What's Happening in Jane Foster's Sewing Studio

Jane's Challenge: Make a 3 Dimensional Stuffed Item

Jeanne outdid herself. She made a dragon and then used A1 to create a story written by an 8 year old. She added extra props, a volcano, and a tree with dragonfruit. Oh my!!

Seamstress: Jeanne O

Kathleen made a woolen mammoth. We will show you how fabulous it is when its stuffed.

Seamstress: Kathleen M

Joy's spirit doll.

Seamstress: Joy D

Vicki Z has a cute bunny.

Seamstress: Vicki Z

Ellen's polar bear has a ball.

Seamstress: Ellen S

Cathy's dressed this animal really cleverly.

Seamstress: Cathy T

Katherine made a little rabbit in a basket with a bed to match her quilt.

Seamstress: Katherine W

Vicki E made a stuffed pin cushion for her finger.

Seamstress: Vicki E

Jane is displaying a combination or her brothers clay work (head, hands, and feet) and her fabric work.

Jane's dolls.

Robin made a python with African fabric.

Seamstress: Robin T

Laura W made a group.

Seamstress: Laura W

Jane's Hat Class

Decades of Style Hilde Hat Pattern.

Jane’s students all had fun making a wide brimmed sun hat that was fully lined with an adjustable fit. She will be offering another hat class in the fall.

To see more hats made by Jane’s students, visit Jane’s Gallery.

Here is Katherine's hat.

Seamstress: Katherine W

Jane's Little Bag Class

Joy is having fun in Jane's "Little Bag" class.

Joy

Seamstress: Joy D

Ellen.

Seamstress: Ellen S

Vicki

Santina

The class all made cute and usable bags.

Jane's In Person Classes Now Open

Classes being held again for fully vaccinated students. See times and dates. Jane is also offering Zoom consultations.

Everyone is excited to be back sewing with Jane in her studio and chatting with their friends.

Jane's 2021 Sewing Retreat

Sewing Retreat at Mercy Center in Auburn, California

Sunday Nov 7th until after lunch on Thursday Nov 11, 2021

Single rooms with wash basins. 3 meals a day and Jane to consult with and guide.

$975, with a deposit of $375 needed at registration.

Please contact Jane about her upcoming Sewing Retreat / Vacation.

Jane Gives a Video Tour of Her Studio and Recent Work

Sewing teacher Jane Foster shares her studio and creativity during Covid.

Jane is Designing For Fabric, Paper, Cups, etc.

Jane is using all the space in her studio to work on many projects all at once. She started to learn Adobe Illustrator recently, and is now using designs she creates to be made into fabric, paper, or other products. Here is a selection of her fabric, and a few of the garments made from her fabric.

Please view her full collection at Spoonflower and Zazzle below. You can choose a fabric pattern, and then choose the type of fabric. Great!

A selection of fabric Jane designed.

One of the first designs Jane drew was of poppies because she always loved poppies. She bought 2 yards at 60” wide in cotton spandex jersey, and has made this dress for the summer. She made the pattern by lengthening a tee shirt pattern with an all in one sleeve. She added a flounce. It's all made on the serger.

Jane says “My first collection was about the Seashore and I’ve just made up the six fat 1/4s into a tote bag. I gave it a secret pocket and a detachable plastic lining. So I am ready for my next visit to the beach.”

Kathy D made an apron for her sister for Christmas using Jane's Leaf Medley fabric.

Seamstress: Kathy D

Vicki looks so cute in Jane's purple leaf medley design on cotton spandex jersey fabric. She has used a slip over the head simple shape to let the print work for her.

Seamstress: Vicki Z

Vicki Z loves her Patti Tunic in My Dalias.

Seamstress: Vicki Z

The cups with succulent design are beautiful.

Perfect wrapping paper.

Jane is Interviewed by Anne La Follette

Jane is interviewed by Anne La Follette and they discuss how she has reinvented herself during the year of the pandemic.

Jane is Featured in Valley Stitchers

Jan 2021 Newsletter

The Fabric and Color of my life.

I can close my eyes and think back to sitting in a classroom in Devon England. I can feel fabric and needle with embroidery thread in my hand. I can remember the joy. It was as if I had won a prize or as if I had been rewarded. I can see the color and I can see the pencil line on the turquoise fabric where my needle was going in and out. I was six years old. I can vividly remember the way the process made me feel.

It was clear to me at 12 years old that teaching and fabric had to be the direction my life would take, after all my brother and sister had paved the way u{2026}

See Jane’s full featured story: Jane’s Story

New Online Art Class using Inktense Pencils on Fabric

Here is a sampling of some of the students’ projects from last class.

No artistic skills necessary. Draw and color along with Jane, and learn how to use Inktense pencils on fabric. Jane will send you a design for you to trace.

Supply list on registration $75.

Contact Jane to be notified about future classes.

Thanks. Jane

Jane Foster was Interviewed about Interfacing on Sew Like a Pro

Jane Foster was interviewed about interfacing on Sew Like a Pro. Read Jane’s notes on interfacing.

Summer 2020 Sewing Retreat and Vacation - San Juan Bautista, CA

Sewing retreat for 5 nights will be at the St Francis Retreat.

Retreat cancelled due to Covid-19.

Jane Invites Artist Lisa Thorpe to Give a Gelli Printing Class

Visit the website of Lisa Thorpe.

Class shows their gelli printing projects

Lisa Thorpe shows students the gelli printing technique.

Jeanne

Maria

Jane's Talented Needlewomen

Jane periodically features the work of one of her students. Carrie is the latest featured student.

Enjoy Carrie’s creations.

Enjoy all featured students.

Carrie

Jane Periodically Features the Work of one of her Students

Seamstress: Carrie M

Jane's Next Challenge for You!

Jane challenges you to create something using STRIPES in an interesting way.

The “something” can be a garment for yourself or someone else. It could be a bag or something for your home. It needs to be in fabric! You have until early in 2020. I hope you can all create something for this challenge. Happy Sewing. Jane

PS I will be available for design and pattern advice.

See the results in the Dress and Stripe Challenge.

Big Collared Shirt Class

Jane held a workshop on a Big Collared Shirt Sewing Class. Jane had drafted the pattern, and everyone loved being able to quickly make a shirt that fit and looked good on everyone.

Students from the second class model their tops.

Jane's held a workshop on a Big Collared Shirt Sewing Class

Featured in Vogue Pattern Magazine

Jane Foster’s Sewing Classes and Marfy Pattern Challenge

EXTRA… EXTRA… red hot news. Be sure to see the Vogue Pattern Magazine, the February/March issue. This issue features Jane’s “California Pattern Class (Marfy Patterns)” in a six page article starting on Page 56! Jane describes how she challenged her students to use a pattern by the Italian pattern company MARFY. These patterns come with no instructions, no seam allowances, and no pattern layouts. So they are quite a challenge. So get a copy of the magazine, and enjoy!

You can also see garments made by Jane’s students using Marfy patterns here: Jane’s Marfy Challenge!