Previous Courses

School of Historical Dress

Since Autumn 2011 we have offered short courses on the following subjects:

How to Design a Historical Character

Exploring Flat Pattern Drafting

An Introduction to the Study of Historical Dress 1500-1900

The Nature of Fabrics 1400 – 1800

Tailoring Stitches & Techniques 1400-1800

From Jacks to Jumps; Quilted Garments 1350 – 1800

Felt-making for Hats 1400 – 1900

The Art of the Seamstress 1500 – 1900

Historical Stitching & Decorative Techniques on Leather 1400-1600

The Cut & Construction of 15th Century Men’s Doublets

An Introduction to European Men’s Dress 1500-1550

The Cut & Construction of the Italian Sottana (Kirtle) in the 1540s

Embroidery on Garments 1525 – 1625

The Cut & Construction of Men’s Doublets 1580-1620

The Cut of Men’s Hose 1600-1620

The Design, Construction and Use of Renaissance Armour

Early 17th Century Underpinnings

Making, Starching & Setting an Elizabethan Ruff

Wig-making 1600 – 1800

Pockets for Men & Women 1600 – 1900

18th Century Underpinnings – Stays & Hoops

Hoops & Rumps 1750 -1790

The Cut & Construction of Stays 1750–1790

The Cut & Construction of Late 18th Century Women’s Clothing (Free Courses)

The Cut & Construction of 18th Century Men’s Breeches

The Nature of Fabrics 1800 – 1900

An Introduction to the Study of Historical Dress 1850-1900

Dress Decorations of the 1860s & 1870s

1860s Corsetry

The Cut & Construction of Corsets 1880-1900

Bustles 1885 – 1890

Late Victorian Dress-making Techniques

Madeleine Vionnet & The Art of Draping 1910 – 1940

Good Plain Sewing – The Craft of the Home Dress-maker 1900 – 1950

 

 

 

Two Timetables of Previous Courses

Previous Courses image 2

School of Historical Dress

THE CUT & CONSTRUCTION OF MEN’S DOUBLETS c. 1580-1620

Tuesday 2nd April 2013

9.00am                Registration and coffee

10.00am              Introductory talk

11.00am              Taking measurements and pinning body blocks on male models

1.00pm                Lunch

2.00pm                Drafting demonstration for a peascod-fronted doublet

4.00pm                Drafting demonstration for a flat-fronted doublet

6.00pm                Finish

Wednesday 3rd April 2013

9.00am                Drafting ½ size doublet pattern

1.00pm                Lunch

2.00pm                Cutting interlinings

3.00pm                Quilting demonstration and pad-stitching full-size doublet

6.00pm                Finish

Thursday 4th April 2013

9.00am                Drafting and cutting laps, wings and collar

1.00pm                Lunch

2.00pm    Cutting and basting full-size doublet

6.00pm    Finish

Friday 5th April 2013

9.00am                Fitting the full-size doublet on male model

10.00am  Post-fitting alterations

11.00am  Stitch techniques on sampler

1.00pm                Lunch

2.00pm                Cutting and stitching full-size doublet

6.00pm                Visit to the V&A Museum to study doublets and hose on display

Saturday 6th April 2013

9.00am                Working on the full-size doublet

1.00pm                Lunch

2.00pm                Decorative techniques and application of braid

6.00pm                Finish

 

Previous Courses image 3

School of Historical Dress

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF DRESS 1850-1900

Saturday 23rd March 2013

9.30am     Registration and coffee

10.00am    Overview of dress 1850-1880

10.30am    Women’s clothing and accessories 1850-65 from the Hopkins Collection

11.30am    Close inspection of extant clothing and accessories 1850-65

12 noon    Lunch

1.00pm     Women’s clothing and accessories 1865-80 from the Hopkins Collection

2.00pm     Close inspection of extant clothing and accessories 1865-80

2.30pm     Tea

3.00pm     Lace 1850-1900 – making bobbin lace with Christine Prentis

4.00pm     Patterns 1850-1900 with Jenny Tiramani

4.30pm     Taking patterns from extant garments with Jenny Tiramani

5.30pm     Finish

Sunday 24th March 2013

9.30am     Coffee

10.00am   Men’s clothing and accessories 1850-1900 from Robert Whorley’s Collection

10.45am   Overview of women’s clothing and accessories 1880-1900

11.15am   Women’s clothing and accessories 1880-90 from the Hopkins Collection

12 noon    Close inspection of extant clothing and accessories 1865-80

12.30pm   Lunch

1.30pm     Plain sewing 1850-1900

2.00pm     Sewing machines from the period with John Langdon from the International

Sewing Machine Collectors’ Society

3.00pm     Tea

3.30pm     Women’s clothing and accessories 1890-1900 from the Hopkins Collection

4.30pm     Close look at extant clothing and accessories 1890-1900

5.00pm     Finish

gallery of previous courses in progress