The Sewing Lab is a welcoming space for confident beginners who are excited to work on their own projects with a little extra support. You should already feel comfortable using a sewing machine, which means you’ve either completed Block 1 of our Adult Learn to Sew Program and/or finished 1–2 easy projects on your own. In Block 1, we make three simple, confidence-building projects that set you up for success.

During Lab time, you’ll need to be comfortable starting and managing your own project while getting help as needed. If you’re unsure whether you’re ready, we recommend starting with Adult Learn to Sew—it’s the perfect way to prepare and can be completed in as little as 2–3 weeks if your schedule allows.

If you’re interested in our program, you can purchase a 1, 3, or 6-session pass and use it to attend any of our scheduled lab sessions (we run at least two per week). That means you can come weekly, biweekly, back-to-back—whatever fits your schedule. Bring your own project at any stage, and we’ll be there to help you move forward with confidence. Wherever you’re at, we’ve got your back.

Our Sewing Lab sessions are “guided,” which means you’ll have an experienced instructor in the room, ready to help when you need it—whether that’s figuring out a tricky step, reading a pattern, or learning a new technique. You’ll work at your own pace on the project you’ve brought, and pop over for guidance whenever you hit a roadblock or want a second opinion.

It’s not one-on-one personal instruction the whole time—you’ll be sewing independently for much of the session—but think of it like having a friendly sewing coach nearby, ready to step in with tips, advice, and encouragement whenever you need a hand.

Each session is 2.5 hours long, giving you plenty of time to make progress on your project without feeling rushed. You can arrive and leave at anytime during the 2.5 hours

We host at minimum 2x Sewing Lab Sessions per week, usually 1 weekday time slots and 1 weekend time slot. We host Drop-In during the day and evening. Check out our current schedule.

All sessions are held in the Main Fabric studio in Dundas, ON. The address is 43 Cootes Drive in the building that hosts another shop called Tessi & Co.

Yes! Each session is guided by an instructor who can assist with questions, techniques, troubleshooting, and fitting advice.

Credits will expire approximately 6 months (180 days) from the date of purchase. Please reach out if you need to extend your expiry date.

Yes! You’re welcome to bring your own sewing machine to use during class. If you’ve been sewing with it recently at home, or it’s a brand-new machine and you just need a little guidance to get started, we’re happy to help you set it up and get sewing.

Please don’t bring machines that aren’t working and need maintenance. If your machine isn’t functioning properly and you’d like someone at the store to take a quick look before you take it for servicing, please speak with the instructor before or after class. Class time is for sewing, so we can’t troubleshoot major machine issues during the session.

You can now purchase your Sewing Lab pass (1, 3, or 6 sessions) directly from our website.

The Sewing Lab - Class Credits

After purchase, you’ll receive an email with a special booking link that allows you to schedule, reschedule, or cancel your sessions at any time. Our schedule is flexible, with multiple sessions each week—including evenings and weekends—so you can find the times that work best for you.

We’ve recently moved from our previous booking app, Pembee, to our new in-house system. If you purchased credits through Pembee, don’t worry—we’ll transfer your remaining credits into the new system by the end of August.

Not quite yet. If you need a refresher on how to use the machine, we recommend starting with our Adult Learn to Sew program. This program is designed to set you up for success by giving you more instructor attention, stronger fundamentals, and valuable studio time to rebuild your skills before joining The Sewing Lab.

By completing Adult Learn to Sew first, you’ll lock in your basics, grow your skills with confidence, and be ready to make the most of the lab —while also being respectful of other students’ and instructors’ time in the shared space.

We recommend beginning with our Adult Learn to Sew program, which has replaced our Intro to Machine Sewing class. In Block 1, you’ll learn everything you need to know to confidently use a sewing machine—from threading to stitching—while completing three fun, beginner-friendly projects.

Once you’ve finished Block 1, if you’re enjoying the program and want more step-by-step, skill-based learning, we welcome you to continue through Blocks 2, 3, and 4—all part of our tried-and-true, tested curriculum. At any point after Block 1, if you feel confident working more independently, you’re welcome to join The Sewing Lab and start bringing your own projects to life.

👉 Learn more about our Learn-to-Sew program

Bring the sewing pattern or project you want to work on and your prewashed fabric. If you’re not sure what fabric to use—or haven’t chosen one yet—that’s totally fine! We can help you pick the right fabric and figure out what additional supplies you’ll need during your session.

You’re also welcome to bring a project you’ve already started—whether you're stuck on a tricky step or just need support to keep going, we’re here to help.

At the studio, we provide sewing machines, irons, scissors, seam rippers, chalk, and other basic tools for you to use. Just bring what’s specific to your project, and we’ve got the rest covered.

Yes, registration is required. You can book your spot up to 12 hours before the session. When you purchase a pass, you’ll receive an email with a special booking link that takes you directly to our schedule so you can book, reschedule, or cancel your sessions.

Keep this link safe for all future bookings—we recommend starring or favoriting the email so you can always find it quickly. Walk-ins aren’t permitted so we can ensure equipment and instructor availability.

