Upcoming Classes and Demos:

Ask the Sewing Expert (Private sewing lessons)

• Friday 5/11, 11:00 – 1:00
• Saturday 5/12, 2:00 – 4:00
• Tuesday 5/15, 11:00 – 1:00
• Thursday 5/17, 11am – 1 pm
• Friday 5/18, 11am – 1pm
• Tuesday 5/22, 11am – 1pm
• Friday 5/25, 11am– 1pm
• Saturday 5/26, 2pm– 4pm
• Sat. June 2, 1pm – 5pm.
• Tues. June 5, 10am – 2 pm.
• Fri. June 8, 1pm – 5 pm.
• Mon. June 11, noon – 4 pm.
• Wed. June 13, 1-5pm.
• Sat. June 16, 10am – 2pm.
• Tues. June 19, 1-5pm.
• Thurs. June 21, 11 am – 3pm.
• Mon. June 25, 11 am – 3pm.
• Wed. June 27, 1pm-5pm.
• Sat. June 30, 1pm – 5pm.

Possible evening availabilities; just ask.
No reservation? Call or walk in without pre-registering, and if she’s here and available, she’s yours at the rates below. It doesn’t hurt to try, and the worst that can happen is you get to browse fabrics, instead of getting a sewing lesson.

$15 for 15 minutes, $20 for 30 minutes, $40 for 1 hour

One-on-one consultations with sewing expert Betty Jo Viramontes for help with your specific garment-sewing questions of almost any sort. She can help you through your challenges with fit, uncooperative fabrics or patterns, construction and seam techniques. She can also provide information on cloning your garment. So, if you have a beloved article of clothing that you would like her to copy so that you (or she) can make it later in another fabric, bring the garment with you. BJ can tutor you privately on most of the class subject we offer.

Bring With You:

Your sewing machine (or use one of ours), with its cords, pedal, feet, bobbins, needles.  Thread, scissors, snips, scraps of fabric, measuring tape, seam ripper.

Please reserve and pay for your appointment ahead of time.

Custom Pants Class: 3-part class with custom pattern tailored to fit your body

Dates: 3 Saturdays, 4/14, 4/28 and 5/5. Time: 10:00 – 1:00 each day.
$85 plus $65 directly to instructor for pants pattern. (Total of $150)
Advanced beginning skill level. Please see description of skill levels.
Make pants that fit you and learn techniques to make them look great. This is a 3-part class. In the first class you will learn how to measure for a great fit and choose your pant style and fabric. You will also practice zipper installation. BJ will make each person a custom pattern before the next class. In the second class you will use your personal pattern and make it in muslin, learning how to perfect the fit, and then cut it from your chosen fabric. In the third class you will finish the pants with guidance in professional techniques. Please bring these items: • your machine • bobbins, needles and all of the feet, accessories, cord and presser foot for your machine • fabric shears • thread snips • pins • seam ripper • thread for your fabric color • seam gauge ruler • measuring tape • scrap fabric • muslin for fitting the garment • a few short zippers for practice. Please reserve a spot, class size is limited.
Instructor: Betty Jo Viramontes

Learn to Use your Machine

Monday 4/16. Time: 1:30 – 4:00
OR Saturday 5/19. Time: 10:30 – 1:00

$35 All skill levels welcome
Learn how to use that machine sitting in the closet. Bring it, a manual if you have one, thread and some bobbins, thread snips or scissors and larger scrap pieces of fabric on which to practice. Learn about tension adjustments, how to wind the bobbin, needle choices for various fabrics, and basic maintenance. Your machine must be in working order. Please take this class before any of the beginning classes so you are familiar with your machine enough to focus on your garment construction. Please bring these items: • your machine • bobbins, needles and all of the feet, accessories, cord and presser foot for your machine • thread snips • thread • scrap fabric. Please reserve a spot, class size is limited.

Instructor: Betty Jo Viramontes

Seam Finishing Techniques

Date: Thursday 5/10. Time: 1:30 – 4:00
$35

Advanced beginning skill level.

Learn various techniques for a clean seam finish without a serger, including with sheer fabrics. Please bring these items: • your machine • bobbins, needles and all of the feet, accessories, cord and presser foot for your machine • fabric shears • thread snips • pins • seam ripper • thread • seam gauge ruler • enough fabric scraps for lots of practice. Please reserve a spot, class size is limited.
Instructor: Betty Jo Viramontes

Sewing Workshop Mixit Shirt, Top and/or Tank

Date: Friday 5/11, 5/18, 5/25. Time: 1:30 – 4:30
$85

Advanced beginning skill level.

This pattern is a beautiful collection of three simple shirt options. We have a sample of the long-sleeved shirt in the store, and the May issue of Threads magazine has a beautiful example of the short-sleeved top in the article titled “Sophisticated Deconstruction”. The pattern also includes a basic and well-fitting tank top. If you make one of the shirts, you may be able to get a start on the tank in the final class. 10% off pattern purchase for the class. You will need to wash and dry your fabric and cut out your pattern pieces before class (not fabric). You will get help with fitting the pattern pieces in the first class, so don’t cut to the size lines. Please bring these items: • your machine • bobbins, needles and all of the feet, accessories, cord and presser foot for your machine • fabric shears • thread snips • pins • seam ripper • thread for your fabric color • seam gauge ruler • measuring tape • Please reserve a spot, class size is limited. Yes fabric
Instructor: Betty Jo Viramontes

Altering Commercial Patterns to Fit

Date: Saturday 5/12. Time: 10:00 – 1:00
$35

Advanced beginning skill level.

