Melissa Klaassen Seamstress, Designer and Teacher

08/02/2026

So true!

“When a dress is several sizes too big, says alterations specialist Melissa Lynn Oddo, it “may not be suited for alterations” – or alterations could easily cost $1,500, because “what we’re really doing is creating a custom piece, taking apart every single seam and proportioning it down”.

The ubiquity of GLP-1s is wreaking new havoc on bridal designers who must scramble to accommodate rapid weight loss

07/08/2026

While in Boulder, I checked out SewBo, a sewing store that offers classes, a wide variety of fabrics and notions, and patterns. I bought a couple patterns from an independent Australian pattern company. SewBo’s fabric tends to lean more towards quilting and crafts than apparel, but they do carry a wide variety.

07/08/2026

I was so excited to visit Elfriede’s Fine Fabrics in Boulder, Colorado. Elfriede has run the shop since the 70s and she was there to help me along with her amazing staff. I bought some beautiful linens. Very high-quality fabrics sourced from Europe and Asia.

06/12/2026

There’s still time to register for the ASDP Student “Character Couture” Design challenge by the June 15th deadline.
Which characters will young designers “reimagine” into modern wearable fashions? It’s going to be an exciting fashion show!
Last year, student designers from across the country participated in our competition, and we'd love to see another strong field of entries this year. With the registration deadline only days away, please help us get the word out. Please reach out to any students, educators, design programs, 4-H extension agents, and Family & Consumer Sciences teachers in your network and remind them that registration will be closing soon. Your outreach can make a real difference in helping students discover and participate in this opportunity, and of course, please share on your social media accounts. Thank you in advance!

Visit the ASDP website for additional details! The following link will go to the page for the student challenge, including the promotional poster, challenge guidelines, and the link to register:

https://sewingprofessionals.com/Student-Challenge

Need inspiration to share? See the winning designs from the 2024 and 2025 Student Challenges. https://sewingprofessionals.com/page-18352

For more information, please reach out to Melissa Klaassen, the Student Challenge Coordinator at [email protected]

06/04/2026

🎭✨ Calling all student designers! ✨🎭

There’s still time to enter the ASDP 2026 Student Challenge: Character Couture!

Create a fashion-forward look inspired by a favorite character from a movie, book, video game, anime, or other fictional world. The goal isn't to make a costume—it's to capture the character's spirit, style, colors, and attitude in a wearable design that belongs on today's runway.

📅 Registration Deadline: June 15

Help us spread the word! Please download and share the challenge poster on your social media pages so talented young designers can discover this exciting opportunity.

We can't wait to see your creativity come to life and watch these amazing character-inspired designs take the runway!

Learn more and register here:
https://sewingprofessionals.com/Student-Challenge

06/01/2026

This article really caught my eye today about the increase in brides wearing family vintage gowns. I think it’s a great idea if the bride really loves the gown. My own daughter wanted to wear a vintage 2004 era silk wedding gown that purchased on clearance from David’s Bridal to harvest the silk for sewing projects. I encouraged her to at least look at new gowns to make sure that she was happy with wearing the David’s gown and quickly after looking at new gowns, we realized her style and what looked best on her was very different from that gown. When considering wearing a vintage gown, really look at the condition of the fabric. Some fabrics rot when they are stored and it’s almost impossible to salvage some fabrics like acetate and dirty rotting silks. It’s really important to get your gown cleaned after you wear it because with time the sweat, body oil, and any stains start to damage and eat away at the fabric and sometimes can’t be removed. Todays gowns, which are mostly made out of polyester, will probably last many many years in storage. The big issues that would make it hard to restore an older gown are rotted fabric, tears in the fabric, set in dirt, and some yellowing. There are experts in restoring older textiles. 

05/11/2026

Know any young aspiring designers? Please share that it's not too late to register for the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP) Student "Character Couture" Design Challenge! For students aged 16+ -college. This is a great opportunity for young designers to practice their skills, get their looks on a national runway, win prizes, and bragging rights on their resumes!
✨ Interested in participating? 🗓 Register by June 15: https://sewingprofessionals.com/Student-Challenge

05/02/2026

I had the absolute delight of being in the audience at the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals (ASDP) conference in Oct. 2025 when this Threads Magazine "Summer Wedding" challenge took place. I LOVE Shawnelle Cherry's winning design! Congratulations to the winners! This runway followed the ASDP Student Summer Concert Challenge runway that I coordinated.

04/01/2026

Internships?
I'm looking for fashion design related summer break internship referrals for the students who enter the ASDP Student Design Challenge anywhere in the United States.
Do any of you offer internships or know of places to refer design students for them? I've had students in the Portland, Oregon and Ohio regions specifically asking, however, they may be willing to work elsewhere. Thank you!