Sew It Yourself

The Make Den connects creativity and community in a small loft-style studio. They give you a chance to create a wardrobe piece while connecting each other with a community.

“A big draw for a lot of people is being able to wear stuff that fits them,” Stickney said.

The Make Den offers sewing classes to those who are interested in making their own clothes and accessories. Owner and instructor at The Make Den, Irene Stickney teaches her students how to create accessories and clothes. The studio offers various types of fabric and equipment needed to create your masterpiece. There are many design templates to choose from that are from Toronto-based businesses to choose from.

“We do plus size patterns. So, for anybody who’s size 18 and up, which is really great because a lot of people who are above a size 18 have a hard time shopping,” Stickney said.

After just a couple of minutes of engaging with the class, the instructors aren’t only there to teach how to mend clothes, but they also support and guide students to the final product. Stickney believes that these classes give students sense of control to create what they want. The class feels more like a sewing club than an informative class on sewing.

The Make Den’s owner Irene Stickney telling her students to leave one inch gaps in between each needle when taking measurements for accurate fit.

According to Leanne Ketcham, a dress-making student at The Make Den, DIY is life. Ketcham wanted a hobby after moving from Indiana with her husband so she took up a sewing class at The Make Den.

“My mom taught me how to sew. She used to make clothes for me as a child. Honestly, I needed a hobby that I would end up with a finished product because my career is never finished so I wanted something in my life that is finished,” Ketcham said. “So crafting and sewing is something that I can finish.”

Ketcham created a mid-length dress that had long sleeves, with pockets and a cowl neckline. The dress took her about six to seven classes to do and about 12 to 15 hours of stitching and sewing. This was Ketcham’s last class for her dress and she was running into problems because the zipper wouldn’t align with the dress, but Ketcham realizes that it’s worth the stress. The zipper was first hand stitched to create a guide then she used the stitching machine to stitch the rest of the dress.

“There is something so satisfying about making something from your own hands,” Ketcham said.

The mending classes are held Monday nights and students can bring in your own fabric or oversized clothing to re-create a new outfit. The studio offers classes from making tote bags to undergarments and dresses. There are even leather fundamental classes for those who wish to dabble in learning how to make leather goods.

Open studio time is offered to students who want extra time to work on their projects. There are beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes for students. They also offer semi-private and private sessions for who wish to learn in a quiet studio space.

Amanda Singh is a crafter. She has re-created a few outfits from her old clothes. She finds it hard to find her size in stores and believes that DIY is turning into a trend.

“Different body types requires different clothes. It's always a challenge looking for the right clothing because not all stores run with the same size charts. A medium in one store could be a large at the next,” Singh said.

Stickney firmly believes that these sewing classes will hopefully teach her students how much work goes into creating a piece.

“Being able to buy things that aren’t made in sweatshops is a big reason as why, for me anyway, being able to make stuff myself,” Stickney said. “So, in the beginner’s class, I have this moment where everyone tries to put a zipper, and everyone realizes how hard it is to put a zipper in is,” Stickney said.

At the end of the night, you start to realize that the sewing classes feel more like a sewing club where a group of women come together to work on their own projects while helping each other with their pieces as well.