Machine Sewing (Grades 4-9)
1 week & 2 week sessions 9:00am - 3:00pm Price: $615 - $1,695
In DEAN’s Machine Sewing Studio, campers transform fabrics into original garments and accessories using real sewing machines. They’ll work with commercial patterns to bring their ideas to life, and in select programs, even learn the fundamentals of garment design. Each week offers projects such as tote bags, skirts, or custom outfits, so first-time sewists and returning designers always have something new to create. Along the way, campers explore fabrics, patterns, sketching, and embellishing while learning that every skipped stitch or tricky seam is part of the creative process. Working side by side, campers celebrate successes, share ideas, and discover the joy of bringing their unique vision to life.
Skills Learned:
Each week, campers engage in machine sewing projects, learning key skills and mindsets:
- Foundation Skills: Safely operating and troubleshooting sewing machines, reading and following patterns, measuring and cutting fabric, and finishing seams with polish
- Technical Abilities: Draping, sketching fashion concepts, choosing textiles, threading, pinning, seam ripping, scissor work, and hand-sewing basics while managing professional equipment with responsibility
As they sew and create, campers strengthen essential character skills:
- Collaboration: Sharing techniques and inspiration with fellow designers
- Resilience and Self-Regulation: Focusing on precision and patience, learning that great work comes from careful attention to detail
- Confidence is in gained as skills are mastered and projects
Over the course of the week, each camper completes projects they're excited to take on and brings home their own machine-sewn creations to wear and enjoy long after camp ends.
General Daily Schedule:
Morning introduction
Activity period—approximately 1 hour
Snack and stretch break—approximately 15 minutes, outside weather permitting
Activity period—approximately 1 hour
Lunch and Recess break—approximately 1 hour, outside weather permitting
Activity period—approximately 2 hours (included in this time can be a stretch break as needed)
Clean up, pack up, dismissal
Dates, Hours, and Fees
| 2026 Dates | Grade 4-9 | Grade 6-9 | |||
| June 8 - 12 | Fashion & Machine Sewing | ||||
| June 15 - 18 *4-day week | Fashion & Machine Sewing | ||||
| June 22 - 26 | Fashion & Machine Sewing | ||||
| June 29 - July 2 *4-day week | Fashion & Machine Sewing | ||||
| July 6 - 10 | Fashion & Machine Sewing | ||||
| July 13 - 17 | Fashion & Machine Sewing | Fashion Bootcamp *2-week session | |||
| July 20 - 24 | Fashion & Machine Sewing | ||||
| July 27 - 31 | Fashion & Machine Sewing | ||||
| August 3 - 7 | Fashion & Machine Sewing | August 10 - 14 | Fashion & Machine Sewing | ||
| Hours | |||||
| Full Day | 9:00am – 3:00pm | Fees | |||
| $715 5-day week / $615 4-day week | Fashion Boot Camp | $1,695 2-week session | |||
Weekly Overview
Fashion Bootcamp (Grades 6-9) *2-week session
Designers, make it work! In Fashion Bootcamp, aspiring designers develop creativity as they learn to sketch, design, and produce their very own clothing line. During this two-week intensive, young fashionistas build resilience through the natural cycle of trial, error, and improvement that every designer faces. As they explore clothing development and work with various fabrics, campers strengthen their focus while working on detailed construction and develop responsibility when handling equipment and materials with care.
Working side-by-side with fellow designers, campers craft mood boards and hone sketching skills while creating unique collections sparked by their imagination. From the first sketch to the final runway show, each creator discovers their authentic voice in fashion. While many benefit from prior sewing experience, no experience is necessary — passion is the only prerequisite for this fashion adventure!
Many campers benefit from taking our Fashion & Machine Sewing program prior, but no experience is necessary to strut right in.
Fashion & Machine Sewing (Grades 4-9)
Ready to sew like a pro? In Fashion & Machine Sewing, campers learn to operate a sewing machine with confidence, from threading and stitching to controlling speed and precision. Along the way, they’ll practice key techniques like measuring, pinning, tracing patterns, and safe scissor use, building a strong foundation in fabric construction.
With guidance from skilled instructors, campers develop responsibility as they work carefully with equipment, resilience as they troubleshoot mistakes, and creativity as they make design choices.
The week wraps up with campers showing off strong new skills and heading home with unique sewn pieces they created themselves!