Mentorship

Six-Week Mentorship Program

 My six-week mentorship program provides the garment sewer an opportunity to concentrate on a specific project with lots of my guidance. This is appropriate for sewers of all levels; my only pre-requisite is that you earnestly want to learn.

Projects might be developing a master pattern or fitting a specific garment with my expert fitting advice. Or constructing a garment with detailed discussions about visual proportion, fabric selection, ornamentation, structure, and sewing techniques. Or planning a capsule wardrobe with my input and expertise. Please feel free to propose your own project.

This program includes an initial planning session, weekly meetings, email exchanges between meetings, text message access to me for quick questions, and a short wrap-up session.

You have your choice of meeting method according to what fits your needs: in-person, phone, FaceTime or Zoom. Note: If helpful, Zoom sessions can be recorded and links provided if you want to review material discussed during online sessions.

Cost:

Credit card: $1500 one-time payment or two $750 installments

Check discount: $1400 one-time payment or two $700 installments

See contact information below to inquire or sign up.

Four-Month Mentorship Program

My four-month garment sewing mentorship program facilitates an intensive period of learning and growth for any and every dedicated garment sewer*. I welcome everyone equally, from absolute beginners to those with an extensive amount of experience. I will work with you on whatever skills or aspects of creating garments you wish to incorporate into your body of knowledge. My only pre-requisite is that you earnestly desire to become a more accomplished garment sewer and explore your own creative process.

For many years, I have worked with garment sewers, helping them to achieve a comfortable and flattering fit, improve construction techniques, broaden patternmaking skills, match fabric to garment and garment to fabric, and develop a style of clothing that suits their lifestyle and personality. In addition to assisting my students in these areas, I've also helped them work with and overcome a variety of mindset obstacles that held them back from accessing their creativity and being more productive.

The result for them was a renewed enjoyment of garment sewing and pleasure in being creative. The result for me was a wonderful sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, for I deeply believe that each and every person is creative. I could see and hold space for this capacity in my students even when they could not. Helping others get in touch with this creative capacity is one of the things I enjoy most about teaching.

*This program is suitable for both local and distance students. You have your choice of meeting method according to what fits your needs: in-person, phone, FaceTime or Zoom.

Program Format:

This 4-month individual mentorship program includes:

  • initial planning meeting session* to discuss your current garment sewing and your goals

  • bi-weekly meeting sessions, approximately 1 hour each -or- weekly meeting sessions, approximately 1/2 hour each

  • email access to me for shorter questions and conversations

  • text message access to me for very short questions, offered so that if a quick question arises, you don’t get held up until our next scheduled meeting

  • occasional emails from me when I’ve thought of something that would be helpful to you with the current project(s) you’re working on

  • my observations and suggestions for helping you understand and embrace what you are accomplishing as well as what to focus on to increase your enjoyment of sewing and your productivity

  • wrap-up session to discuss where you might go next with your sewing journey

*You have your choice of meeting method according to what fits your needs: in-person, phone, FaceTime or Zoom. Note: If helpful, Zoom sessions can be recorded and links provided if you want to review material discussed during online sessions.

Cost:

Credit card: $2200 one-time payment or four $550 monthly installments

Check discount: $2100 one-time payment or four $525 monthly installments

Additional meeting sessions are available at additional cost.

For more information and to sign up:

If you are interested in either mentorship program, please contact me directly.
Include a brief description about yourself and your sewing, and why you are interested in mentorship. I am happy to discuss your goals and what you perceive to be your stumbling blocks, and to answer any questions you have about the program.

sarah@sarahveblen.com 
C: 443-622-8859

Garment Gallery

Here are some of the amazing creations that students have made while in my mentorship program. More photos coming soon!

 
 

Testimonials

"The way I see it, I had tons of ideas about how I wanted to dress locked behind the door marked Fit. Ever since Sarah unlocked that door, the ideas have been spilling out, and Sarah is there to guide me through execution, support me when my confidence eludes me, and nudge me to step outside my comfort zone when she senses I'm ready. Before I started working with Sarah, I put in endless hours of effort with nothing to show for it. Now, my hard work goes into finished garments that make me feel great and get compliments from people who know quality work when they see it."

- Wendy G., Chicago

"One of things that I most cherish when working with Sarah is that she offers the entire package. Sewing and construction techniques, fitting as well as design and style...I have developed a great mentor relationship with Sarah that has taken my skills farther and faster than I could have imagined...This mentor relationship means that I can feel confident in knowing that I have someone that I can work with when needed. I keep a notebook specifically for my mentorship and in this case it is my Super Sarah Notebook! I jot down questions and thoughts about ideas that I want to discuss and when I have a bunch of those built up I schedule a Skype session with Sarah."

- Stephanie King, Chicago

You can read more about working with Sarah in Stephanie's complete blog post.

"I sew because I want to wear clothes that fit. But fit has so many variables, and so many different approaches that it is not only hard to do, but also very hard to learn. Sarah's fit system is so logical, and after my years of struggling to learn fit, I'm finally getting it, little by little. I still have a long way to go, but at least I can see what is possible now. And Sarah's personal fitting on my basic slopers - from pants to jacket - have been some of the best fittings I have received, EVER!

"Sarah is not only an expert with fit, but she also helps with design advice, fabric selection, flattering styles for me, and construction. The clothes I've made under Sarah's guidance are the most beautiful, the most flattering, and the most comfortable in my closet, on the inside AND on the outside. I can't believe how fortunate I am to be able to work with such a sewing celebrity as Sarah. She is a game-changer for me. Instead of my friends always asking when I'm going to finally wear something I've made, they are now complimenting me on the beautiful creations I've made with Sarah. I am thrilled that Sarah has finally formalized her mentorship program. It's an amazing opportunity, and I plan to sign up again and again."

-Rhonda R.