Which Slow Fashion retreat is right for you....?

In an effort to head off confused campers who aren’t sure which Slow Fashion retreat to attend, I offer here a general synopsis of the differences between the two Gatherings.

I see them this way, generally.

In all my years sewing I have been able to roughly divide people into two groups. Those who have an idea in their head of what they want to sew and need the techniques to bring them to life. And those who respond to external stimuli and follow that path to patterns that correspond to looks they want to create.  So, again roughly, 1.0 is for the dreamers with their internal views of garments, and 2.0 is for the planners who have a list of looks they want to recreate.  If you fit in both these categories, and it does happen, then I would ask you to be brutally honest with your skill level and make the choice based on that.  1.0 is more beginner level and 2.0 is more intermediate.

1.0 is for people who like to make their own patterns. Who have clear ideas about what garments they want to sew. Who don’t choose to work with commercial patterns, but instead draft their own. 1.0 is for people who have taken Cal’s draft your own workshop once (or twice) already and want to move past the basics. Or have a tried and true pattern they want to expand on. (Cal’s workshop is NOT a prerequisite for this retreat.) For people who have an idea in their head and want to bring it to life.  1.0 would also be a good fit for someone who has sewn many garments by machine, and now wants to try sewing one entirely by hand. Sarah will open up your horizons to methods of Making a garment in new, yet traditional, ways. Jessica’s dynamic approach to mending changes what some see as a chore into a creative outlet. This week is open to more levels of sewists, from beginners to experienced practitioners. All will get different things from this week.

2.0 is for people who have made a number of basic garments, and now want to move into more custom fitted items. For people who are comfortable with their sewing machine and what it can do, and want to expand their technical construction skills.  For people who have had trouble fitting garments the way they want them to. For people who prefer to work with a commercial sewing pattern. 2.0 could be good for those who want to stretch their skills, if you are an ‘advanced beginner’ and not tentative about a challenge. 2.0 is about technical skills and taking your handmade wardrobe to the next level. For those who want to make garments that fit with their style and wardrobe, and that they will wear regularly. For those who have worked hard on a garment only to find it is the wrong color, style, silhouette for their preferences. Meg will help with style, Grace with Fit and Christine with construction. This week is really more suited to the intermediate sewist. You will get the most out of it if you have sewn a number of garments and have a clear idea of your fitting issues, your style blind spots, and your technical anxieties.

There are no prerequisites, per se, for either retreat.  As a basic garment sewist you can attend either. However I will rely on your honest reckoning of your ability. Stretching your skills is a good way to learn, but not if you’re going to be behind the whole time, and taking attention from the instructors, and the other attendees. We are all adults, I will rely on you to make a good choice for yourself, and for your fellow retreaters. If you have really only sewn a handful of garments, I would encourage you to register for 1.0. Furthermore, if you have found yourself at a frustrated crossroads with your sewing, I would encourage you to register for 2.0. If you still have questions please reach out and I will try to help you make a decision.  To my mind, whichever retreat you come to you will have a wonderful time.  I would just like to make coherent groups for each so that all have a similarly wonderful time, and go home with new confidence in their sewing.