Camp Fashionista

My daughter said, «BEST Birthday party ever, Mom»…it doesn’t get any better than that to hear from your 12 yr. old daughter! Dori and Erin are amazing to work with and the girls were thrilled with their new bags!!!

My 12 year old daughter loved her 2 day sewing camp here. The people are very friendly and helpful. She will definitely be back for more.

My daughter loved the 2 day sewing camp level 1 she wants to take more classes! Loved it!

Fabulous sewing classes for all ages and all levels ! Learn to hand sew, machine sew, embroider and more !! Patient knowledgeable instructors and small class size will help you or your child learn skills fast. Special camps.

My daughter (8yrs) and I just completed the 8 hour beginning sewing class (split into 2 days). My daughter had some hand-​sewing experience and I had very limited machine experience. We both learned tons, had lots of fun and completed our projects in plenty of time (baby blanket, pillowcase and drawstring bag). With the extra time we had we both were instructed to enjoy «free sewing» time where we could go through the scrap bin and make whatever we wanted. It speaks for itself that after completing our beginning projects, we felt confident enough to create our own project! My daughter made a skirt for her AG doll and I made a tool belt for gardening! I love that I am now confident to create my own items and am eager to take the next level class. My daughter had so much fun and enjoyed learning from Erin that she signed up right away for an AG doll fancy pant class and loved that 2hour class too! Looking forward to some summer camps!

My daughter (9) really enjoyed the class to make a skater dress. She enjoys the instructor who is friendly and helpful. And she felt she got just the right balance between instructor direction and time to do things on her own so she was really learning/​applying herself. She’s excited to wear her new dress!

My 8-​year-​old (almost 9) loved the beginner sewing class and had absolutely no sewing experience prior to taking it! She made a baby blanket, pillow case, and drawstring bag. Her skills improved greatly after the 1^st session! She would have preferred taking 4 two-​hour classes over the 2 four-​hour ones she did because she got tired, but she still walked away smiling and proud of what she had made.

My daughter LOVED the time she spent learning at Camp Fashionista. We live in Palo Alto and even though there are similar places closer she insists that this is the only place she wants to go! LOVED the experience! Great teachers.

My 9 year old daughter took a 2 day, Level 1 sewing class where she learned to use the machine to make a baby blanket and a drawstring bag. She came home so excited that she taught my husband how to sew! We have the sewing machine on the dining room table now and she is fixing everything she can get her hands on! She will definitely be signing up for the summer, one week level 2 sewing series!
Thanks Dori!

Dori is a wonderful teacher! She has really inspired my 11 year old daughter with her fashion design and illustration classes. She’s so patient, friendly, creative — and inspires creativity in her students — just the perfect teacher. My daughter adores her and has taken many classes with her.

The instructor is really nice and organized, and the best of all patience with my daughter, I also took some classes with her. The best instructor I ever had.

What a good idea, love it! Th owner is really good with kids!

It is one of the world’s greatest inventions.
It’s practically universal in it’s use.
It’s usually that perfect pristine white glossy finish.
And it USED to be my biggest nightmare.
It’s my Singer sewing machine!
Thanks to Dori of Camp Fashionista, all my fears & worries are far & away! And that is a lot to say!
I knew absolutely nothing about my machine other than taking out of the box was a scary thought for me. The last thing I needed to do was break such a wonderful machine but Dori helped me conquer that fear in about 2 hours FLAT in her «Intro to the Sewing Machine» class =] And if you think that is impressive… you should have seen the little 8 year olds who knew nothing and got it faster than me!
Her classes are held at a very spacious spot off Meridian Avenue with plenty of parking. Her place just invites you to get in, thread a machine like you always knew how & get sewing no matter how old you are! Yes, that includes you mommies too!
Her classes are taught at the perfect pace in small sizes so it almost like having private instruction && the best part? She encourages you to ask lots of questions and sometimes have a mishap or twenty on the sewing machine so that she can explain all about sewing machine trouble shooting! Love that! If i did not get to make as many mistakes as I did in her class, I do not think I would have survived sewing my own creations at home. I would’ve just given up. Thanks to Dori & her teaching methods, I went home after ONE intro class and made a hoodie EASILY because I knew what was happening when things just did not go in my favor at home =]
Her method of teaching is great. She is patient, sweet & very informative. When students made mistakes, she would call all of us around to show us what happened so that if we hit the same rough spot, we would be able to prevail. Now that is a true teacher. And the fact that she can get even the youngest child to become confident using a sewing machine in 2 hours is why all newbies to sewing NEED to take a class with Dori. Have no sewing machine? NO PROBLEM because she has them right there ready for you! Trust me, you or your little one will walk out of there like you have always known how to sew =] Oh, and the pricing is quite reasonable too considering how much care she puts into each pupil in her class =]
Other than her introduction classes, she offers many other classes arranged by levels so that everyone has a class perfect for them and it never gets boring! You got to love that she really does run this place like a school. It has a set curriculum to help you or your child grow & progress. She also offers fashion illustration classes too! Aside from her classes, she offers a variety of week-​long camps for the summer filled with lots of projects & does parties!!! Birthday parties for the kiddies & «Sew&Wine» parties for the mommies. Can I say win?
So if you are doubtful about sewing classes, forget the others. They would not even compare to Dori’s love for fashion & sewing and her passion for her students’ success. If you see her the way I do when she sees how ecstatic kids are to show their parents their creations, you would see why I would ONLY recommend Dori. She helped me conquer my fears & open up a whole new world of opportunity for me creatively. I am so thankful & appreciative for that and I am definitely not the only one! Dori is sew amazing, just enroll & see for yourselves!
Forget about being a shopping maxxinista; IT’S ALL ABOUT BEING A CAMP FASHIONISTA!

