Kathy Ruddy is an international sewing celebrity, educator, pattern designer, serging and fitting expert. 2012 marks the 50th year that Kathy has earned a pay check in this industry that she loves. It all started as a fabric clerk at a Singer store in 1962. Kathy is the star of 10 serger and sewing videos and author of 12 serger and sewing booklets and nine 3 ways to Learn CD’s that combine pictures words and audio for the best ever learning experience. On these CD’s, Kathy imparts her wisdom and experiences as she develops her projects adding colourful commentary to the educational process. Her specialty is to show how to sew and serge fast and easy without sacrificing quality, fit or fashion details. Her fresh, fun classes are brimming with surprises and ideas. Plus, stop by her booth #176 this spring to get measured for a perfect fitting knit top and slacks pattern to be sent to you! www.kathyruddy.com
Comfortable Clothes that Camouflage
The right style and fit can take 10 or more pounds off of the way you look! Sewing can give you a ‘couture’ wardrobe that fits, is comfortable and camouflages your weak points? Watch Kathy Ruddy as she models her wardrobe and shows you clothes that make you look good and feel good. Learn about techniques and tools to make your creative process fun and successful!
Fashion Arts Stage – Fri 11:30 . Sat 11:30
Jacket Jambalaya
Swinging hemlines, yokes with pleats and gathers can hide extra pounds. Learn skills to speed up the sewing process and design changes that solve fitting issues. Learn to make simple adjustments to bust darts and the upper back to correct those uneven hems. Plus, practical tips on how to make sleeves comfortable and easy to install. These new techniques will give you the skill to create clothes you’ll love!
Ontario Room – Fri 1:30
Serger 911
All serger owners and prospective serger owners need this information. Kathy will teach you how the serger operates from the inside out. Learn about burrs, how width is used to improve stitches, how to create a perfect balanced-tension control strip to use for each new fabric and thread. Learn a sequential tension formula that works on any serger model and all thread types. Plus, a five-minute serger pocket that can be added to any pattern. If you have a serger and barely use it or want to use it with greater proficiency, this is the class for you!
Ontario Room – Fri 3:30
4 Steps to Perfect Pants
Pattern, Fit, Fabric and Technique, Kathy has all of the answers and YEARS of hands-on experience developing them. Using selected models from the audience Kathy will demonstrate how to measure and adjust the crotch curve, change to the leg style that suits the silhouette and then teach easy construction techniques to sew pair after pair in as little as 30 minutes.
Ontario Room – Fri 5:30
Cut Big, Sew Small
Make your next project a big success! Learn from Kathy’s many years of experience in how to plan, pick the best materials, fit, cut and stitch using the best tools for speed, accuracy and fun! Learn to understand ease and fit preference, about fabric checkpoints, why and when to pin-fit, interfacing, seams and darts, sleeves and shoulder shaping.
Ontario Room – Sat 9:30
How to Sew Elastic for Comfortable Clothes
Learn how to pick and measure elastic. Then find out how to adjust your pattern and apply elastic in four different ways to waists on pants, shorts and skirts. Kathy shares tips for basic pull-ons; ‘Eat Cookies’ waists; smooth elastic waists; and the elastic waist insert that adds up to five inches to the waistline of finished clothes that are too tight.
Ontario Room – Sat 3:30