Workshop: Fit & Fix, with Stephanie Parks

Fit & Fix: Custom tailoring for your unique wardrobe! Are there things in the back of the closet you love but never wear because they’re a little “off”? Maybe the sleeve's short, the hem’s long or the armhole is snug; Perhaps the pants don’t fit at the waist and hips at the same time, and you’re not sure how to fix it. These are just some of the fit issues you can learn to resolve with tailoring techniques, and Fit &Fix will get you started! For this 3 hour class, you’ll bring in one garment to work on. Together we’ll learn practical, professional techniques based on your garment’s specific needs, so you can understand the “why” behind the fit. Come ready to get hands-on fixing your piece. Feel encouraged to take this class more than once to tailor your complete wardrobe! What to Bring: One garment that needs adjusting: Shortening or lengthening pants, skirt, or dress hem Shortening or lengthening sleeves Taking in pant or skirt waist Moving/repairing hardware Other adjustments depending on the garment; please reach out to verify the viability of more complex alterations Matching thread (Feel free to pick some up in store if you need) What You’ll Learn: How to diagnose, analyze, and address fit issues Professional tailoring tricks and techniques specific to your garment Stackable skills you can reuse for other projects Instructor: Stephanie Parks Stephanie is a Baltimore-based costume designer, educator, and maker with a strong background in garment fitting and construction. Trained at Pratt Institute and holding an MFA in Costume Design from the University of Maryland, she’s worked in professional costume shops and theaters across the country as a stitcher, draper, and designer. Her experience ranges from regional theater to major institutions, all rooted in making garments fit real bodies and real movement. She brings that same practical, no-nonsense approach into the studio—because better fit isn’t magic, it’s skill (and a little patience). Come once. Come back again. Your closet will thank you.