182 Fashion Crafts courses

DESIGN AND MOCK UP BAGS AND ACCESSORIES – LEARN HOW TO PLAN, DESIGN AND COMMUNICATE YOUR PROJECT – Group Class: one teacher, six students – You will learn: What you need to study, research, and understand about the industry.How to correctly design a collection of fashion accessories.What information you should be able to provide about your designs.How to prepare a project for prototyping and manufacturing. How to create three-dimensional mock-ups of your designs. WHERE:At our South East London studioCOURSE LENGTH:Two consecutive weeks / Mon-Fri 10 am-3.30 pm   LEVEL:Complete beginners, beginners with some experience of drawing and/or designing and intermediate designers COURSE DESCRIPTION: BAG AND ACCESSORY DESIGN MASTERCLASSThis course is tailored for beginners and intermediate-level participants, offering a distinctive group class format designed to assist aspiring designers or those seeking guidance in bringing to life a practical and viable collection of bags and/or accessories.Through this course, you will gain a comprehensive grasp of fundamental skills in accessory design and what it requires to become a bag designer. It empowers you to transform your creative concepts into tangible realities by providing instruction on the essential steps required for prototyping and manufacturing your collection.In addition to acquiring the skills to design bags and accessories accurately and understanding what information to convey to a prototype maker, this course will guide you through the process of constructing three-dimensional mock-ups for your designs.   WHY THIS COURSE DIFFERS FROM THE TYPICAL ‘ACCESSORY DESIGN’ PROGRAMMEThis course has been meticulously designed by a team comprising designers, prototype makers, and handbag manufacturers. It offers a blend of theoretical and practical elements, providing you with the knowledge required by the industry to comprehend and accurately translate your ideas into finished products.Unlike courses that solely focus on creating aesthetically pleasing drawings, this programme emphasizes providing a comprehensive understanding of the intricate and extensive processes involved in designing a collection of handbags. It aims to equip you with the insights necessary to navigate the complexities, ensuring you are well-prepared before and during the design phase. By doing so, the course aims to save you time, expense, and potential frustration when it comes to prototyping and manufacturing your collection.   WHY WE DEVELOPED A FASHION DESIGN COURSEAfter years of designing and developing collections for our clients, we noticed a significant lack of clear information on what it truly takes to become a designer of handbags and fashion accessories.This course is crafted to assist both emerging and struggling designers in developing and articulating their ideas effectively for the prototyping phase. It addresses the needs and challenges faced by our customers, aiming to support and streamline the creative process for project realization.   WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?This course is tailored for aspiring designers seeking professional advice from industry experts, individuals at the beginning of their design careers who require guidance to enhance their design process, or those simply looking to refine their drawing techniques for personal enjoyment.No previous experience is necessary.   WHAT WILL BE TAUGHT?Below is a list of topics covered during the classes:Understanding the role of a bag designerBefore designing: understanding and analsing crucial external aspects that will influence your business successAbout your business idea and profile: understanding the target audience, market placement, pricing strategy and more.Understanding what a moodboard is and how to use itUnderstanding the differences and purposes of illustrations vs technical drawingsUnderstanding the importance of construction and its impact on your designOverview of the anatomy of a handbag, lining and reinforcementsUnderstanding the structure of a collection: the use of a collection planLearning how to plan a balanced collection of fashion accessoriesUnderstanding finishing options for your designsUnderstanding hardware and its impact on the cost price of your collectionOverview of leather and vegan leatherIdentifying the right materials for your collectionLearning how to draw three-dimensional bagsSketching technical drawingsGoing through the product development of three designsDeveloping patterns and realising 1 to 3 three-dimensional mock-ups of your collectionProviding technical information about your collection to the prototype makerUnderstanding the prototyping processManufacturing your collection: how it works and what the options are HOW WILL THE CLASS BE TAUGHT?The class will take place in person at our London studio, and the lessons will alternate between theoretical instruction and practical exercises.Some homework will be assigned to students between lessons.   HOW LONG IS THIS TUITION?: This course spans two weeks and will be conducted from Monday to Friday, running from 10 am to 3.30 pm, with a 30-minute lunch break.   INCLUDED IN THE COURSE:You will also receive access to a collection of handouts providing relevant information, useful resources and support in continuing your designing process independently.The handouts will contain:– A glossary containing essential key words related to the topic of the lesson– An illustrated glossary containing information about type of bags and bags’ features– An illustrated guide on common hardware used in bags and accessories– Documents about leather types, finishings, tanning processes– Information about perspective and guides to be used as reference to develop your drawings– A list of recommended suppliers for both leather and fittings (physically in London and online)– A glossary containing information about leather types and characteristics   WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?You should be able to use measurements and understand verbal and written English instructions.   ARE THERE ANY OTHER COSTS? IS THERE ANYTHING I NEED TO BRING?Materials to exercise with are included.Feel free to bring a notepad, if you would like to take some notes, we will provide the rest.