Camp Fashionista is a wonderful place to take your kids (adults can take the classes too) to learn to sew/​learn about fasion design. Dori (owner/​teacher) is absolutely amazing with the students. She’s very patient and she is quite knowledgeable. The prices are reasonable. I really like how she offers a variety of classes, and they are for all ages. My daughter loves going to Camp Fashionista, we will continue to sign her up for as many classes she’s interested in taking. Who knows, she may become a famous fashion designer when she grows up, if so, it will be all because of Dori @ Camp Fashionista! :)

My daughter had her 10^th bday party here this afternoon. It was great! Dori is super nice and easy to work with. She was flexible about the date and time. She also lets you bring in food and has a small kitchen area.
I think the party was enjoyed by all the guests and the adults could just hang out and chat in a peaceful environment. No crazed children and no cleaning.
She offers classes and summer camps.
I’m sure we will be back.
Thanks Dori!!!

I certainly appreciate that this type of store exists to help teach young and (old) how to sew, read sewing patterns, and do beginning fashion illustration. The store is painted a bright, cheerful lime green color. It is clean and there are lots of sewing machines and work space.
This place is a good place to go if a parent doesn’t know how to sew or has limited sewing skills and doesn’t know how to transfer those skills to their child. Dori can definitely teach your child to sew. However, as a parent who does know how to sew, I think the prices of the classes are a bit high, especially the hand sewing classes. I’d probably have my child take the beginning sewing classes to start, but I can teach them how to sew things like a messenger bag, doll clothes, etc.

Had a Groupon for two classes for my six year old children at Camp Fashionista. We were able to get them scheduled into today’s Doll Class. Its a two-​hour drop-​off class whereby children are able to work with an instructor on designing clothing for a paper doll.
When I returned after their two hours, they were excited to show me what they had designed. They started by coloring in their paper doll so her once white paper body had some color. Her face had features they created (thank goodness!)
They spent their time selecting clothing items they wanted to create and laid those pieces on fabrics they selected for their doll. Then they cut out the items and put tape on the back so each item of clothing could stay on the doll. On our drive home, I asked them what they liked best. «Everything,» they said. When I pushed for specifics, they really enjoyed selecting their own fabrics and the «cutting out» part.
«Do you want to go again?» I asked. Yes! They were quick and energized in their responses. At some camps in the past, they have felt talked down to or yelled at. Not at Camp Fashionista! They were very positive about the way the instructor interacted and talked with them.
The girls also reported the bathroom was clean and the music in the background while they worked was nice. All in all, a good selection for a Groupon and I’m now aware of yet another great community resource to help children expand their skills.
Highly recommend!

My 7.5 year old son has been bugging me forever to use my sewing machine but I just don’t know how to sew well enough myself to teach him or to not get discouraged when he makes mistakes. I signed myself up for a learn to sew class and when it was time for me to go, I asked Dori if maybe my son could join us. Her age limit is 8 but since it was just Adam and I were the only ones, it would be fine. HE LOVED IT! She was so patient and really supportive. My son is getting a begginer sewing machine from Santa this year and I can’t thank Dori enough for making an ezcpetion and letting him learn.

Thanks to Groupon we find this studio for my 11 yrs daughter. She took the intro sewing class during this weekend. it’s her first time to try the sewing machine and she likes it. Dori is an excellent teacher but with the full class (7 kids and 2 adults) she is a little bite too busy to taking care of everyone. My daughter came home with a cute zippered pouch and we may consider to attend the other class next time.

I always wanted to learn how to use a sewing machine after my grandma’s failed attempt to teach me at age 6, or was it 7.
In the 2 hours of intro to sewing class, Dori took away my fear of sewing machine. She showed us the basics, starting with how to thread the machine. When things went wrong, as it inevitably did, she’d help to troubleshoot.
At the end of the day, you get a complete little project to take home.