Sewinga resurgence

Just six months ago, Daphne Rice had no sewing skills. Since then, she's taken several classes that have enabled her to sew clothes for her infant and 6-year-old sons as well as her 9-year-old daughter.

Rice has come a long way in a short time. Currently, she plans to make quilts, bumpers, curtains and sheets for her infant's nursery.

She became inspired to sew when her daughter, Samantha, began taking sewing lessons at Five Eighth Seams on Ashley River Road in West Ashley.

Learning to sew, Rice thought, would be a fun experience they could share. It's something Rice didn't get to share with her mother, who sewed, but passed away when she was 11.

"I have taken three or four classes, basically beginner and kind of intermediate ones," Rice says. "They say I sew well."

Samantha, with the assistance of the Five Eighth Seams staff, also is doing well. She has made iPad and Bible covers, aprons, a stuffed animal and a messenger bag.

Both are proud of their creations and remain as excited about learning to sew now as they did during those first lessons last summer, Rice says. Both also are among a growing number of people driven by a passion for sewing that experts say has not been seen for a generation or two.

Fabric store owners say students are inspired to sew by Charleston Fashion Week and "Project Runway," a Lifetime network show that challenges unknowns to design and present clothing.

Others are influenced by HGTV shows featuring do-it-yourself projects, YouTube instructional videos and etsy.com, a popular outlet for selling handmade items.

Threads magazine has released a DVD series, "Teach Yourself to Sew," as well as a "Threads Sewing Guide."

Fashion Fabrics

Cathy Buck, owner of Fashion Fabrics on Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant, has seen a 30 percent increase in the number of adults and children taking sewing classes at her shop within the past year, she says. Some want to sew clothes, others home accessories or craft objects.

While Buck advertises her classes, she easily could fill her beginners' classes with those who call her asking to be taught to sew, she says.

Another sign of sewing's popularity is that old machines are being pulled from closets and taken into Buck's store for repair.

A third sign is the increase in sales of entry-level machines at the store.

Whatever the influence, sewing is a very creative outlet, Buck says

One beginner class at Fashion Fabrics teaches students how to read patterns, finish hems and seams, put in zippers and other basic techniques, Buck says.

A second beginner class shows students the basics of quilting, smocking and making handbags and pillow classes. Private classes for students who want to make specific items fill quickly. She's thinking of adding another instructor.

Children are taught to sew in classes designed especially for them, as well as the summer kids camp, she says.

Five Eighth Seams

Laura Eicher and Brooke Floyd, co-owners of Five Eighth Seams, opened their shop and began offering classes in the summer.

The pair noticed that interest in sewing was on the upswing and wanted to help others be part of the trend.

"Many people in their 20s to 40s are as passionate about sewing as their grandmothers were," says Eicher.

At the store, they can take beginner, advanced or specialized classes for making a particular object. Some sewers congregate at Five Eighth Seams to pursue their passion together and others just stop in to ask quick questions at the store, where classes typically are booked three months in advance.

"We have an open sew where you get to use our tables, cutting boards and scissors," Eicher says. "One of the hardest things for people to find is a place in their homes to sew. There are several sewing classes one-on-one and sewing for children. We try to have no more than six in a class. For beginners who sometimes have not learned to turn on the machines, we hold it to four."

The Dressing Room

The number of classes have more than doubled at the Dressing Room on King Street in the past couple of years, says owner Molly Spence.

Most beginner classes are populated by teens, who may want to make anything from handbags to complicated clothing. But the classes also are popular among young mothers who want to make clothes for their children and professional women who can't find what they want in stores.

The newest things are the children's classes at the store, which also holds a children's day camp during summer, says Spence. She tried one class at the suggestion of a parent and it was very well-received, so she continued holding them.

There are two different beginners' classes. One is an introduction where students learn to operate their sewing machine, Spence says. Another is a class, limited to three people, in which the students learn to make something.

Like most shops offering sewing lessons, Spence strongly encourages people to bring their own sewing machine.

Every sewing machine is a little bit different, she says. She also notes that it's easy to find a good machine for less than $100.

Reach Wevonneda Minis at 937-5705.