LEARN HOW TO SEW LEATHER USING INDUSTRIAL MACHINES FOR BAGS, ACCESSORIES, AND GARMENTS This is the third module of a series designed to provide thorough, professional training in leatherworking, sewing and accessory making. Each module has been carefully designed to equip individuals with key skills for starting a career in this sector, broadening their industry knowledge, or embarking on their own journey with solid foundational skills. During the class, you will learn how to correctly sew with the most common machines used in the leather industry and understand their differences. You will gain knowledge about threads, needles, feet, machine components, and useful sewing tricks. You will learn how to set the machine correctly to obtain suitable tension and successfully work with a variety of leather thicknesses and textures. Additionally, you will acquire skills to troubleshoot sewing issues and effectively handle challenges like sewing curves, working with multiple layers of leather, and managing stretchy, rough, or slippery surfaces. Moreover, you will receive valuable handouts, curated lists of leather and tool suppliers for future reference, and create personalised samples for your own use. By the end of the tuition, you will have: – Understood how to set and operate common leather industrial sewing machines, comprehended their differences and main features – Effectively threaded and operated a lock stitch walking foot machine, ensuring correct tension in your sewing – Utilised various tools, equipment and industry tricks proficiently in sewing – Identified thread types and needle sizes for different applications – Learned to sew leather accurately, distinguishing it from other materials, and mastered sewing thin versus thick leather – Sewn straight lines, curves, and parallel lines with confidence – Produced a variety of basic seams, seam finishes, constructions, continuous, and reinforced seams – Handled sewing multiple layers of leather -Successfully obtained fundamental knowledge to sew simple products independently Included in the course: You will receive useful paper handouts containing: – An illustrated guide providing essential information about types of sewing machines and their components. – A glossary containing information about needles, thread types and essential key words related to the topics of the lesson – A list of recommended suppliers for leather and fittings, both in London and online Find all modules here: https://the-london-leather-workshop.cademy.co.uk/

Sewing with Knit Fabrics, making a jersey top with Lindsey

Get a Sunday of quality sewing me time with Claire at the Stitching Kitchen sewing studio

Our six week course starts each July and focuses on Men’s pattern drafting, block patterns, figurations, cutting, fitting, remarking and master patterns. Successful students will be awarded a certificate.

Spend half a day with Claire who will support you as you learn to alter and adjust clothes to fit and suit your personal style.

Summary of topics covered in the class: – Principles of pattern making for bags – Analysis of the main bag constructions – Pattern making and development for three-dimensional shapes By the end of the tuition, you will have: – Learnt how to develop patterns for simple three-dimensional shapes featuring gussets – Applied the concept of seam, folding, and trimming allowances when drafting patterns – Created finished patterns of various constructions for you to keep – Worked with a variety of tools for pattern making Included in the course: You will receive useful paper handouts containing: – A list of tools and materials used during the lesson(s), with descriptions and usage instructions – A list of recommended suppliers for leather and fittings, both in London and online – A glossary containing pattern making terms and general guidelines for pattern drafting  pattern drafting All materials are included, there are no additional costs. Find all modules here: https://the-london-leather-workshop.cademy.co.uk/

A dressmaking day at Stitching Kitchen learn to fit a bodice and adjust a bodice block with Emma Smith

Join our Beginners Dressmaking Class and sew a stylish skirt from scratch! Learn pattern reading, tracing, waistband construction, adding pockets, and seam finishing with an overlocker. Perfect for beginners! £100. Sign up now!

