Workshops & Classes

Fit for Art Patterns loves teaching to stores and groups. Below is a list of our most popular classes. We also offer custom events that meet the needs and interests of your group. Trunk shows can be held virtually too if your group enjoys Zoom meetings.  Contact us for available dates and current teaching fees. Please review our Event Cancellation Policy before registering.

Trunk Shows

Four Seasons of Jackets from One Pattern

In this inspiring lecture and trunk show, Rae Cumbie and Carrie Emerson will share many fabulous jackets based on the Tabula Rasa Jacket pattern and variations. Learn how to adapt one simple jacket pattern to suit every season and every occasion. You’ll be inspired by artful jackets from casual cotton and silky sheers to dress jackets and warm overcoats. Rae and Carrie will also discuss options for choosing seasonal fabric, lining and interfacing, pattern variations, a variety of exciting embellishments and getting started with your own designing and sketching. By the end of the evening, you’ll be eagerly planning your own jacket wardrobe!

One to 1½ hour lecture/trunk show followed by opportunity to purchase Fit for Art products. Unlimited number of participants.

“The gals from the Westminster Stitchers ASG group very much enjoyed your trunk show…. it was exciting to see all the inspirational garments, and we were glad to hear most are in the Gallery so we can take another look. We just wanted to let you know how much current and future fun we got from the show. Thanks for making your work available to the sewing community.”

The Quilted Jacket – Tabula Rasa Style

Attend an inspiring lecture and trunk show designed especially for quilters, featuring the Tabula Rasa Jacket. Rae Cumbie and Carrie Emerson share jacket samples for all seasons made from the Tabula Rasa Jacket pattern. The samples include sheer cool summer tops, light jackets for spring, cozy jackets for fall and warm winter coats. The Tabula Rasa Jacket pattern is an especially fine tool for quilters and other fabric artists, so many of their samples are pieced, quilted, appliquéd or collaged jackets. This quilt-focused trunk show includes test samples used to plan several of the jackets included in the presentation.

One to 1½ hour lecture/trunk show followed by opportunity to purchase Fit for Art products. Unlimited number of participants.

Four Core Patterns – One Great Wardrobe!

Create a modern wardrobe for all seasons and occasions from four core patterns! Rae Cumbie and Carrie Emerson present a trunk show of possibilities, illustrating that a little imagination can lead to an entire wardrobe of great fitting styles. They will show you how to sew a core wardrobe of comfortable and flattering jackets, pants, dresses, tunics and knit tops using Fit for Art’s easy-to-construct patterns that come with excellent step-by-step instructions. The trunk show will include sample core wardrobes for all seasons and occasions made from the Tabula Rasa Jacket, Eureka! Pants that Fit, Carpe Diem Dress and Tunic and Tabula Rasa Knit Tee & Tunic patterns and variations.

One to 1½ hour lecture/trunk show followed by opportunity to purchase Fit for Art products. Unlimited number of participants.

Workshops with Fit for Art Patterns

Tabula Rasa Jacket Basics and Beyond (2 days)

Spend two inspiring days fitting and creating your own Tabula Rasa Jacket. We’ll get right to work with a personalized fitting by instructors Rae Cumbie and Carrie Emerson using Tabula Rasa Jacket mock-ups to determine the right size and pattern pieces for you. You’ll prepare your own mock-up and then use it to perfect the fit and adjust your paper pattern. You will also learn how to keep using that mock-up as a design tool. You will cut out and construct a cotton “wearable mock-up” using a group of fabrics you’ve selected at our venue or brought from home. By the end of the workshop, you’ll take home your design tool mock-up, a customized paper pattern and an unlined version of the Tabula Rasa Jacket for casual wear. We recommend that you wear that first jacket out and about to make sure you are completely satisfied with the fit before starting your next jacket. You will also take home a wealth of information, enabling you to plan your next Tabula Rasa Jacket.

Additional topics touched on during the workshop include:

  • Making fitting adjustments to mock-up and paper pattern
  • Sketching design ideas
  • Choosing fabrics that work together
  • Comfort and ease of wear in jackets
  • Planning for engineering, such as interfacing, lining, closures and special sewing techniques
  • Seam treatments for a professionally finished unlined jacket
  • Ideas for embellishments and surface design techniques
  • Tips for planning a quilted jacket

Two 8-hour days. Maximum 12 students with one instructor and 24 students with two instructors.

Fit and Fashion the Tabula Rasa Jacket

Get started on a personalized jacket wardrobe with Fit for Art Patterns. This one-day jacket workshop uses the Tabula Rasa Jacket pattern as the foundation. Teachers Rae Cumbie and Carrie Emerson start with a trunk show, demonstrating the versatility of the Tabula Rasa Jacket pattern with jackets for all seasons and occasions in all kinds of fabrics. They will fit students into the correct size with Tabula Rasa Jacket fitting shells and show each student the adjustments needed to achieve a better personal fit. Rae and Carrie will help students make fitting adjustments to their own paper patterns. Then, students will cut the adjusted pattern out of muslin and begin assembling their own mock-up. By the end of the day, students will have a personalized jacket pattern, will be well on their way to completing a Tabula Rasa Jacket mock-up, and will be inspired to create their own wardrobe of flattering and comfortable jackets.

One 8-hour day. Maximum 12 students with one instructor and 24 students with two instructors.

