Fun and useful program set for June 20
Sew WHAT? Learning Sewing Basics with G will include music, snacks and camaraderie.
Attendees at the ‘Sew WHAT?’ program will be able to take home a sewing kit. [Photo courtesy the LILAC Foundation]
Here’s a little secret—I was always a good student in school and the only “D” grade I ever got was in home economics. Now I wish I had made more of an effort to learn early on how to cook and sew and other life skills. If you might be a late bloomer like me, here’s your chance to catch up in one area.
The LILAC Foundation Corporation is hosting Sew WHAT? Learning Sewing Basics with G from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on June 20 at the foundation office at 2322 NE 8th Road, Ocala. Lisa Irwin is president of the foundation.
“Join artist and designer Geraldo (“G”) for a fun, beginner-friendly morning of practical hand sewing, good music, snacks, conversation and learning the kind of sewing basics everyone wishes they knew,” the news release noted.
The program will cover sewing on buttons, repairing simple tears, basic hems, unraveling buttonholes and hook-and-eye and snap repair for garments. Attendees are asked to bring a garment needing simple repair, your favorite scissors if you have them (the team will have extras just in case) and reading glasses “if your eyes like to betray you during tiny tasks.”
“If your garment turns out to be too advanced for this beginner workshop, don’t worry, we’ll have fabric scraps available to practice on and will schedule future classes for trickier repairs and alterations. Taking in garments will be covered in a separate future class,” the news release stated.
Basic sewing supplies including thread, needles, buttons and fabric scraps will be provided, and attendees get to keep “a really cute sewing kit to take home,” Irwin noted.
The LILAC Foundation (Lisa Irwin Legacy for Arts & Culture) has three pillars: Arts In Health Ocala Metro, or AIHOM, which is now its own nonprofit organization; Elevating Futures, in which they invest in initiatives that foster growth, confidence and independence—particularly for women and girls; and Opportunity For All, which supports individuals in Marion County who may face barriers—whether due to income, location or other circumstances—by expanding access to the arts, wellness, education and personal growth.
To learn more about the foundation’s Sew WHAT? event, the “Gazette” did a Q&A with Irwin via email.
Whose idea was this?
Actually, this idea came directly from members of our community who know Geraldo’s expertise in tailoring and garment construction. People have been asking us to offer a class like this for about a year and we finally reached a point where we could host it at the LILAC office.
At LILAC, it’s important that we listen to what the community wants and needs. The last thing we want to do is create programming that no one is interested in. This was something people consistently asked for, so we knew it was worth exploring.
On a personal level, it resonates with me as well. I never learned to sew as a child, and I know I’m not alone in wishing I had those basic skills today.
What’s especially interesting is that this simple sewing class may be the beginning of something much bigger. Recent reporting has highlighted a growing shortage of tailors, sewists and alteration specialists across the country, even as demand for those skills continues to increase. Many experienced professionals are reaching retirement age, while fewer young people are entering the field.
One of LILAC’s pillars is Elevating Futures, and we’re always looking for ways to help people build skills that can lead to greater confidence, supplemental income or even career opportunities. Our hope is that this class becomes more than a one-time workshop. Perhaps it grows into a sewing program, mentorship opportunities, or pathways for people to earn income from home serving their neighborhoods, much like the local tailor many of us remember having in our communities growing up.
Right now, we’re teaching buttons, hems and simple repairs. But every skill starts somewhere, and we’re excited to see where this one might lead.
With so much “off the rack” wear available, why is it important to know how to fix a piece of clothing?
For me personally, it has a lot to do with the quality of clothing. If you’re a little vintage like I am, you’ve probably noticed that many garments made 20 or 30 years ago were constructed with higher-quality fabrics and craftsmanship than much of what we see today.
I’ve also learned a great deal from Esmee Bancroft and the Ocala Clothing Swap about the environmental impact of fast fashion. Esmee shared that a single article of clothing can take approximately 200 years to break down in a landfill, and even longer if it’s wrapped in plastic. That statistic really stuck with me.
When we’re able to repair a loose hem, replace a button or mend a tear, we’re extending the life of something we already own and love rather than sending it to a landfill. We’re also saving money and reducing waste at the same time.
I think there’s something empowering about learning simple repair skills. A favorite piece of clothing doesn’t have to be discarded because of a small problem. Sometimes it just needs a little care. That’s good for our wallets, good for our creativity, and good for our planet.
Will this be like a quilting bee, where attendees talk while they work?
LILAC is always about building community and having fun together. This class will be more instructional than social, but we’ve intentionally built in the first 30 minutes as a chance for everyone to settle in, enjoy a snack, meet one another and get comfortable before Geraldo begins teaching.
That said, I fully expect there will be plenty of conversation and laughter throughout the class.
Looking ahead, we’d love to explore hosting sewing circles or community mending gatherings, either at the LILAC office or in partnership with other nonprofits whose missions align with ours.
Sew WHAT? Learning Sewing Basics with G is open to ages 12 and up. The cost is $20.
According to the news release, “Space is limited, and honestly… your grandmother would probably be thrilled you finally learned this.”
To make a reservation, go to zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/sew-what-learning-sewing-basics-with-g
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