are at the hip and waist.

Sandra Betzina will advise you what additional pattern alterations you will need for a flat seat, tummy, high and full hips, sway back, full thighs, etc. You will then cut out the pants or jeans from scrap fabric or muslin. Fit will be refined. Alterations will be transferred to create a master pattern.
You now have a pant or jean pattern which fits and can be made again and again!

Note: In order to obtain accurate measurements, avoid wearing clothing that is too tight or it will distort your figure.

Host or student must provide the following:

• scotch tape and scrap paper
• a tape measure and a straight edge ruler
• marking pens in 2 colors & hi lighter pen
• 3 yds of twill tape
• 7-9 inch regular zipper
• Vogue 2948, 2913, 7608, 0r 1034, purchased by full hip measurement
• 2-1/2 yards muslin or non-stretch scrap fabric
• sewing machine and basic sewing equipment, i.e. scissors, thread, pins,
• seam ripper

Jacket Fit

6 Hours-*Limited to 12 Students

Disappointed in fit again? Commercial patterns don’t fit – until now that is! Sandra Betzina has designed a new sizing block for Vogue Patterns called “Today’s Fit” with alphabetical rather than numerical sizing ranging from 34-1/2 to 57 inch hip. Come see for yourself!

• Try on the pretests for jackets.
• Get tips on fit, including alterations for large and small busts, narrow, sloping, or square shoulders, and rounded or sway back.
• Alterations will be recorded on a fitting worksheet to take home and apply to your pattern.

Note: In order to obtain accurate measurements, avoid wearing clothing that is too tight or it will distort your figure.

Knit Know-How-Pants Only

All-Day Hands-On Workshop – *Limited to 12 Students

Get Sandra Betzina’s take on choosing the right knit for a project!

• Try on Sandra’s pull-on pant pattern (Vogue 1411)
• Sandra will determine any alterations you need to make so that you can alter your patterns and cut them out. (Bring a ruler, tape, a high lighter pen, ponte knit fabric and scrap paper for altering the pattern).
• Your next step is to cut out the pants and top and begin working on them with Sandra’s advice on technique and her assistance through every step of the way, so that your outfit not only bits, but looks professional!