On November 8, 2014, thousands of sewers and DIY-ers worldwide will gather together for The Sewing Party, an online conference with over 30 classes relating to sewing and crafting. One of those classes, get ready for this, will be taught by me. And what will I be teaching? A live, step-by-step tutorial on how to make a bra from start to finish. Bramaking with Madalynne is the formal title.
For the last several months, I’ve been working behind-the-scenes like a madwoman to develop a course where I can bring my knowledge to you. The category of lingerie is a secret and heavily guarded, but it shouldn’t be. In one hour, I’ll cover choosing a bra pattern, finding your size, fabrics and trims, tips for tracing and cutting and constructing a full band, underwired bra. It is my goal that you “leave” not only understanding how to sew a bra, but why it is sewn the way it is. The why is important to me.
I’m a mixed bag of emotions. Nervous, excited, nervous and… nervous. When you start teaching, you put yourself out there to be criticized. Am I good at bra making? Do I know enough to teach others? What if people this I’m bogus? Those thoughts and more have been infiltrating my mind. I’ve been keeping these thoughts at bay by immersing myself in developing the course content, researching and sewing. The most difficult part, as I told Lauren, was defining my theories of bramaking. I’ve studied Beverly’s method, Amy’s method, Norma’s method and Novita’s method, but it is time to figure out my own.
I’ve always wanted to teach – one of my many mottos in life is it “pass it on” – and this experience was a great opportunity finally fulfill that goal. I also hope it will be a stepping stone to host in-person classes (don’t tell anyone, but that’s in the works for this fall/winter!).
Let’s talk more about The Sewing Party. To start, there is truly something for every crafter. Classes include home décor, fashion sewing, quilting and upcycling, crafting, costume design, techniques for turning your craft into an entrepreneurial venture, and more. For just $40, participants can attend workshops, chat with participants from across the country, interact with top bloggers and educational experts who are teaching and explore the latest crafting and sewing tips, techniques and products in our hobby.
As a teacher, I am offering free tickets and t-shirts to 5 Madalynne readers. To enter, like Madalynne and The Sewing Party on Facebook. For additional entries, follow Madalynne on Bloglovin and/or share the contest on one of your social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, twitter, etc). When you have entered, tell me so in the comments below. And be sure to leave your contact information! Winners will be chosen at random and notified on July 23rd. Finally, contest is open internationally. Good luck!