Maker Jacket Weekend Retreat Style Maker Fabrics

Sew a Maker Jacket at Makers Hideaway! Join us for a fun-filled weekend of sewing with Karen (@intostitches), our local sewing expert, and coat-making maven. Over 2-1/2 days, she will walk you through the construction of your maker jacket and share loads of new techniques, tips, and tricks, to take your jacket and coat sewing to the next level. 

We’ll be using View C of the Closet Core’s Sienna Maker Jacket as our jumping-off point, and Karen will share some of her favorite techniques to give your handmade jacket that designer look and feel. Learn her tricks for making continuous bias binding, and those stunning Hong Kong finished seams. Also, learn about a few other designer details you can add to your jacket, like frayed edges.

Everyone will arrive Thursday afternoon, and Karen will kick off the weekend with a Show & Tell of some of her favorite coats in the evening. Friday, we’ll get started on our Maker Jackets, with samples to try on for sizing and basic fit. Then, let the cutting and sewing begin! The rest of Friday and Saturday will be all about construction. And on Sunday, we’ll wrap things up with hems and finishes!

Retreat Dates: 

Thursday, October 5th thru Sunday, October 8th, 2023

Location: Makers Hideaway retreat center, Stanwood, Washington

• Roughly one hour North of Seattle.
• Fifteen minutes from Smokey Point (I-5 exit 206)
• Convenient from Stanwood or Everett train stations or Everett’s Paine Field Airport (PAE). There is also a local shuttle from SeaTac Airport (SEA) if needed.

Registration Includes:

• 18 hours of coat-making instruction from Karen Dolen
• 3 Nights Accommodations at Makers Hideaway + All Meals,  Beverages, and Snacks
• Welcome Gift Bag
• Class Supplies
  • Sienna Maker Jacket Pattern
  • A Few of Karen’s Favorite Notions
• Exclusive Discount for the Shop to Use During Your Stay
• Sewing Machines Will be Available On-Site (Limited number)

Class Pattern: Closet Core Sienna Maker Jacket View C (included with the class)

Tentative Schedule:

Other Info:

Have any dietary restrictions? Want to room with a friend? Need transportation from a local train station or airport? We’ll do our best to help meet all of your needs. We’ll be in contact with each attendee in the weeks leading up to the event to make sure everything is in place for a worry-free weekend!

Note: All students will be sewing View C, the hip-length version, of the Sienna Maker Jacket.

Instructor Bio: 

Karen says, “I began my sewing journey at the age of eight (over 57 years ago) and it was love at first stitch.

In 1974, while working on my degree in Fashion Merchandising and Textiles, I bought my first sewing machine, an Elna SU, on a layaway plan. The sewing machine shop hired me, and I began my fist “industry” job selling sewing machines and teaching customers to use those new machines. Two similar jobs followed, one of which also involved making draperies. After discovering that sewing for homes was more profitable than sewing for bodies, I began my own custom interior business, working for decorators in the late 70’s through early 90’s.

Circumstances changed and I found myself entering the commercial finance industry in 1994, where I remain today. Throughout all the changes I never stopped sewing for myself. 

I made my first coat in high school and have been fairly obsessed with them ever since. I currently have around 40 coats/jackets in my collection, ranging from Chanel style jackets, leather moto’s, and Burberry trench copies. These days you will find me sewing on weekends and any other free time I can find. Sewing allows me to set day-to-day life aside and mix my love of fabric, fashion, style, into one-of-a-kind pieces that I love wearing as much as making.”

Karen can be found at on Instagram @intostitches.

Cancellation Policy: For cancellations made on or before 9/15/23, there is a $50 processing fee. For cancellations made after 9/15/23, 50% of the registration fee will be refunded.