“Fit for Art has an established following that helped us extend our quiltshop’s services to a new segment of garment sewists. Our customers value the explicit written instructions found in FFA’s patterns and the ease with which they can be customized to express unique creativity. Garment sewists universally look for direction in achieving a good fit, and that’s an integral part of every FFA pattern & workshop.”

Danners Bernina Shop

Advanced Tabula Rasa Jackets (2 days)

Move your Tabula Rasa Jacket to the next level in this two-day class that builds on the knowledge gained in the introductory jacket class (a prerequisite). Begin working on a quilted jacket, collaged jacket or vest, or incorporate Tabula Rasa Jacket variations into your existing pattern. Rae and Carrie will guide you as you choose appropriate fabrics, inner supports, trims and closures to make your dream jacket a reality. Learn to make more advanced pattern design changes, sketches and linings as artful as your jackets.

Two 8-hour days. Maximum 15 students with one instructor and 25 students with two instructors. Requires intermediate-level sewing skills. Some pattern work experience is helpful.

Quilted Jacket Techniques Sampler

Your quilted jackets will come alive and your confidence level will increase exponentially after experiencing this class with Rae Cumbie. You will learn techniques to combine quilting with fine jacket fitting and construction. Test a variety of materials for making quilted jackets as you sew a series of samples that include quilted linings, smooth dart applications, seam finishes and reversible jacket finishes, all using classic and modern quilting techniques. This class is accompanied by a trunk show to inspire an entire wardrobe of artful quilted jackets. All of these techniques will be showcased as you learn the planning methods, products and sewing skills needed to create beautiful quilted jackets.

One 7- to 8-hour day. Maximum 15 students with one instructor and 25 students with two instructors.

Tabula Rasa Knits – Let’s Get Started

Knit tops are essential in the modern wardrobe, so don’t be afraid to sew with knits. Rae Cumbie and Carrie Emerson will teach you to sew easy, well-fitting knit tops with smooth necklines and neat hems. Use the Tabula Rasa Knit Tee and Tunic pattern to make a knit top of your choosing. Students will be guided to choose the appropriate size and pattern pieces, cut their knit fabric, sew flexible seams and practice finishing techniques. After a busy day, you will be well on your way to finishing your knit top.

One 7- to 8-hour day. Maximum 12 students with one instructor and 25 students with two instructors.

Tabula Rasa Knits – A Solid Foundation (2 days)

Expand your wardrobe with a variety of well-fitting knit tees and tunics over two inspiring days by stitching up Tabula Rasa Knit Tops with Rae Cumbie and Carrie Emerson. After a trunk show of knit possibilities, students will be guided to choose the appropriate size and pattern pieces, cut their knit fabric, sew flexible seams and smoothly finish the necklines and hems. The second day will allow for more sewing and an exploration of finishing techniques to add variety to your knit wardrobe.

Two 7 to 8-hour days. Maximum 12 students with one instructor and 25 students with two instructors.

Eureka! Pants that Fit (2 days)

Are you tired of searching the stores for comfortable, well-fitting pants? Attend a two-day workshop to fine tune the Eureka! Pants that Fit pattern. This pattern offers a contemporary tapered silhouette in eight sizes with several fitting options. Rae Cumbie and Carrie Emerson will help you fit and customize your pattern—adjusting the crotch and hips, personalizing dart placement and shaping the legs—as you make pattern adjustments to your tissue pattern and prepare a mock-up. You will choose the waist height and waist style—finishing the pants with either a facing, waistband or elastic waist. By the end of the class, you will have a personalized pants pattern and mock-up and be well on your way to completing your first pair of fabulous pants. You will be ready to use this pattern to make pair after pair of comfortable and flattering pants for all seasons and occasions.

Two 8-hour days. Maximum 8 students with one instructor and 12-14  students with two instructors. Requires intermediate-level sewing skills.

“Loved Rae’s Eureka! Pants that Fit class with us. I have gotten many miles out of the pants pattern. Probably made 2 dozen pants from slacks, jeans and PJ bottoms. I rank it up to one of the most valuable classes ever taken.”

Doris Boughton, Central PA ASG Chapter Member

Eureka! Pants for Every Occasion (advanced, 2 days)

Take your Eureka! Pants that Fit to the next level in this two-day class that builds on the knowledge gained in the introductory pants workshop (a prerequisite). Spend two days with Rae Cumbie and Carrie Emerson to fine tune your own pants pattern. Then, you decide the details. Do you want a fly front, side zipper or back zipper? Do you prefer a narrow, straight or wide leg profile? Do you want to add pockets and where do you want them? We will help you customize your pattern using Details patterns from Fit for Art to create your dream pant style for your preferred pants fabrics.

Two 8-hour days. Maximum 10 students with one instructor and 16 students with two instructors. Requires intermediate-level sewing skills. Some pattern work experience is helpful.

I attended your class in Fredericksburg, VA in early October. Prior to that, I had vowed never to attempt sewing pants again. Today I completed my fourth pair and can now provide valid feedback. I have never been so happy with a garment I did not design myself as I have been with this fourth pair of pants. I did not know the pleasure of standing up without needed to “hike up” my pants until now. AND, these also did not ride up in the front forcing me to adjust them upon sitting down. I have no whiskers, no smiles, no stress wrinkles. I have a nice pair of pants that hang straight down. It took me four tries to perfect the waist finish, but I believe I am now there. My challenge moving forward is to remain this size! LOL. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and personally fitting me so that I can now have beautifully fitted slacks to wear when the weather turns chilly. 

Jenny H.