Intermediate and Advanced Classes
INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED WORKSHOPS
BYOP, Copy It! & Boiled Wool Jacket Intensives
Ready to elevate your sewing?
Our Intermediate & Advanced Workshops include BYOP (Bring Your Own Project) Technical Intensives, Copy It! Pattern-Making Workshops, and Boiled Wool Jacket Masterclasses.
These specialist sessions are led by industry professionals Megan McKee-Griffith and Sheena, bringing extensive garment construction and expert pattern-making experience into the Usefulbox studio.
Whether you're refining fit, tackling a complex garment, drafting a pattern from a favourite piece, or sewing outerwear with confidence — these workshops are for serious makers ready to level up.
🎟 BOOKINGS OPEN on Sunday 8 March
Saturday 8 March at 4pm
Bookings are made via Usefulbox using the booking system, WeTeachMe.
Spots are strictly limited and these intensives fill quickly. Set your reminder.
INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED BYOP CLASS
BYOP stands for Bring Your Own Project.
Bring the garment you’ve been wanting to finish, the tricky pattern sitting on your cutting table, or the piece that needs fresh eyes and technical expertise.
Classes are limited to 4–5 students to ensure personalised guidance.
Perfect for sewists who:
• Confidently operate their sewing machine
• Understand seam allowances and garment construction
• Want help with fitting, technique or tricky instructions
• Are ready for professional-level insight
You’ll receive support with:
• Pattern interpretation
• Fit assessment and adjustment
• Construction refinement
• Advanced sewing techniques
• Professional finishing details
This is focused, supported sewing time — calm, productive and confidence-building.
COPY IT!
Have a garment you love and wish you could recreate?
In this specialist 4-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to analyse and trace your garment to create a working pattern you can sew again and again.
This is a no-sew pattern-making class focused on:
• Understanding garment construction
• Accurate tracing techniques
• Seam allowances and shaping
• Estimating fabric requirements
• Layout planning
You’ll leave with a traced pattern ready to sew at home — or bring it to a BYOP class for supported construction.
BOILED WOOL JACKET MASTERCLASSES
Ready to tackle outerwear?
These focused sessions are designed for intermediate to advanced sewists wanting guided support while sewing a boiled wool jacket.
With expert technical input from Megan, you’ll refine construction, finishing and fit while working through your jacket in a small, supportive group.
7 June — Boiled Wool Verona Jacket
5 July — Boiled Wool Berlin Jacket
Outerwear confidence starts here.
WORKSHOP DATES
APRIL
2 Apr – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Megan
9 Apr – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
10 Apr – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
11 Apr – 9am–1pm – BYOP with Megan
16 Apr – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
17 Apr – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
19 Apr – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
23 Apr – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Megan
24 Apr – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
30 Apr – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Megan
MAY
2 May – 9am–1pm – BYOP with Megan
2 May – 1:30pm–5:30pm – BYOP with Sheena
7 May – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Megan
8 May – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
10 May – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
14 May – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Sheena
15 May – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
16 May – 9am–1pm – BYOP with Megan
16 May – 1:30pm–5:30pm – BYOP with Sheena
21 May – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Megan
22 May – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
28 May – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Megan
29 May – 10am–2pm – Copy It! with Megan
30 May – 9am–1pm – BYOP with Megan
30 May – 1:30pm–5:30pm – BYOP with Sheena
JUNE
4 Jun – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Megan
7 Jun – 9am–1pm – Boiled Wool Verona Jacket with Megan
7 Jun – 1:30pm–5:30pm – BYOP with Megan
11 Jun – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Sheena
12 Jun – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
13 Jun – 9am–1pm – Copy It! with Megan
13 Jun – 1:30pm–5:30pm – BYOP with Sheena
18 Jun – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Megan
19 Jun – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
25 Jun – 1:30pm–5:30pm – BYOP with Megan
26 Jun – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
27 Jun – 9am–1pm – BYOP with Megan
27 Jun – 1:30pm–5:30pm – BYOP with Sheena
JULY
2 Jul – 1pm–5pm – BYOP with Megan
5 Jul – 9am–1pm – Boiled Wool Berlin Jacket with Megan
5 Jul – 1:30pm–5:30pm – BYOP with Megan
9 Jul – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
10 Jul – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
11 Jul – 9am–1pm – BYOP with Megan
11 Jul – 1:30pm–5:30pm – BYOP with Sheena
16 Jul – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
17 Jul – 10am–4:30pm – BYOP with Megan
Bookings open Saturday 8 March at 4pm via WeTeachMe.
These workshops regularly sell out.
We can’t wait to sew with you.
MEET YOUR TEACHERS
Megan McKee-Griffith is our much-loved Intermediate to Advanced teacher and a favourite among students for her warmth, clarity and incredible depth of knowledge. Having studied at the illustrious East Sydney TAFE, Megan brings over 30 years of experience in the fashion industry as a pattern maker.
Alongside teaching, she works with a highly regarded fashion designer, continuing her hands-on industry practice. Megan is passionate about achieving the right fit for every body shape and loves sharing her expertise with students — from refining fit to incorporating industry tips and tricks that elevate garments to a beautifully professional finish. She also brings a deep understanding of fabric selection and how it works hand-in-hand with pattern choice.
Above all, Megan genuinely enjoys sewing alongside her students, creating a focused, encouraging and inspiring space to grow skills and confidence.
SHEENA LEE
Sheena’s love of fabric began early, inspired by the colour and creativity around her at home. Although her mother’s sewing machine sat mostly untouched, curiosity got the better of her — and she taught herself to sew, discovering the joy of making her own clothes.
She still remembers ordering her very first skirt pattern from a small ad in the Sydney Morning Herald. From that moment on, there was no turning back. Over the past 40+ years, she has built a rich and varied career in the clothing industry.
Sheena has worked across every corner of fashion — from the cutting room floor to design, patternmaking, sewing, made-to-measure bridal gowns and sales. She studied Fashion Design at RMIT in Melbourne and recently completed her Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. She has taught both computer and manual patternmaking at Ultimo TAFE, as well as sewing at Macquarie Community College.
In a world of fast fashion and disposable clothing, Sheena finds deep satisfaction in helping others create garments that are thoughtfully made, beautifully finished and perfectly fitted. She has a particular love of well-tailored pieces and classic silhouettes — timeless styles that never go out of fashion.