Select a Class by Discipline |
|
|
Open Studio Categories
|
millinery & dressmaking
|
Beginner Courses |
|
Introduction to Millinery:
Making a Hat 
Millinery is an age-old art and craft that is rewarding, possibly addictive, and highly prized. Once familiar with the basic skills, you can create numerous styles and shapes in many different mediums for Winter, Summer, Autumn, and Spring. They can be as elaborate, sophisticated, outrageous, or as casual as you wish…a hat for any occasion.
In this workshop, you will learn the basic skills and history of millinery and use that knowledge to craft one hat, from start to finish!. You will develop the techniques to mold, shape, and style a hat (straw or felt) on a wooden hat block and finish it off by sewing by hand or machine. While some hand-sewing experience might be helpful it is certainly not necessary. By the end of the workshop, you will leave wearing your handcrafted treasure.
Seasonal Headpieces & Fascinators
The late Renaissance era of the 16th century began the European fashion of decorating the head with a hat. In the Baroque era of the 17th century, head decorations, without a hat, began to develop in earnest and take on new heights. In this class, you'll create a small headpiece or fascinator for any occasion, think Kentucky Derby, Weddings, Halloween, masquerade, etc. Students will create a small headpiece from felt, leather, straw, and various trimmings in a shot of different styles. Examples will be provided.
Millinery: Beginner Straw Hat Blocking
Students will learn how to block/shape a straw hat body on a chosen style and size of hat block. General finishing and trimming will be taught based on time allowed in class. Straw available in course will be woven straw bodies.
This is an introductory class and thus no previous experience with hat making is needed. Once you learn the basics you can expand your knowledge with more advanced Millinery classes. Draft and Sew a Skirt & Leggings
Have you been dreaming of a wardrobe that you build by hand? Clothes that fit your unique body perfectly. Or the magic of creating the perfect pair of leggings. Honestly, there's nothing quite like it handmade clothing made specially for you, in your style and for your shape and made by your own two hands.
In this class we will begin by drafting and sewing a knit skirt using your measurements and your sense of style. Then, building on the skills you learned while drafting your skirt, we’ll develop a pattern for fitted leggings that you’ll love…no more tugging! While this is a beginner friendly course, we do hope that people arrive with basic knowledge of a sewing machine and sewing an effective seam. We'll work on adjusting a sewing pattern and sewing knits with a basic sewing machine. All garments will be made with easy to fit and comfortable, knit fabric. Please click on this sentence to download a document indicating the items you will need to bring with you to class. |
Handmade Wool &
Waxed Canvas Vest & Apron 
Sewing with fine quality materials, like felted wool and waxed canvas, is a treat. And the things you make from them will last and bring you joy for years to come.
In this class, we'll make a quality wool vest out of felted wool. The kind of outdoors, work, and adventure vest that will beg to be worn. To warm up our skills, and learn a few new ones, we'll begin the weekend with a waxed canvas work apron. It will be a fairly simple, useful, and attractive half apron with pockets in the front for the tools you want on hand. Waxed canvas is water resistant and gets this worn and lovely patina over time. While this class is suited to beginners, students should have a working knowledge of a sewing machine and be able to thread one, wind a bobbin, and sew a seam or two. Our apron project will help to refresh any latent skills you have and get you comfortable before diving into our vest project. Sewing Machine Knowledge & Basic Sewing Techniques
Students will learn the basics of using a sewing machine - including: stitch selections and applications, tension and machine set-up, and basic routing maintenance. Students will also learn basic sewing techniques to make a handmade tote bag.
Students will need to bring their own sewing machine, sewing machine accessories and scissors.
Hat Restoration & Repair
Bring your antique store finds or Grandpa's old hat into the studio and learn how to repair or restore it to it's original glory!
Millinery instructor, Andrea Blohm, will inspect each hat brought in and will guide the owner through the process of restoring and repairing the hat. Students may bring two hats into class.
Sew a Perfect Fit T-shirt
Is there a sewing machine gathering dust in the corner? A machine that you sometimes look at think, "I'd really like to learn how to sew clothes"? Or, perhaps you're tired of trying to fit your body into clothes that were made for someone else.
Sewing your own clothes is incredibly empowering and you know what else, it helps you love your body just a little bit more. You'll leave this class with a shirt, made by you, to fit your unique body and your amazing style and flair. We'll make the shirt from a multi-sized sewing pattern - learning to adjust the pattern, the fit and the style to your body and preferences. Great fit starts with adjusting the pattern to your body before you ever cut a thing! Beginner friendly, we ask only that you know how to use a sewing machine and can sew an effective seam. We'll work on adjusting a sewing pattern and sewing knits with a basic sewing machine. All garments will be made with easy to fit and comfortable, knit fabric. Please click on this sentence to download a document indicating the items you will need to bring with you to class. |
|
Intermediate Courses |
|
Intermediate Millinery: Blocking, Finishing and Trimming
After completing the beginner’s millinery blocking course, students will be able to perform advanced levels of finishing and trimming their previously blocked/shaped hats. Professional edge finishing and decorating the hat using new or existing pieces will be practiced.
This is an Intermediate class and thus the Beginner Millinery class or fiber and sewing experience is required. Once you learn the basics you can expand your knowledge with more advanced Millinery classes. |
