MACHINE SEWING CAMP

1 WEEK SESSIONS

GRADES : RISING 3TH-8TH

GET EARLY ACCESS

In DEAN’s Machine Sewing Camp, campers transform fabrics into original garments and accessories using real sewing machines. They’ll work with commercial patterns to bring their ideas to life, and in select programs, even learn the fundamentals of garment design. Each week offers projects such as tote bags, skirts, or custom outfits, so first-time sewists and returning designers always have something new to create. Along the way, campers explore fabrics, patterns, sketching, and embellishing while learning that every skipped stitch or tricky seam is part of the creative process. Working side by side, campers celebrate successes, share ideas, and discover the joy of bringing their unique vision to life.

Curriculum is thoughtfully adapted for each age group, with techniques and independence progressing from foundational skills in younger grades to more complex challenges as campers mature.

SKILLS & TECHNIQUES

Each week, campers engage in machine sewing projects, learning key skills and mindsets:

Foundation Skills: Safely operating and troubleshooting sewing machines, reading and following patterns, measuring and cutting fabric, and finishing seams with polish
Technical Abilities: Draping, sketching fashion concepts, choosing textiles, threading, pinning, seam ripping, scissor work, and hand-sewing basics while managing professional equipment with responsibility

As they sew and create, campers strengthen essential character skills:
Collaboration: Sharing techniques and inspiration with fellow designers
Resilience and Self-Regulation: Focusing on precision and patience, learning that great work comes from careful attention to detail
Confidence is in gained as skills are mastered and projects

Over the course of the week, each camper completes projects they're excited to take on and brings home their own machine-sewn creations to wear and enjoy long after camp ends.

GENERAL DAILY SCHEDULE

DEAN Zone, Breakfast, & Assembly

7:30am-9:00am

Morning Circle

9:00am

Activity Period

approximately 1 hour

Snack and Stretch Break

approximately 15 minutes, outside weather permitting

Activity Period

approximately 1 hour

Lunch, DEAN Zone & Pool

approximately 1 hour, outside weather permitting

Activity Period

approximately 2 hours (included in this time can be a stretch break as needed)

Daily Reflection

2:45

Assembly, Snack & DEAN Zone

(until 5:30pm)

HOURS

Flexible Drop Off & DEAN ZONE

7:30am - 9:00am

Core Program

9:00am - 3:00pm

DEAN Zone & Flexible Pick-Up

3:00pm - 5:30pm

Camps Landing Pages DEAN (2)-2

FASHION & MACHINE SEWING ACHIEVERS (3RD-4TH)

Thread it, stitch it, and watch your ideas come together!

In Fashion & Machine Sewing, campers are introduced to sewing machines and learn how to use them safely and confidently. With step-by-step guidance, they practice threading, stitching, and controlling speed, while also building essential skills like measuring, pinning, tracing patterns, and safe scissor use.

With support from skilled instructors, campers grow responsibility as they care for tools and materials, resilience as they fix small mistakes and keep going, and creativity as they choose fabrics and details that make their projects their own.

The week wraps up with campers proudly presenting their finished sewing projects at a Friday showcase, sharing what they learned and created before heading home with sewn pieces and the confidence that comes from building new skills stitch by stitch.

Camps Landing Pages DEAN (3)-2

FASHION & MACHINE SEWING NAVIGATORS (5TH-8TH)

Get ready to sew like a pro!

In Fashion & Machine Sewing, campers learn to operate a sewing machine with confidence, from threading and stitching to controlling speed and precision. Along the way, they practice key techniques like measuring, pinning, tracing
patterns, and safe scissor use, building a strong foundation in fabric construction.
With guidance from skilled instructors, campers develop responsibility as they work carefully with equipment, resilience as they troubleshoot mistakes, and creativity as they make thoughtful design choices.

The week wraps up with campers proudly presenting their sewn projects at a Friday showcase, sharing what they created and the skills they developed before heading home with unique, polished pieces they made themselves.

Passport to YUM

the world of sweet imagination

is it cake?

DEAN Adventure Camps - Premium summer day camps serving Haverford PA (Main Line/Philadelphia area) and Lawrenceville NJ (greater Princeton). Specialty programs for ages 4-16 include woodworking, machine sewing, robotics, culinary arts, performing arts, STEM, and leadership and entrepreneurship development. Full-day care with breakfast, lunch, and snacks included. Serving families from Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Radnor, Princeton, Hopewell, and surrounding communities since 2001. Call 610-660-9600.