Clyde Outerwear Boot Camp, Pre-fall 2025
14+ hours of live instruction via Zoom
Weekly office hours to get 1-1 help perfecting your pattern and fit
Saved recordings of all classes to rewatch anytime
Ask questions in real-time during class or online so you never get stuck
Printed copy of the pattern shipped to you (no printing and taping!)
Sizes XXS-5X with endless fit options
20% off an order of any ES fabrics
Lifetime access to our learning platform and live office hours through the end of 2025
The Clyde Outerwear Boot Camp
The Clyde Jacket is our best-selling outerwear garment of all time. It is one of those hard-to-pin-down items—it can feel like a cardigan, shacket, or full blown coat depending on what it's made of. In the longer Trench length, it covers even more sartorial ground, and the sleeveless Vest version is the ultimate in transitional dressing.
Our signature crescent-shaped side pockets add functionality and visual interest, and the large shawl collar eliminates the needs for closures, making this pattern extremely fun and satisfying to sew.
If you are eager to make your own coat or jacket but don't want to stress over finicky closures or linings—and you want a garment you'll get lots of mileage out of—this workshop is waiting for you.
Join me (virtually) for three weeks of live instruction and collaboration where we’ll create an outerwear piece that's just your type. Together, we’ll work through selecting and sourcing the right material since fabric choice for outerwear is make-or-break, and then we'll fit our patterns before perfecting the construction and finishes.
You can choose to sew the Clyde Jacket, Trench, or Vest for this workshop. The pattern we'll use will include the most up-to-date fit improvements, with details available on older versions if there is a specific fit you'd like to replicate.
Schedule
- Prep Class: Fabric selection | Monday, August 4, 7-8pm CT
- Prep Class: Size selection & pattern cutting | Monday, August 18, 7-8pm CT
- Class 1: Sew & fit muslin | Saturday, September 6, 10am-12:30 CT
- Class 2: Adjust pattern & begin assembly | Saturday, September 13, 10am-12:30 CT
- Class 3: Assembly & finishes | Saturday, September 20, 10am-12:30 CT
- + Office Hours every Monday starting August 25, 6-7pm CT
What does the workshop include?
- Clyde Jacket, Trench and Vest digital sewing pattern in all sizes + instructions
- Full-size printed copy of one version of the pattern (either the Jacket, Trench OR Vest) in all sizes
- One live fabric selection class (1 hour via Zoom)
- One live size selection and pattern cutting class (1 hour via Zoom)
- Three weekly live classes (7.5 hours of instruction via Zoom)
- Three weekly live office hours sessions (3 hours of instruction via Zoom)
- Recordings of all classes and office hours to rewatch at your convenience
- One-time 20% discount on all ES fabrics
Plus these bonuses that add value even after the workshop ends...
- Lifetime membership to our private learning platform for workshops that houses all recordings, extra resources and a community forum with other students
- Access to Liz any time through our platform for questions, troubleshooting, and sharing finished projects both during the four-week workshop and after
- Ongoing access to live office hours sessions through the end of 2025 for any ES sewing-related questions
Who is this workshop for?
- The ambitious beginner or intermediate sewist who is ready for an outerwear project that doesn't require finicky closures or a lining
- You are comfortable operating a sewing machine and have made a few simple projects
Required Materials & Tools
Materials we’ll provide
- Digital copy of the Clyde Jacket, Trench and Vest pattern in all sizes + instructions
- Printed copy of the Clyde Jacket, Trench OR Vest in all sizes
Materials you’ll provide
- 3 yards of a medium-heavy weight woven fabric, between 6-11oz/yd (the amount of fabric you’ll need depends on the size you plan to make, 2X and above need closer to 3.5 yds)
- Your workshop purchase includes a 20% discount on all ES fabrics—you’ll receive a separate email with this after your order is placed
- All-purpose thread that matches your fabric. I recommend Gutermann Mara 100 for almost all projects, and it’s the thread we’ve manufactured with for years.
Essential tools you’ll need
- A sewing machine in good working order capable of a straight stitch and ideally a zig-zag stitch
- At least two new, sharp machine needles appropriate for your fabric (a Universal 80/12 is a great start)
- Fabric shears
- Pins and/or pattern weights
- Seam ripper (no shame in the frogging game!)
- Iron and sleeve board
- Chalk or other fabric marking tool
Are you ready to make an incredibly satisfying and infinitely wearable jacket—and head into the winter sewing season with a fine-tuned pattern and the skills to make more? Let's go!
How our workshops
actually work
All workshops are hosted live over Zoom.
You'll be invited to our private learning platform where you'll find links to all the Zoom calls, additional resources and videos, recordings of live classes as they're uploaded, and a community forum for asking questions and connecting with me and other students.
Each workshop includes a prep class where we'll review fabric and size selection in advance so you're ready before we dive in.
Regular weekly classes are 2-3 hours long. I will walk through every step, completing it with you live providing lots of context, tips, and alternative options.
You can follow along and work on your garment in real time, or just watch and ask questions during class and work through the steps over the next week.
Students are encouraged to ask questions live in real time, but if you can't make a class you can send in questions ahead of time and I'll cover them for the recording.
Office hours are Monday evening each week, hosted via zoom for one hour. This is a great time to work on fine-tuning your fit and pattern adjustments or troubleshoot anything that comes up between classes. These are casual and optional!
Recordings of all live sessions will be sent the following day in case you aren't able to join us or would like to rewatch.
Seats are limited for all workshops to ensure adequate time for questions and personal guidance.
Hi! I'm Liz.
When I started Elizabeth Suzann 11 years ago, I was limited to a straight stitch sewing machine, serger, and my self-taught sewing skills (the same tools most home-sewists have access to), which makes our styles *so* well suited for DIY.
After sewing many of our customers orders myself, creating over 1000 development and photoshoot samples, and drafting and grading all of our patterns, I have tons of tricks up my sleeve to make sewing easy and efficient. And I've made plenty of mistakes that I can help you avoid! I can't wait to sew with you.
Sewing your own clothing is truly transformational.
You will find so much connection with your body and personal style, and you will feel immense pride when you can wear something you made with your own two hands. And trust me, you are so capable! My approach to sewing is relaxed and open-minded. There is no mistake we can't fix, and there many ways to create a wonderful garment. We'll find what works for you and make it FUN!
We'll-figure-it-out-together-guarantee
My goal with our live workshops is to make sure you leave with the skills and confidence to keep sewing with joy. If there is a technique, pattern or fit issue that's challenging you, we'll figure it out together even if it takes some extra time. I've got you!