Learn the joy of sewing.pattern drafting.fashion design.alterations.upcycling.costume design.quilting.
Sewing and fiber arts classes that nurture creativity and teach practical skills in a supportive, community-centered environment.
What we do
Workshops
& Retreats
At Dr. Sew & Sew’s School of Stitchery, you'll learn sewing and fiber arts taught with joy and encouragement. Our classes welcome all ages and experience levels in a supportive, community-centered studio. You can learn:
- Garment Construction
- Pattern Drafting
- Design Fundamentals
- Costume Design
- Fashion Illustration
- Alterations
Come As You Are.
Sew As You Are.
This is a queer-affirming, body-positive space where people
of all identities and cultures are welcome and respected.
You can learn at your own pace, try new things, and feel supported in an inclusive creative community!
Upcoming Courses
Whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned maker, our classes meet you where you are. We offer workshops across Victoria in sewing, fiber arts, fashion design, and more.
Oak Bay Recreation
Talk: Costumes for Opera
June 4, 4:30–6:00pm
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About Dr. Sew & Sew
Jennifer Risk, PhD
I’m Jennifer Risk, a queer femme sewing instructor and maker living in Victoria, BC. Before teaching, I spent eight years in costuming, including four years working in the Portland Opera Costume Shop, where I learned to shape garments for real bodies in motion and to collaborate across creative teams. I now serve as Department Head of Fashion Design at Pacific Design Academy and also lead the sewing program at the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria. I earned my PhD in Geography in 2021, then returned to the work that feels like home: fibre arts, craft, and community.
Ready to start stitching?
Got a project in mind? Curious about the next retreat? Looking for hands-on guidance with costume or fashion design? Message me.
Based in Victoria on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən-speaking peoples of the Songhees and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) Nations. Workshops and retreats available locally and internationally.