If you’re a beginner bag maker, this Retreat is perfect for you. A whole weekend to immerse yourself in fabrics, stabiliser, professional techniques and tips to boost your confidence and your skills. Hopefully, there’ll be a lot of chat and laughter too! **This retreat is a little different from many others in that making a bag isn’t the point of the weekend, although you will indeed make one. The focus is on learning new transferable techniques and skills that you will be able to use on so many bags you make in the future. We have our own ‘Retreat Suite’ of rooms, including a spacious, light and airy sewing room which is equipped with a display screen so everyone can easily see demonstrations from a working viewpoint. We also have our own bathroom and kitchen facilities. If you wish, you are free to continue work after dinner and until as late (or early!) as you like. You will need to bring your own sewing machine, fabric scissors and any other favourite sewing tools, but everything else is provided. Come and join us in the exclusive Facebook group Bag Makers Retreat at https://www.facebook.com/groups/bagmakersretreat/ for all the latest retreat info, chat, gossip and more, plus a chance to meet other like-minded folks.  If you have dietary requirements, please tell me before you book, so I can be sure we can meet your needs. All meal main courses are included in the retreat fee, as are Saturday and Sunday lunches and breakfasts. Starters, desserts and drinks with meals are not included but the meals are so huge you probably won’t want starters and desserts anyway!! Tea and coffee is available whenever you need, but you do have to make it yourself!  If you’d like to stay an extra night or two, maybe to arrive on Thursday or leave on Monday if you have a long drive, let me know and I’ll check availability with our host. If you’d prefer to travel by train, we are happy to ferry you to and from the station, just ask. Please aim to arrive no later than 2pm as we have a lot of pattern cutting and fabric choosing to get through on Friday! Friday The fun starts here as you arrive at your weekend home-from-home – a beautifully refurbished, 4-star 18th century coaching inn with all the comforts you would expect. You’ll have time to settle into your own delightfully comfortable en-suite room which has all the anticipated little luxuries, before an introductory get-together with me and your companions in the sewing room at 2pm. You’ll be given your own copy of the bag pattern, which is very beginner- and domestic machine-friendly but which will incorporate a lot of features and techniques that are also in much more complex designs, making this an excellent springboard to any bag you want to make. Then you can wallow in the plentiful stash of fabrics to choose from, including some of my exclusive feature panel prints which aren’t available anywhere else. All the materials, interfacing, stabiliser, threads and bag hardware you need are supplied. As soon as you’re ready, you can start preparing and cutting out your pattern and some of the bag pieces so we can hit the ground running in the morning. After a superbly-cooked and substantial evening meal at around 6pm or so, you are welcome to continue working in the sewing room or to simply relax and chat there before bed. Saturday After an excellent breakfast, we can really start work adding to and adapting your bag pattern. You’ll work at your own pace from around 9am with no pressure – I want your weekend to be fun and not stressful! We will walk through the techniques together and I will be there the whole time to answer questions and troubleshoot any tricky bits. You’ll also have the chance to try sewing with faux leather , if you haven’t already, and we’ll explore ways and techniques to use and apply rivets.  Refreshments are freely available all day and you can take a break whenever you wish. A light lunch (with homemade cake!!) is also provided and we’ll have a short break in the middle of the day. The rest of the day will be similar to Friday – sewing, dinner at 6ish and more sewing if you wish to before bed. Do feel free to have a walk or just sit outside for a breather if the weather is kind. Sunday How can it be Sunday already?? Breakfast over, we’ll get back to work. You will need to allow a few minutes to pack and check out of your room, as it has to be made ready for Monday’s guests. Apart from that, it’s uninterrupted sewing (with refreshments and lunch breaks!) until your bag is finished. We’ll be heading off for lunch at 12.30pm or so. We have the sewing room for the rest of the day. If you don’t quite get done, there’s absolutely no need to worry as you’ll easily be able to complete your bag at home. If you finish earlier feel free to head home whenever you’re ready. Amongst loads of other hints and tips, you’ll learn – Interfacings – what to use and not to use Using stabilisers – which is best and why How to create a zipped pocket the pro way Adding a recessed zipper main closure to almost any bag Installing hardware Incorporating a built-in key fob Installing a rectangular base Sewing the bag together and topstitching A sneaky way of getting your bag right-sides-out without ugly seams! An easy way to add a zipper pull without tools Working with different types of rivet machine Faux leather on a domestic machine You’ll have handouts on all the techniques to take home. And I hope you have a lot of fun and make new friends while you learn!!  I never abandon my students at the end of the course so if you get stuck on anything at home, you are welcome to give me a shout on Messenger and we’ll sort out your problem together. The not-so-small print Book your place using the simple booking system below – just click on your choice of dates and go from there. The full price is £395.00. The deposit of £60 is non-refundable if you cancel but can, however, be credited towards a future retreat booked within the next 6 months. It is completely refundable if I or the venue cancel. The booking page only shows the Friday, but the course is running until Sunday. The balance of £335.00 is payable by approx 6 weeks before the retreat date and payment instructions will be sent to you in good time. Cancellations 4 weeks or less before the retreat date can only be refunded if someone on the waiting list can come instead. *Don’t worry that your booking confirmation may be headed Unicorn Studios – it’s just the site that I’ve run my booking system from for years… it’s not a scam!! *