Sew Special with Pamela Leggett

Sew Special 2026 - Friday Serger Workshop
Join your sewing friends for a hands-on serger workshop with nationally recognized sewing expert, Pamela Leggett, author of Sewing Essentials: Serger Techniques and frequent contributor to Threads Magazine.
NOTE: Non-members who register for both the Friday Serger Workshop and the Saturday Lectures and Trunk Show will receive a complimentary one-year membership to the Central Illinois Chapter of the American Sewing Guild, a $60 value.
Friday’s Hands-on Serger Workshop: (Limited to 20 people)
Discover the full potential of your serger in a comprehensive and inspiring class designed for both new and experienced serger owners. This hands-on session goes beyond simply finishing edges, exploring a wide range of techniques and capabilities that will elevate your sewing projects to the next level. Learn essential skills like maintenance, threading, tension adjustments, and using the differential feed.
Master decorative techniques such as rolled hems, flatlocking, and lace application, all on your own machine. You’ll gain confidence and insight as you practice these techniques and use a stunning variety of samples that will spark your creativity and inspire future projects. Join us for a wonderful opportunity to expand your skills and discover everything your serger can do!
You will need to bring:
Serger, threaded for 4-thread serging with white or off-white thread
All accessories that came with your machine
Manual for your machine
Scissors and pins
Bring a sack lunch or order delivery and please bring a snack to share.
A continental breakfast will be provided.
Coffee and water will be provided throughout the day.
Sew Special Saturday’s Lectures and Trunk Show:
“Inspiration, Fitting, and Tips for Sewing Your Knit Wardrobe” Knits are a staple in all of our wardrobes, but many sew-ers are intimidated by working with these stretchy fabrics. Pamela will help take the fear out of selecting, cutting and sewing knit fabrics. Find out the easiest way to cut, the best machine and stitches to use, along with ready-to-wear secrets to get your seams, necklines and hems to lay smooth.
Now that you are empowered to sew those knits, let’s get that garment to fit just right! Women have fitting issues to deal with no matter what their size. Learn what you can do to make your garments fit better than anything you can buy. We’ll discuss fitting issues such as high round back, forward and/or narrow shoulder, bust, abdomen and hips. You’ll learn some easy ways to correct the most common fitting problems. Fashions made from knit fabrics will most likely be a part of every wardrobe, and if you are making your own, you won’t want to miss helpful advice from this Knit expert!
Pamela’s Patterns Trunk Show What makes for well fitted garments? As our bodies mature, good fit becomes more difficult to achieve. Pamela will explain what changes we go through and how to alter patterns to get a more flattering look. Has it been awhile since you have attempted to make clothing for yourself? Come and be inspired to make simple and versatile pieces that work well for casual and dressy occasions – and everything in between. Get ideas on how to change a basic pattern to adapt for many different looks. See Pamela’s Pattern customers in their own creations. In no time at all you’ll be making your own wardrobe – Designed to Fit!
Chanel Inspired Knit Cardigan – From your Fave T-Shirt Pattern A fashionable cardigan jacket has been a wardrobe staple for decades and is worn in settings from professional to dressy to weekend casual. Now you can make a Chanel-inspired jacket from a knit fabric, combining the style and versatility of a structured jacket with the comfort of a sweater. Pamela will show you how to adapt a basic T-shirt pattern to create a jacket that rivals costly ready-to-wear by names such as St John, Escada and Missoni. You’ll learn how to select a suitable knit fabric, which interfacings to use, how to install a back half lining, and finish the jacket edges with statement-making trims. Ooh la la!