Escape: So Much Better Than Home Ec

The saying "Everything old is new again" often holds true. Take vintage baby names. Or the return of the classically mixed cocktail. Or...sewing?

That's right. The make-your-own craze has extended its crafty little tentacles to sewing and the rush is on—handmade purses! handmade tablecloths! handmade prom dresses! The sewing machine is suddenly a powerhouse of hand-crafted coolness and, luckily for Melrosians, the machine has a smooth operator.

Shannon Malnicof opened Sew Trendy Studio at 535 Franklin St. two months ago, after relocating from a Wakefield location. The studio—strictly a learning space now, though Malnicof hopes to sell fabric and tools soon—has taken off running, offering a wide array of classes, from classes on the basics of a sewing machine to kids' birthday parties and teen fashion design classes.

Sew Trendy's adult classes appeal to even the most grudging (read: possibly untalented) home artisan. In the Beginning Workshop (currently scheduled for this Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and December 8 at the same times, with more dates to come; $40), an intimate group of six or so students learn how to operate a sewing machine, the fundamentals of pinning and cutting and how to actually read a pattern, among other things. In the upcoming Wine Cover Workshop (December 3, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.; $40), students make a very attractive bottle cover (better than those at the Christmas Tree Shops, we swear) while enjoying chocolate-covered strawberries and a fitting glass of dessert wine.

In most classes, students make something to bring home. Also, all fabric, other supplies and machine use is included.

Now, doesn't sewing suddenly sound better than it did in those old Home Ec descriptions? Don't worry: You can thank Shannon when you meet her.

Sew Trendy offers several kids' and teens' classes; please check the website for details. Stay tuned for next Monday's Frugal Family, which will include a Sew Trendy deal.