Millinery Workshop Short Course
Course description
Course overview
Whether you have got your eye on a career as a professional milliner or becoming the best amateur around, this intensive 5-day workshop is an opportunity to sharpen up your skills and get off to a flying start. Suitable for both beginners and intermediate students, this action-packed course will give you tips, techniques and hands-on practice.
From adding warmth and style to your daily commute, to turning heads at Royal Ascot, there is always an excuse to wear a hat. So, get equipped to whip up an impressive bespoke piece for yourself. You will make two or more of your own hats to take away using cosy wool felt and stunning sinamay, with industry tips from an expert throughout. In this comprehensive and informative workshop, each student is encouraged to work at their own pace, and we will get hands-on the first morning so that you can start seeing progress straight away.
Whether you are interested in designing and making hats for pleasure or thinking of embarking on a more commercial venture with your work, this course is the ideal place to start. The workshop atmosphere of the course allows flexibility so that each person's experience, ability and taste are taken into consideration.
Who this course is for
This course is suitable for anyone interested in developing millinery skills, regardless of prior experience. Beginners are welcome, as are those looking to expand existing knowledge.
Key information
Topics covered
- An introduction to the wonders of blocking
- Making up and trimming of fashionable and flattering felt and straw hats
- Designing for different face shapes and personal styles
- Choosing, measuring and cutting the right material to achieve different effects
- Using materials in an efficient and economical way
Learning outcomes
- Use traditional Millinery stitches and techniques
- Understand stiffening wiring and binding
- Create and complete a sinamay hat
- Create and complete a felt hat
- Fit and keep hats and headpieces in place on the head
- Measure a head and work out proportions
- Create your own trimmings
- Understand blocking and steaming
- Understand different millinery materials
- Digital badge and certificate of attendance
Materials
- Waterproof apron
- Tape measure
- Thimble
- Notebook
- 2 pairs of scissors (1 household, 1 sewing)
- A box of household pins
- Blocking pins
- Hand sewing needles
- Apron
One wool felt hood, millinery and black or ivory sinamay for one hat will be supplied by the college.
There will be advice given during the course regarding other materials and suggested suppliers. This may include, for example, fur felt, coloured, parisisal or other straws.
Tutor
Jane Fryers
QEST Scholar Jane Fryers is a millinery artist and master of the unusual. She creates bespoke hats using traditional techniques learned from the late Queen Mother’s milliner, Rose Cory MBE, and often combines them with surprising fabrics. She once had occasion to explain the finer points of fish leather to Her Majesty the Queen. Jane, who is passionate about sharing her millinery knowledge, has just been made Chairperson of the British Millinery Association.
Instagram @janefryersmillinery
Judy Bentinck
QEST Scholar Jane Fryers is a millinery artist and master of the unusual. She creates bespoke hats using traditional techniques learned from the late Queen Mother’s milliner, Rose Cory MBE, and often combines them with surprising fabrics. She once had occasion to explain the finer points of fish leather to Her Majesty the Queen. Jane, who is passionate about sharing her millinery knowledge, has just been made Chairperson of the British Millinery Association.
Instagram @janefryersmillinery
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