SEWING
Start your sewing journey with the guidance of our patient, knowledgeable, and skilled instructors. Through class demonstrations, projects, and activities, we’ll cover everything you need to begin stitching and continue building your skills.
Here, we cover all the basics. Get comfortable using an industrial sewing machine, learn troubleshooting techniques, and master essential skills such as threading, seams, zippers, hems, and hand-sewing methods. Complete the course by designing your own duffle bag! This course is for beginners as well as makers eager to reconnect, and is transferable to the Fashion Certificate Program.*
KEY INFO
November 8, 15, 22, December 6, 13, 20 (2025)
Saturdays 10-1 pm
6 sessions
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: November 1st
MADE RITTENHOUSE: 1719 Chestnut St, Second Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
PROJECTS + OBJECTIVES
Thread and operate an industrial sewing machine
Sew a variety of zippers from start to finish
Confidently use a variety of seam techniques
Use hand sewing for hem, buttons, hook and eyes
Apply the most used machine hem finish
Sew your own denim duffel bag
RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES
You will need a machine at home for your homework. We recommend the Singer Heavy Duty 4411. Additional supplies we suggest include:
2 - 3 yards of muslin
2 yards of light to medium-weight denim
3.5 yards of 2" strapping
8.5” x 11” portfolio or binder with sheet protectors
Sewing pins and hand sewing needles
Seam ripper
1 spool of black thread
Fabric shears
Pencil and notebook
Clear flexible ruler, 2 x 18 inches
Two 9-inch (or longer) invisible zippers and two 9-inch regular zippers
22-inch zipper for duffel bag
120 inches of 2-inch-wide webbing/strapping, “Made at Made”
Looking to grab all of these at once? Order your Complete Sewing Kit or purchase items individually from our shop.
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Build your sewing skills and improve techniques for basic 3D garment construction. Through class demonstrations, students will learn to work with production patterns and cover skills such as creating collars, sleeve plackets, cuffs, and setting in sleeves. Complete the course by making a unisex button-up shirt! Sewing 2 welcomes both beginners and experienced sewists and makers and is transferable to the Fashion Certificate Program.*
KEY INFO
Dates: January 4, 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8 (2026)
6 sessions
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: December 28th, 2025
MADE RITTENHOUSE: 1719 Chestnut St, Second Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
PROJECTS + OBJECTIVES
Create your own denim workwear shirt
Garment construction
Work with professional patterns
Insert collars like a pro
Master Flat-Felled Seams
Install button-holes
Leave with a finished button-up shirt
RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES
3 yards of light to medium-weight woven fabric
Matching colored thread
1 yard of fusible interfacing
8-12 buttons (3/4 inch)
Looking to grab supplies? Purchase some items individually from our shop.
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*All sewing courses are not under the purview of the Board of Private Licensed Schools.
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These courses are perfect for anyone wanting to pick up a new skill or refresh their existing ones. They're suitable for beginners, experienced sewists, and designers aged 18 and up. If you’re a young sewist or know someone who is, take a look at our weekend sewing courses designed for kids and teens aged 7-17.
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Sewing 1 and Sewing Basics are both excellent options for beginners! The main difference is that Sewing Basics at Made West uses Singer Heavy Duty 4411 home machines and consists of 4 classes (four weeks to complete), while Sewing 1 at Rittenhouse is taught on Juki industrial machines and includes a total of 6 classes (six weeks to complete).
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Yes. You will have assignments to work on at home throughout the course, so expect to spend 1-2 hours on homework each week.
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Made Rittenhouse is open at 10 a.m. every day for staff, students, and members. New and returning students should arrive no more than 15 minutes before their class starts.
If you’d like to see the space or get to know our community, please schedule a tour.
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Currently, open studio access is only available to our studio members and students enrolled in the Fashion Certificate Program. Learn more about our Fashion Certificate Program or how to become a member.
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We invite parents, guardians, and friends to come in to say hello and chat with our staff. We kindly ask that anyone not participating in the class wait outside of Made at a location of their choice until the class ends. Made Institute’s Rittenhouse location is conveniently near many cafes, shops, and the famous Rittenhouse Square, offering you plenty of options to pass the time.
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If you cancel your order by the original registration deadline, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel after this deadline but before the first class begins, you will receive a 50% refund. However, no refund will be provided for cancellations on or after the first day of class.
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If you have completed and passed an in-person Sewing 1 or 2 course at Made Institute Rittenhouse, you can apply the course credit toward the Fashion Certificate Program. You won’t need to retake the class, and the cost will be deducted from your first tuition payment
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If you know your seams, hems, and related skills, we recommend becoming a member or enrolling in Sewing 2, our Patternmaking courses, or Workshops. As a member, you can work on your personal projects in the studio throughout the week, refamiliarize yourself with the machines, or improve your skills with our other course options.
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All fashion, art, and design courses and programs are held at Made Rittenhouse, 1719 Chestnut Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Interested in youth offerings or workshops? These are available at our Made West location, 4719 Pine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19143
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