The Basic White Blouse

   You need not one but a closet full.  Aside from the LBD (little black dress) nothing is more versatile or relied upon than a white blouse.  It is essential career wear.  It is old reliable if you have to guess the appropriate attire for an occasion.  It has endless wearing potential.

   The wardrobe should have basic white blouses in silk, linen and cotton.  There should be a variety of tailored and dressy styles.  What is most distinguishing about a basic white blouse is that it fit the wearer and be expertly crafted.

   This is a workshop in three parts.  Part 1 will create for you a fitted muslin.  In Part 2, using your muslin as a pattern, you will design your own blouses learning how to vary elements in yoke, collar, sleeves and cuffs.  In Part 3, you will learn soft tailoring techniques used on blouses and come away with samples of high end design features.

Sewing skill level: intermediate to advanced

Part 1 - Creating a Bodice Muslin

   You will be fitted using a muslin pre-made for you from Vogue pattern 8689 (see picture below).  This pattern has front and back yokes and princess lines from the armhole, which offer great potential in design. When you register for class you will be asked your measurements and a muslin will be made for you ready to be tried on and fitted.  At the end of the fitting, you will have a pattern customized for you. This will be a private class by appointment.

Price per class including materials, $175

Part 2 - Variations Upon a Theme

   This will be a workshop in pattern drafting to offer a full range of potential in designing a blouse, whether it be tailored or dressy.  Starting with your own fitted muslin you will draft pattern pieces beyond what V8689 offers.  You will come away with a portfolio of pattern pieces to construct many styles of blouse.  

Price per class including materials, $75

This class will be offered by appointment. 

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Part 3 - White Blouse Elements

   A white blouse should be basic...but not boring. 

   This will be a sample class that prepares you to have a stable of design features that you can apply to a blouse.  You will be shown samples and you can choose your own exercises to work on to advance your skills.  There will be an emphasis on impeccable tailoring and fabric handling techniques. 

Price per class including materials, $75

This class will be offered by appointment.

9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

 

How This Works

   Although The Basic White Blouse classes are offered as a series, the student is not obligated to take the full course or to take them in sequence.  It is advised however that the student have a fitted muslin before taking the class for pattern drafting.

  The student may also choose to take the classes as private lessons.

Reservations Required

847-644-4797

 

 

The following classes may be set up by appointment

Alterations for the Home Sewer

This is a one-day class geared to those who want to learn how to do clothing alterations for themselves and their family.  Basic techniques are taught for working with your everyday clothing: pants, jackets, jeans, dresses, skirts, coats, shirts.  Students are encouraged to bring actual items from home for analysis and discussion.  Pin-fitting, marking, and ripping are covered along with determining best practices for tackling different alterations tasks.  Many ah-ha! moments will be experienced in this class.  Sewing skill level: beginner to intermediate.

Tailoring Classes

Men's Trousers: Zippers

Zippers in Men’s trousers are not installed the same way as in women’s pants.  In this class you will learn traditional ways to install zippers in men's pants, including the Italian method for hand tailored dress pants, a zipper with crotch shield, fly zipper with attached facings, and mock fly zipper.  The methods can also be applied to well-tailored women’s pants.  Materials will be provided.  You will leave with samples for a notebook.  Sewing skill level: intermediate to advanced.

 

Men’s Trousers: Pockets

Pockets on men’s trousers have a more durable installation than those on women’s pants.  In this class you will learn two types of pockets commonly found on men’s dress pants: the side seam slant pocket and the on-the-seam side pocket.  Much of the work on men's pants pockets is the underlying bag.  Materials will be provided.  You will leave with samples for a notebook.  Sewing skill level: intermediate to advanced.

Altered Couture

From Junk Jeans to Snappy Skirts
Go green!  In this class, you’ll make a cool skirt out of a pair of thrift store jeans or some pants from the back of the closet.  Sewing experience is not required, as this class is mostly "cut and paste" with basic machine sewing and hand embellishment.   We will work with tricks and techniques to achieve one-of-a-kind looks.   This is a fun do-it-yourself class that allows you to add funky garments to your wardrobe without spending a ton of money.  Once you get the hang of it, you can create fabulous styles for pennies.  Sewing skill level: beginner to intermediate.

 Dolly and Me

Confessions of a grandmother: I like to play with dolls.  If there is a doll in the life of your special someone, you can have the fun of making doll clothes for gift giving.  Bring the doll and we will make a custom fit pattern for her; then we can create outfits that actually fit!  If you have an old or antique doll that needs clothes, we can dress her.  In this class you can employ some hand sewing techniques, such as embroidery, smocking, or lace shaping.  One 6-hour class, includes some supplies.  Sewing skill level: beginner to intermediate.

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