You can cancel or reschedule your registration up to 12 hours before the session without penalty, using your special booking link from your purchase email. Cancellations made within 12 hours of the session—or if you don’t show up—will result in the loss of one class credit.

Credits are non-refundable and expire 6 months (180 days) from the date of purchase.

The Unlimited Pass purchase is now closed for the Summer 2025 season and will reopen again in Spring 2026.

With the Unlimited Pass, you get unlimited access to all Drop-In Sewing Sessions for the entire summer. You can sew as often as you like—with full instructor support, flexible scheduling, and a few extra perks to make your sewing season even better.

If you’d like to join the waitlist for the next Drop-In Unlimited, simply fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page and we’ll notify you when it’s available for purchase.

Here are our favorite Beginner Friendly sewing patterns:

- Helen's Closet - Orchard Dress (FREE)
- Helen's Closet - York Pinafore
- Helen's Closet - Donovan Skirt
- Papercut Patterns - Luna Jacket
- I AM Patterns - Artemis Jacket
- True Bias - Ogden Cami
- Closet Core Patterns - Ceilo Top and Dress
- Matchy Matchy Sewing Club - Skipper Top and Dress
- Syd Graham Patterns - Lane Pants
- Matchy Matchy Sewing Club - Weekend Chore Shorts
- Tessuti Patterns - Tessuti Apron (FREE)
- Closet Core Patterns - Core Tote Bag (FREE)

We’ve assembled a fresh collection of what’s trending this Spring and Summer 2025—perfect for sewists looking to level up their skills. Next to each pattern, you’ll find a quick note about the techniques you’ll learn when making it.

Like the skill, but not the pattern? No problem! Just let us know and we’ll help you find an alternative that suits your style and helps you grow your sewing confidence.

- Sew House Seven - Revel Topper inserting sleeves, hemming curved or faced edges
- Matchy Matchy Sewing Club – Apron Pocket Pants Sewing elasticated waistbands, making fancy ruffled pockets
-Syd Graham Patterns – Ruby Vest bias bound edges
- Friday Pattern Company – Donny Shirt sewing a collar
- Friday Pattern Company – Saltwater Slip bias cut dress, adjustable straps
- French Navy – Stratus Top - setting in sleeves, v-neck garment
- Capstone Pattern Co. Hemlock Top and Dress French seams
- BF Patterns – Mia Messenger Bag Assembling bag linings and pockets
- Sewing Therapy – Tie Dress Pattern lining a garment
- Noodlehead Patterns - Pepin Tote installing a zipper
- Helen's Closet - Ashton Top learning the burrito method

If you’ve never sewn with stretch fabrics before, we don’t recommend starting in The Sewing Lab. Instead, we offer a class specifically designed to teach you this skill—Intro to Stretch Fabrics—where you’ll get the focused instruction and hands-on practice you need. In the lab, you won’t receive the level of step-by-step attention required to learn stretch fabrics from scratch, and we want you to leave happy with your results.

If you’ve sewn with stretch fabrics before and understand the fundamentals, but want to achieve a more professional finish or try new techniques, then The Sewing Lab is the right place for you. For stretch projects in the lab, we recommend working with Tara, who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with knits.

Great! Once you've purchased your pattern, you’ll usually have access to two types of files: an A0 file and an A4/Letter “Print at Home” tiled file.

• A0 file, you can upload the file to us and we’ll print it for you in-store—perfect if you don’t want to tape anything together. Just be sure to send it at least a few days before your class to make sure it's ready in time.
  
• A4 or Letter-sized tiled file. Be sure to follow the pattern’s printing instructions and print at 100% scale (no scaling) so your pattern pieces are the correct size. Then, assemble the pages in order as directed.
  

Still unsure or need help? Don’t worry—reach out to us and we’ll guide you through it!

Absolutely! You’re welcome to come in during our retail hours or during your sewing lab session, and we’ll help you take accurate measurements. We’ll also look at the pattern design and talk through your fit preferences to figure out which size will work best for you. Getting the right fit is part of the process—and we’re here to support you through it!

We totally get it—we love our collected tools at the shop too! That’s why we created a take-home kit to keep the sewing magic going.

Check out our Beginner’s Toolkit—a curated collection of our favorite and most essential items, so you can enjoy the process at home just as much as you do in the studio.

While there are some great patterns on Etsy, we recommend exercising caution. Recently, there’s been a rise in AI-generated sewing patterns that often lack proper testing, clear instructions, and beginner-friendly construction—making them frustrating and difficult to use, especially for newer sewists.

Whenever possible, we suggest choosing patterns from established independent designers—those with a clear online presence, their own website, and a track record of producing well-drafted, thoughtfully written patterns. These designers put care and experience into their work, and it shows in the final result. If you’re ever unsure, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to recommend trusted sources!

Need help deciding if a pattern is right for you? Use the button below or send us an email with the link—we’re happy to look into it and let you know if it’s a good fit for your skill level. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can!