THE 101 SKILL-Building SERIES
Every heirloom starts with the right foundation.
I spent overĀ 20 years teaching students who flew across the country to sit with me and learn. The 101 series brings that same instruction to your own sewing room, one foundational skill at a time, on your schedule.
WHY THE 101 SERIES
No gaps. No guessing. No moreĀ Unfinished Outfits.
Most sewists don't struggle because they lack talent. They struggle because no one ever taught them the fundamentals properly. The 101 series isolates each of the four core skills of heirloom sewing and teaches it completely, so you can finish projects with the confidence that comes from actually knowing what you're doing.
Four foundational courses
Start with the fundamentals. Never stop using them.
Construction 101
Nearly 20 hours of instruction covering foundational garment construction techniques, from bias binding and collars to pockets, sleeves, and buttonholes.
Smocking 101
Forty years of smocking experience distilled into one clear learning path, covering pleating preparations, and every stitch from basic cables to bullions.
Embroidery 101
24 of my go-to hand embroidery stitches including French knots, featherstitches, bullion roses, and more. 12 hours of close-up video and a 100-page illustrated ebook.
FHS by Machine 101
18 essential French hand sewing by machine techniques, laces, entredeux, pintucks, and more, the same exquisite details found on heirloom garments from over a century ago.
Why learn with Gail
A front-row seat. For life.
š„ Four camera angles. Zero blind spots.
Gail's studio captures every subtlety of her hands at the machine, something 20 students crowded around a single table never could.
š Internationally recognized expertise.
Published in Classic Sewing Magazine, Australian Smocking & Embroidery, Inspirations, and more. 40 years of teaching.
āØ Your room. Your schedule. Your pace.
Lifetime access on any device. No airports, no hotel rooms, no frantic note-taking while trying to keep up.
Ā ā Finish what you start.
Unfinished projects are almost always a skill problem, not a motivation problem. These courses fix the root cause.
Meet Gail
An heirloom sewing addict. Detail-oriented, but prepared to break the rules.
In the words of Classic Sewing Magazine: "Gail Doane is an internationally recognized expert in sewing technique and design, as well as a featured designer in Classic Sewing magazine. Itās the tiny details of sewing that are her recognizable signature style."
Gail brings to the classroom over 40 years of experience, having dressed seven children, and now an ever-expanding number of grandchildren, in beautiful heirloom clothing. Her work first appeared in Australian Smocking & Embroidery in 2000 and Inspirations in 2008.Ā
Common questions
Everything you need to know
What skill level do I need to start?
Which course should I take first?
How long do I have access?
What do I need to get started?
Ready to start?
Pick the skill you want to build first, or follow Gail's recommendation and begin with Construction 101.
Explore the Courses