Intro to Sewing: Sewing Machine Basics & Sew a Tote Bag

Here at Oakland Style Lab, we want to give you the skills, space, and motivation to make your own clothing from scratch! Whether you have some sewing experience under your belt (but haven't brought out your sewing machine in a while) OR you're an absolute beginnger, we'd love to have you join us for this Intro to Sewing Workshop.

What You'll Learn

• How to set up your sewing machine
• How to get comfortable sewing straight and curved lines
• All the different sewing tools and how to use them
• How to cut and assemble a pattern from a PDF
• How to cut fabric and sew your own tote bag from a pattern

What You'll Take Home

A tote bag you made from scratch and new skills to continue your sewing practice

What to Bring

Dust your sewing machine off and bring it with you to class! If you have the instructions, bring those too! Feel free to bring fabric in that you'd like to make your tote bag with but will will have a variety of fabrics to choose from!

*We have a limited amount of sewing machines at our space, so if you don't have a sewing machine, please select the appropriate ticket during checkout.

About Your Instructor

Olivia Cueva is a designer and technologist that creates fashion from regenerative bio materials and used, upcycled garments. Her work has been exhibited globally, including the Future Fabrics Expo in London and in WGSN's Consumer Tech Materials Forcast for 2026. She is the co-founder of Oakland Style Lab, a community-driven fashion education program and event space that empowers the East Bay community through accessible, sustainable fashion and sneaker-making education, while demystifying the design and production process.

You can see more of her work at https://www.oliviacueva.co/ and follow her on instagram: @olivia__cueva

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Host or Publisher Oakland Style Lab