is a teacher, clothing designer and expert in the field of garment construction, and fitting. She is author of the sewing text The Art Of Sewing® Basics & Beyond which has been adopted by colleges and universities across the country. She has produced two videos - The Art of Sewing® Collars and The Art Of Sewing® Welt Pockets & Bound Buttonholes and designed a line of wearable-flower patterns.

Her book on fitting - The Art Of Sewing ® A Custom Fit   A Workbook  with the necessary fitting tools in the  Plumbline Kit will guide you in achieving great fitting garments. She uses the Vogue Basic dress pattern and in 2001 when Butterick discontinued her favorite pants pattern she developed her own pants fitting pattern which is available in sizes 6-24.

For years Shirley was an active member of the Fashion Group Internationa1 and was a 22 year member of the National Sewing Guild. She has been a popular lecturer at regional and national sewing expos and conferences, including Washington State University's Expo at Puyallup, Brigham Young University's Intermountain Sewing and Needle Arts Conference, Bernina University, and the American Sewing Guild's Creative Sewing and Needleart Exposition. Shirley has lectured in Canada and was Threads magazine's fitting expert at The 1995 Creative Sewing and Needlework festival in Toronto. She was a frequent contributor to Threads magazine. She taught from her studio (The Sewing Arts) in Denver, Colorado for twenty-two years.

During my 22 years of teaching and sewing in my studio in Denver and traveling extensively to lecture and teaching I made an extensive wardrobe of lovely designer clothing.  I always dressed to inspire my students to make lovely clothing. 

I am looking for a special person who loves to sew and has a flare for teaching and a little touch of fashion sense to transform a piece of fabric into a special garment who would like design clothing and most of all be a TEACHER.

I have been an avid seamstress most of my life and had a teaching studio in Denver, CO for 22 years. I had a wonderful time during those years. During that time I wrote articles for David Coffin when he was with Threads. He wrote a glowing review of my fitting book and a nice endorsement of my sewing book which I wrote at the request of my many students.

I had a studio in my home in Denver and began small, about 3 students but soon was teaching for 6 ladies at a time. I taught 3 hour classes three days a week. I did private dress & pants fittings on Monday & Friday.   My children were older and my husband was a busy engineer and so my teaching career was easy to manage along with being a wife and mom.

But as the years have passed, my husband retired and we moved from Denver to White Salmon and soon to Prineville, OR so now I need to really retire. I will always sew as long as the eyes and fingers behave but I find that I need to down size.

I have all my step samples which were used to illustrate my book The Art Of Sewing Basics & Beyond and all the illustrations for my fitting book The Art Of Sewing a Custom Fit. I hate to just toss these things and wonder if another teacher, someone who wants to start a small business of her own could use them. If there is someone out there in cyber space who fits that description who could use my step samples and fitting garments and my books as teaching guides I would love to talk to you?

I would give you the step samples and board illustrations and muslins for use in your classes. I would expect to be paid a wholesale price for the books when you get the teaching aids listed above.

Any videos, DVDs , and pants patterns that a student would be buying from you could be purchased as needed at a wholesale price.

I have muslins of the Vogue Basic dress in sizes 6-24 and the pants pattern muslins in sizes 6-24. I found these muslins invaluable when I was teaching. You can try the fitting garments on your student and tell what size pattern she needs to be wearing and tell many of the alterations that need to be made to her current pattern.

Most Vogue and Butterick patterns are drafted from their basic pattern using the Vogue Fitting Dress and their Vogue Pants Basic. The Vogue pants Pattern #2946 was not a basic but had other styles included but sadly it was discontinued. (Was a great fitting pants pattern but when McCall’s bought Vogue they discontinued the pattern). I taught a pants fitting seminar at Washington State University  sewing EXPO in Puyallup, Washington just after McCall’s discontinued their pattern so I developed a pants pattern that I sell using all the changes I did when I did a custom pants fitting for a customer. Your student could buy this pattern that goes along with the muslin pants fitting basics that I would be giving you.

Maybe you know someone who is just getting started and is teaching basic classes and could use my teaching aids and my muslins and my book as a class guide. The books I have are new. It will not be reprinted.

I would also be most willing to answer questions or give advice to you on getting a business up and running.

Shirley L. Smith

Contact me by email at sewingarts@gorge.net  or call 509-493- 4490  

                                                                    cell 509-637-0075

What People Are Saying...

Your fitting book is top notch-the best fitting book I have seen to date.  Only another author would appreciate how much work has gone into this book!  I applaud the time you took with this project to get it right. 

                                          Your friend,    Sandra Betzina

Sewing with Shirley is about the highest form of good clean fun a girl can have in my opinion. I have been sewing for fifty years now and have never enjoyed it more than since I have had Shirley to bail me out no matter what I did wrong. Not only does she know everything under the sun about sewing, she is a natural teacher. Nancy Dwight, Colorado Springs, CO

Shirley, I want to thank you for 20 plus years of sewing pleasure! It has been a wonderful experience coming to your workshop classes. I've developed an "emotional attachment'' to all the beautiful garments "we've" created for my wardrobe. Joan Carbone, Denver, CO

I am just beginning to sew. You have taught me the easy sequence of constructing a garment. I have a new found confidence to read the pattern instructions then read your book and know when I can do it a better way. Thank You! ! Rachel Lambert, Denver CO

When I started taking sewing classes with Shirley, I thought my sewing skills were pretty good. I was just having trouble getting things to fit. Shirley showed me how to achieve the custom fit I wanted, but she also taught me tips and techniques that are much easier than what I had been doing. And so much more professional looking. Kristy Brenner Littleton, CO

Shirley you have enabled me to enjoy a life long skill. I never pick up a needle or a well made garment without thinking of you. You made sewing a pure pleasure. Betty Baker Golden, CO