Course Description: Youth Camp: Sew It Yourself: Denim Upcycle

Spend the day learning to use a sewing machine as you upcycle a pair of your old jeans. You can either flare a pair of jeans by adding fabric to the side of each pant leg, or upcycle the denim into a one-off custom handbag. You decide! We will also explore embellishments you could add to the bag or jeans later. Participants will come home with instructions for both projects. Ages 10-15.
Students use their own sewing machines for this camp. Be sure the machine is in good working order and has a bobbin case/bobbin, power cord and pedal. Please bring the manual, too, if available.
If a student doesn't have their own machine, please reach out to Community Education, as the instructor has a limited number of sewing machines available for students to borrow for the day. Ages 10-15.

Course Details: (seats remaining)

Schedule:

Every day, starting on 03/27/26 and ending on 03/27/26

Times:

09:00am-03:30pm PDT

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Price:

Class Price : $159.00

Additional Course Information

If a student doesn't have their own machine, please reach out to Community Education, as the instructor has a limited number of sewing machines available for students to borrow for the day.

<br>Instructor will provide:

Thread
Spare needles and pins
Patterns
Fabric scraps for practicing

Students need to bring the following to the camp:

Sack lunch
Sewing machine
Scissors for cutting denim
A pair of jeans (or two)
Fabric to add the flare or line the bag:

for the flare project, this could be denim from a second pair of jeans, or a piece of any fabric that is at least 24" x 36"
for the bag lining you'll need to bring one-half yard (18" x approx. 40" wide) of lightweight fabric like quilting cotton (pre-wash if it's new)

Please make sure your child(ren) are fed before camp begins. Students should bring a sack lunch, water bottle and snacks for the day.

Instructors

Name

Additional Resources

Danielle Thalman

Biography: Danielle Thalman was taught how to embroider flowers on handkerchiefs as a young girl, but pivoted to making "custom" garments with her hand-sewing needle and fabric scraps at age 6. She began using her mother's old black Singer sewing machine--without permission or supervision--at age nine, and shortly afterwards produced her first (somewhat) wearable garment. Junior High brought formal instruction from a beloved Home Economics teacher and then her first own machine, a Kenmore that she still has. After studying Journalism in college, Danielle worked as a reporter at a community newspaper in Northern California. There she met her husband Mark, a photographer and avid outdoorsman. They moved to Southern Oregon with their young daughter in 1996, and Danielle embarked on a career in public school teaching. While she has climbed and flyfished extensively in the West, her love of the outdoors has always been balanced with quiet time inside learning more about sewing and other textile pursuits, like hand dyeing and screen printing.Danielle sews custom bags for the Central Oregon based business, "Rhino Skin Solutions," as well as making artsy chalk bags sold in climbing gyms. She also quilts. But she remains primarily a garment sewist, making everything from her own jeans, t-shirts and swimwear to jackets, flannel shirts, leotards, leggings, socks, hats, long underwear and even leather shoes. After retiring in 2020, Danielle and her husband moved to country property north of Redmond and spent the pandemic fixing up a home with plenty of hobby space. Sewing has always been about connection for Thalman, who delights in sewing sessions with her daughter, niece and friends. So it was only natural that after the isolation of the pandemic, Danielle met up with a local group, Central Oregon Serger and Sewing Machine Rescue-Rehab-Rehome. There she found her niche fixing sergers, learning as she went along and gaining a rich sense of purpose and camaraderie working with the other volunteers in the group and members of the community."The project not only keeps machines out of the landfill, it gives people the opportunity to reuse and recycle textiles and minimize the purchase of wasteful garments with short life spans. On top of that, the creativity of sewing is, for many, a way to replenish our personal reserves," said Thalman.While she has owned and used sergers for more than 40 years, repairing them has inspired an understanding and appreciation for the machines that Thalman is excited to share.

Facility Detail

COCC Redmond Campus - Building 1

RDM1 105

2248 SE College Loop

Redmond, OR 97756

Cancellation Policy

Students must cancel by contacting our office via phone: (541) 383-7270 or email: ceinfo@cocc.edu. Cancellations received 5 days prior to the start of the class will receive a full refund. Full refunds are also issued for classes cancelled by COCC. Refunds will be issued back to your card or in the form of a check and mailed within two weeks of the cancellation date if paid by check or cash. Failure to participate in a course or program does not result in a refund. Exceptions to the general refund policy are noted in the course descriptions on our website and in the printed schedule. If you have any questions, please call us at (541) 383-7270.