Can You Cut It? How To Efficiently Cut for Garment Sewing

You've got your pattern...now what? Learn all about the right cutting equipment, fabric grain, efficient layouts, and calculating yardage in this hands-on, bilingual workshop, taught in both English and Español.

What you'll learn:

• The right cutting equipment and how to use it
• How to maneuver cutting shears
• How to identify the front (face) and back of your fabric
• Understanding fabric grain
• Efficient cutting layouts
• Pattern marker making
• How to calculate yardage, because we've all bought too much...or too little
  

All materials will be provided*, including: fabric, patterns, fabric shears, clear rulers, pins, and pattern weights.

*If you prefer to practice with your own equipment, you are welcome to bring it!

Thank you to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs for supporting this workshop!

Meet your instructor:

Elvin Santana is a New York City garment industry veteran with over 40 years of experience in fashion production and apparel manufacturing. A highly skilled sampling and production cutter, he has worked with renowned designers and brands including Oscar de la Renta, Norma Kamali, and Maggie London, among others.

His extensive expertise spans garment cutting, marker making, grading, yardage calculation, and production costing. Throughout his career, Elvin has worked proficiently with leading industry systems, including Gerber, Lectra, Mycro Dynamics ADS 100, and Gerber Casco marking and grading systems.

With decades of hands-on experience in New York’s fashion industry, Elvin brings a deep understanding of both the technical precision and craftsmanship essential to garment production.