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
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
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
