Design & Make Your Own Wardrobe with Cal Patch (OCT 28-NOV 1)
*OPTIONAL BOARDING HOUSE ROOM RESERVATION (THIS HOLDS YOUR SPOT, ROOM FEES + TAX DUE AT THE END OF YOUR STAY)
October 28 - November 1 (TUES-SAT, 9 AM–4 PM)
If you have always wanted to make the clothes YOU envision in your head, here is your chance! Using the techniques from her book, Design-It-Yourself Clothes, Cal will teach you how to draft your own basic patterns for a shift dress, leggings and shirt/jacket, based on the measurements of your unique body. Then you will learn how to take those patterns and stylize them into endless variations. For each of the three styles, you will make a muslin, fit and correct your pattern, and finally sew one or more finished garment(s). Before you know it, you'll have a whole new handmade wardrobe!
Skill Level: Students must be at least competent beginner-level sewers, and comfortable using a sewing machine. Intermediate and advanced sewers are also welcome and can take on more challenging projects. No previous patternmaking experience is necessary.
Materials List:
Sewing Machine + extension cord (Note: must have zigzag or stretch stitches to do leggings)
Notebook
A pad of 18 x 24″ paper, or a roll at least 14″ wide (newsprint or drawing paper)
Pencil, sharpener, eraser
See-through 18″ ruler
Tape measure
Scissors (for cutting paper)
Clear tape
3+ yards medium-weight cotton, linen or other woven fabric* (for shirt/jacket)
3+ yards medium-weight cotton, linen or other woven fabric* (for dress)
5-6 yards total muslin (or inexpensive cotton woven fabric which could become "wearable muslins”) for dress and shirt/jacket muslins
1-1/4 yds of cotton/lycra jersey for finished leggings – MUST have at least 5% stretch fiber (Lycra or Spandex) and 4-way stretch. (Note: most stretch jersey is 58/60" wide, and will be wide enough to cut both legs out of one length. but if your thigh circumference is more than 30" you'll need twice the length (2-1/2 yards).
1-1/4 yds of cotton/lycra jersey for fit sample (most likely will become a "wearable muslin") – MUST have at least 5% stretch fiber (Lycra or Spandex) and 4-way stretch.
1 yard (1/2” to 1” width) elastic (or enough to go around your waist)
Thread (all-purpose) to match all fabrics
1 package single-fold bias tape to match dress (1/2″ wide)
Buttons, snaps, zipper or other closure for shirt/jacket
Optional: 14″ or longer invisible zipper to match dress (only needed for a more fitted dress)
Optional: Invisible zipper foot for your machine (Cal recommends the YKK brand or the brand of your sewing machine) ONLY if doing an invisible zipper
Basic sewing kit: scissors, pins & cushion, tape measure, seam ripper, tailor’s chalk
*Fabric should ideally be pre-washed and dried (in the same manner you plan to wash your handmade garment) to reduce or eliminate shrinkage. Muslin and knits are optional to wash.
Cancellation Deadline: 9/2/2025
MEET YOUR TEACHER
Cal Patch has been making, designing, and teaching all things textile related since 1991. She sews, crochets, embroiders, spins, prints, knits, dyes, and more. Cal owned a boutique for four years which showcased her own and other local Indie designers’ work, and she opened a wonderful craft school in 2002. She offers classes in the Hudson Valley and travels to teach at retreats and events like Squam Art Workshops, the Makerie, and Lucky Star Art Camp. If you have any questions about your class or supplies, feel free to email Cal at cal@calpatch.com in advance.
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Please note our 2025 cancellation and refund policy includes a non-refundable $100.00 registration fee per workshop. In the case must withdraw, you have 8 weeks prior to class for a full tuition refund, less the registration fee. After this date all payments are non-refundable, no exceptions. Thank you for your understanding!
Have a question about a HD workshop or class order? Email hdretail@harrisville.com.
Single Rooms, $70 Per Night
Please note, the boarding house is for class participants only.
With spectacular views of town from its third-story perch, our boarding house offers bright, airy accommodations just a few minutes’ walk from the studio, shop, and general store with cafe. Year after year, returning students remark upon the peaceful camaraderie they enjoy winding down after class in the spacious common areas, and the fun conviviality of cooking family-style dinners in the kitchen. In addition to a living room, dining area, and full kitchen, the boarding house has six bedrooms and two full bathrooms.
Built in 1853, Cheshire Mills Boarding House provided lodging for workers at the mill for over 100 years. Today, Harrisville Designs is dedicated to maintaining an economical nightly rate to help ensure the cost of lodging is affordable during workshops and classes throughout the season.
Harrisville Designs is happy to provide towels, sheets, and pillowcases for an extra $20 per stay (please order ahead). However, students are more than welcome to bring their own linens. Pillows and blankets are provided. Reservations can be made while signing up for class. We do apologize, it’s an old building. There is no elevator and two flights of stairs. Please pack accordingly.
Alternative Housing & Dining
Harrisville is a small village (pop. 1200) with a post office and general store/cafe across the street from the studio and Boarding House. Harrisville is a short drive from Peterborough (15 minutes away) and Keene (20-25 minutes away); both offer a nice variety of hotels, shops, and restaurants.
Additional accommodations in Harrisville are available at Aldworth Manor and the Harrisville Inn and at local Airbnb’s including the Harrisville Guest Suite. Peterborough accommodations are available at Cranberry Meadow Farm, the Jack Daniels Motor Inn, and the Little River Bed and Breakfast. Options in Keene include the Carriage Barn Inn, the Best Western Plus, the Fairfield Inn & Suites, the Holiday Inn Express, the Courtyard by Marriott, and Days Inn. We also suggest searching Airbnb and Vrbo.
Location
About Our Workshops
Nestled in the heart of a historic textile village, workshops at Harrisville Designs take place in the Bethuel Harris Mill. Built in the 1830s as a spinning mill for locally raised wool and located at the end of the canal, it originally operated on water power. Today, it’s home to our first-floor retail store and spacious second-floor workshop studio. Year after year students are greeted by sunlit windows, fresh air, and tranquil views of the mill pond and preserved industrial brick buildings.
Workshops vary in skill levels and lengths. Enrollment is limited to ensure each student is immersed in the atmosphere of a working studio rather than a classroom. Most scheduled classes meet from 9 am to 4 pm; however, the studio is open to students 24 hours a day while their class is in session. Looms are provided in the weaving classes, and woolen yarn and other materials are included unless otherwise noted in the materials lists online. While taking a class, students receive a 10% discount on HD items in our store, including looms! (Excludes sale and consignment items)
Have a question about a HD workshop or class order? Email hdretail@harrisville.com.