Love all those great pictures on patterns, but you get it made and it just doesn’t fit? Learn how to start with the paper pattern and make adjustments to hone the fit to your shape. Bring • a simple pattern • pencil • paper for notes • tape measure. This class is a demo, so we may not get to everyone’s patterns, but you will learn the “how to”. Please reserve a spot, class size is limited.
Instructor: Betty Jo Viramontes

Kayla Kennington Perennial Pant

Date: Tuesday 5/15 and 5/22. Time: 1:30 – 4:30
$65

Advanced beginning skill level.

A nice version of an easy, no-side-seam, elastic waist pant pattern that you can make many times in casual or elegant fabrics. The pattern is simple, practical, and loose-fitting with a few styling options. We have a sample in the store made from beautiful and drapey Bali batik rayon. 10% off pattern purchase for the class. You will need to wash and dry your fabric and cut out your pattern pieces before class. You will get help with sizing in the first class, so don’t cut the fabric. Please bring these items: • your machine • bobbins, needles and all of the feet, accessories, cord and presser foot for your machine • fabric shears • thread snips • pins • seam ripper • thread for your fabric color • bobbins, needles and all of the feet, accessories, cord and presser foot for your machine • seam gauge ruler • measuring tape • Please reserve a spot, class size is limited.
Instructor: Betty Jo Viramontes

Learn to Use Your Serger and Sewing with Knits on the Serger

Date: Thursday 5/17. Time: 1:30 – 4:00
$40

Advanced beginning skill level.
You must have a serger. Bring it, and: • a manual if you have one • lots of thread • thread snips or scissors • larger scrap pieces of fabric on which to practice (make sure to bring some knit fabric scraps) • stretch and ball point needles (may be purchased here on class day if you don’t have them. Learn about tension adjustments, needle choices for various fabrics, stitch possibilities and when to use them. Your machine must be in working order. Please reserve a spot, class size is limited.
Instructor: Betty Jo Viramontes

Sewing Machine Care and Maintenance

Saturday 5/19. Time: 2:00 – 4:00
$30

All skill levels welcome
Learn how to clean and oil your machine, and what to leave for a professional. Your machine must be in working order, but this class will not include how to use it. Please make sure to bring the cord and presser foot for your machine. Please reserve a spot, class size is limited.
Instructor: Betty Jo Viramontes

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Santa Fe Fabrics Sewing Classes General Information:

Location for all classes: Santa Fe Fabrics, 1100 Don Diego, Santa Fe
Our new shop, corner of Cordova and Don Diego, next to Dulce and behind Del Norte Credit Union.
(505) 988-5888

Skill levels:
Beginning: No garment sewing experience needed, but you should understand your machine, how to thread it and wind a bobbin and have practiced basic seams. If you don’t have these skills, take the Learning to Know your Machine class first.
Advanced beginning: You should be able to use a machine with a bit of skill and understand basic garment construction such as a dart and a facing.
Intermediate: You are familiar with a machine, have sewn garments, know how to put in a zipper (OK to be a bit rusty),
know how to read a pattern and cut out a garment.

General Supply List for all sewing classes; please be sure to bring these items to your class:
Fabric shears, thread snips, pins, seam ripper, thread for your fabric color, bobbins and needles for your machine, seam gauge ruler, measuring tape, scrap fabric. Some classes will have a specific supply list.

Sales Tax will be added to all class fees above.

To register or cancel: Please pay in advance to hold your slot by calling Santa Fe Fabrics with a credit card, or come by the store with cash, check or credit card. Please reserve a spot; class sizes are limited.
Please mark your calendar; we are not able to make reminder calls. If you need to cancel, please give 48 hours notice or we will not be able to give you credit. We cannot offer make-up time for missed classes, so make sure you can attend all classes in a series. If you miss one class, you will not be able to do the following ones in that series.
Please be on time. We have an “on time” requirement out of courtesy to other students and the instructor. Anyone arriving more than 15 minutes late will not be able to participate in the class, and will not be refunded.

Important: We may need to cancel a class if there are not enough people. If you see a class you want to take but the date is not right, let us know so we can plan to offer it again.

Sewing machines: Please bring your own machine, in good working condition, with all the cords, bobbins, feet and needles. If you like, reserve one of ours instead (we have 3 machines; Janome and Bernina). Just let us know when you register.

Class day Student Discount: 10% off anything in the store except items already marked down or new classes.

Our Instructors

Betty Jo (BJ) Viramontes is a professionally-trained pattern maker, fashion industry consultant and seamstress. She has worked in the fashion and pattern-making industry in LA for decades. She is now also a sewing and pattern-making instructor, and loves sharing her knowledge. Many of you know her from her frequent appearances at Santa Fe Fabrics for “Ask The Expert.”
Lorraine Gruys is a professional clothing designer, pattern-maker and seamstress. She has had a custom clothing business for over 20 years, with a specialty in bridal gowns in addition to teaching sewing from beginning sewing to tailoring. Students have ranged in age from 9 years to the mature, experienced sewer.