I thought it would be fun to start a new series, “My Unschooler is interested in…” This way we can discuss all the ways you can help your Unschool learn about something.  I will try to dig in deep, find products, website, YouTube channels, Pinterest boards, TV shows, and Netflix movies.

Let me start off by saying I know nothing about fashion, how to sew and am terrible at putting outfits together. My oldest daughter is very interested in fashion so I began by searching on the internet.  I started with Pinterest and Google which are great places to begin finding information.  Sadly there is not a lot of information about homeschool fashion classes so I compiled a list through my research. Please share if you know of others that I haven’t listed.

Fashion Classes and Software

If you have a daughter that is 7-13 years old and 2nd – 8th grade, Fashion Design 1 is the perfect design class. My oldest daughter has used this program for over a year.  She loves funny videos and has learned so much about fashion. She is learning how to create a fashion collection, pick a theme, define her ideal customer, and execute digital illustrations. By the end of class, she will be able to send in her patterns and fabric patterns to recreate her portfolio.

• The University of Fashion – online classes from professionals. My daughter who is 12 watched a lot of these videos for free.
• The Fashion Class – these look like amazing classes and we would love to take one or two if we are ever in NYC
• Start a Clothing Line – We have not used this website but will be checking it out in the future.  My daughter would love to start her own clothing line.
• Fashion Design Academy – Classes offered at Hobby Lobby
• Fashion Club – High School students can start their very own fashion club. This website will help you get started.

Sewing Classes

• Craftsy offers sewing classes online and even free ones to get you started
• kidssewing.com – That’s right! Even if you have a little one who wants to learn to sew she can with Katrina Marie. These classes are for ages 6-12.
• Katrina Marie Studios offers fashion and sewing classes for teens. We signed up to take these and can’t wait till they become available. We suggest ages 11-18.
• Stitch and Sew beginner’s guide to sewing can be taken anywhere you have internet.  This guide starts off with a little history lesson (which I love). Learn about hand sewing, how to use a sewing machine, and even start on your first sewing project.
• Creative Bug offers online sewing classes for beginners and experienced sewers.
• Crazy Little Projects offers free online classes that you and your little one can take together.  My daughter who is 13 has taken a few classes because she was a beginner and needed some encouragement.
• Sew-it-yourself is a great website for techniques, ideas, classes, and learning more about sewing.

Inspiration – Kid Fashion Designers

• Sydney Keiser may be one of the youngest fashion designers in the world.
• Cecilia Cassini is a 10-year-old that is already an established fashion designer for kids.
• Egypt Ufele is a 10-year-old fashion prodigy.  She is a designer to dresses plus-size models and just showed her line at New York Fashion Week.
• Isabella Rose Taylor is a teenager is not just a successful fashion designer, but also, a brilliant student. She is pursuing a degree in fine arts at a local college.

Youtube Channels

Companies that will print your designs

• Spoon Flower – print any design fabrics that you can use in your designs
• Fabric on Demand – Make custom fabric
• Pic Monkey – help edit the photo or graphics of your design
• Apliiq – start a custom clothing line that you can manufacture and sale
• Blue Cotton – create and design your own custom t-shirts
• Kickstarter – have a great idea put it here and see if you can raise enough money to start your own clothing line
• Craftster – gives you project ideas, photos, and a community for sharing and discussing your fashion creations with like-minded designers.
• eTelestia has pattern making, sewing, and fashion design courses you can download. It has everything from the basics of sewing to more advanced courses that could prepare you for a career in the clothing industry.
• Putter dolls have a variety of dress-up games, where you choose outfit choices to drag and drop on a model.

Books and Toys

• History Fashion from 18th to 20th century
• Fashion Sketchbook with 366 Figure Templates to create your own designs
• 20 ways to Draw a Dress
• Fashion Plates a deluxe kit
• Create a fashion studio
• Real-World Math – How Fashion Designers use Math in their Careers

Sewing Machine for Beginners

There are three sewing machines that we suggest for a beginner sewer or fashion designer.  My daughter did hours of research and narrowed it down to these four machines.  She picked these for the price, features, and weight of the machine.

1. Janome MOD-50, my daughter was so excited this Christmas when Santa brought her a brand new sewing machine.  This machine had everything she wanted, backstitch, 3 different types of buttonholes, computerized, and handless stitching, and finally automatic needle threading. She was so excited she sat down and read the instruction booklet page by page.
2. Brother XR9500PRW Project Runway, was our second choice because it was the machine thy used on the project runway. This machine has 100 built-in utility, decorative, and heirloom stitches, Basic Monogramming, an Oversized Wide Table for Quilting, and comes with a hardcover.
3. SINGER 7258 100-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine was a third favorite machine but just as good as the first two. This machine has 100 Stitches, an Automatic Needle Threader, and an LED Display Screen. It also, includes an Easy-to-Load Top Drop-In Bobbin System, and our favorite part the Electronic Auto Pilot allows you to sew without the foot pedal.
4. Janome Magic Sewing Machines is a great basic sewing machine. This machine is lightweight and offers 15 colors, 10-stitches, lightweight. Also, this machine has a Free Arm, Accessory Storage, Easy Reverse, Threading Diagrams, and Top Drop-In Bobbin. Presser Foot with Finger Guard to protect little fingers.