Sewing Basics (Home Ec Revisited!!) with Alli Murray

6-Part Series Workshop!

Date: Thursdays, May 7 - June 11, 2026

Time: 6pm-9pm

Description: Ready to take that sewing machine out of the box / closet / basement? New to sewing or just need a refresher? Alli can help with that! In Sewing Basics: Home Economics Revisited, Alli will start from scratch to teach you all the essentials you need to make sewing fun! Gear up with sewing tricks and techniques!

The Sewing Basics class is perfect for beginners, as well as people who know how to sew, but might be looking to improve technique on the basics. In this class, Alli will walk you through everything you need to know to use a sewing machine, read a commercial pattern, and complete a small pouch and toiletry bag just like in the days of home ec!

You can expect to have completed several samples and a couple bags by the end of the course!

During this course you will learn:

- The parts and workings of a sewing machine

- How to read a commercial pattern

- How to cut your fabric for a project, including bias binding

- How to attach zippers

- How to make basic bags

Materials to bring to class:

- 3 fat quarters of your chosen fabrics (main fabric, lining fabric, and coordinating fabric)

- 15 inch length nylon zipper (1.25 inch wide)

*All other materials will be provided

Tuition: $270 + $25 materials fee

Materials: Materials fee includes pattern, sampling material, thread and other bits; participants will provide their own fabric for their bags (we will provide guidance on this in the first class). Students can use the sewing machines in-studio.

Location: Contemporary Craft, Timmons Studios (5688 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201). Note, this workshop will take place in the Fleischner Family Fibers Loft, which is on the second floor of the building.

There are 2 entrances to the Timmons Studios.

• One entrance is facing Butler Street. To access the Fibers Loft from the Butler Street facing entrance, there are a total of 32 stairs to ascend.

• One entrance is facing 57th Street. This entrance is accessible by ramp, with no stairs to ascend. There is a lift inside the building to access the second floor.

If there are accessibility accommodations we can provide, or if there is anything you would like us to know before you arrive, please feel free to call Jamie Boyle at 412-465-1628 or email jboyle@contemporarycraft.org.

Cancellations and Refunds: Workshop cancellations are decided three business days before the start date. If workshops must be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment, the entire class fee will be refunded through Eventbrite, or you may leave your workshop fee in your Contemporary Craft account for future workshops.

Refund Policy: Student refund requests must be made at least three business days before a class begins. There will be a $25 cancellation fee. No refunds will be given without three-business days notice. Processing of refunds takes approximately three weeks.