Patternmaking & Design
Suzy Furrer/Allison Page/Madeline Rogers/Laura Loveland
The patternmaking and design course consists of 24 to 36 months of intensive skill building. The program enables students to become industry proficient in patternmaking, design and production. The course is self-paced and all students work through an assigned patternmaking text, Building Patterns, The Architecture of Women’s Clothing. The text was written by Suzy Furrer, the founder and Director of Apparel Arts. A small class size of 12 allows for individual attention. Students produce garment throughout the course and create an 8-piece line of clothing as their final project. No sewing or patternmaking experience is necessary, but some sewing experience is recommended. Students attend 3-hour classes once or twice a week. For more detailed information about the patternmaking and design course, click here.
Construction
Pat Moyes
Students learn approximately 48 sewing techniques such as buttonholes, zippers, button fly, bias tape, mitered corners, topstitching, flat-felled seams, French seams, slot seams and many more. All students sew a sample of each and come away with a complete sample binder with notes and sewn examples. This class is for the beginning as well as advanced sewer. Students attend 3-hour classes once a week for 8 weeks.
Fashion Illustration
Paul Gallo
Learn how to get your design ideas on paper. As an experienced and versatile artist, Paul takes the students through drawing the fashion figure as well as how to render garments. Drawing is in black/white and color. No drawing experience is necessary. Students attend 3-hour classes once a week for 8 weeks.
Textiles
Suzy Furrer
The textile class will focus on identifying fabric types. Two hundred swatches of common apparel fabrics will be given out and discussed with regard to use, price and availability. In addition, we will cover how to source fabrics and how to work with fabric reps. This class will benefit the beginner to advanced students. Students attend 3-hour classes once a week for 3 weeks.
Draping
Allison Page
Students will start with the fundamentals of draping by draping the skirt, bodice and sleeve slopers. They will then move on to collars, necklines and flares. Fun and sexy cowls and twists will be covered in the latter part of the class. Students will learn how to transfer the draped muslin onto a paper pattern. Students attend 3-hour classes once a week for 8 weeks. Required Text: Draping for Fashion Design, by Jaffe/Relis.
Design Principles
Suzy Furrer
Design principles such as silhouette, line, color and texture will be our focus during this class. We will discuss spotting trends, identifying markets and tapping into creative outlets. The history of fashion from 1850 to the present will be discussed. Students will create a mood board over the course of the class.
Grading
Suzy Furrer
Learn to grade a simple skirt, pant, sleeves, collar and 2 bodices in this class. Students will learn to grade up and down from a sample size. Included is a discussion of grading terms and working with an outside grading company. Required text: Grading Techniques for Fashion Design, by Price/Zamkoff.
Apparel Production Seminar
Madeline Rogers
Turn your design ideas into marketable products. In this intensive seminar Madeline discusses each stage of development in the apparel manufacturing process, from the creative and design end to setting up a business, sourcing, sample-making, production, marketing and sales. Your sample product will be used as an example and can be taken through each of the developmental stages. Students receive numerous sample forms as well as valuable information on sourcing fabrics, business start-up information and trade shows. Students attend 4.5-hour classes three days in a row. Recommended Text: The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Sewn Product Manufacturing, by Kathleen Fasanella.
Tailoring
Allison Page
Learn to properly tailor a jacket or coat with impeccable results. Students cover pattern fit, building the inside of a jacket, pressing, welt pockets, notched collars, bound buttonholes as well a other techniques taught by an experienced tailor and teacher. Students can draft their own pattern or use a commercial pattern (list provided). Reserved for the intermediate to advanced sewer. Students attend 3-hour classes once a week for 8 weeks.
Fabric Manipulation Series
Remy Pessah
This three-day series will open students’ eyes to an incredible array of fabric manipulations to make your garments special and sellable. On the first day, students will focus on adding texture to existing fabrics by folding, pleating and fibre collage. Nuno felting is tackled on the second day by creating fabric out of loose wool fibers. On the third day students will hand-dye silks using a microwave and learn color composition and how to mix a stock solution.
Sewing Difficult Fabrics/Seam Bindings and Finishes
Lynda Maynard
Students will learn the basics of working with velvet, charmeuse, chiffon, silky and slippery fabrics. There will be a discussion of needles, threads and interfacings. Students will learn proper layout, cutting, marking and pressing techniques and well as sewing straight and curved seams, darts and zipper applications. After working with the difficult fabrics, Lynda will demonstrate applying single and double-fold bias bindings on neckline and armhole edges. Students will work with knits and wovens while attending 6-hour classes once a week for 3 weeks.
Couture Sewing School
Susan Khalje
Learn the fine art of couture sewing from couturier Susan Khalje. This course is a 6-day intensive devoted to creating a one-of-a-kind gown or other garment. During the session, you will plan your project and sew the creation. Couture techniques and details will be incorporated into each garment. An intermediate to advanced sewing skill level is required to benefit from this excellent course. Students can draft their own pattern or use a commercial pattern.
Couture French Jacket Class
Susan Khalje
If you have always admired the French couture jacket which has been popular since the 60’s, this class is what you have been waiting for. Work with your fantastic tweedy or nubby wools and include trims and buttons for an authentic look. Get enough fabric for a straight skirt and you will have a suit that never goes out of style. An intermediate to advanced sewing skill level is required to benefit from this class. Students can draft their own pattern or use a commercial pattern. This class is a 6-day intensive.
Lingerie
Lynda Maynard
Students will meet four times over four weeks with a different focus each week. In the 1st class students will make a tank top and a pajama pant; the 2nd class a teddy and a tap pant; the 3rd class a pantie and camisole, and the 4th class a nightie or slip. Fabric options are charmeuse, crepe de chine, voile, batiste, organdy, georgette and/or a lightweight cotton knit. Students will learn construction techniques appropriate for lingerie such as seams, lace application, elastic application, hems, bias, spaghetti straps, pin tucks and more. Students should either draft their own patterns or buy commercial patterns. Folkwear and Vogue have good commercial patterns for this class. Have your patterns fit before the first day of class. Students are welcome to make an appointment with Suzy at Apparel Arts to have mock-ups fit before class begins. Call or email to make an appointment. Bring a serger if you have one that is portable. Bring tissue paper and all appropriate fabrics, trims and notions.
Millinery (Making a Cloche)
Jasmin Zorlu
The cloche hat is a fitted, bell-shape hat that was popular in the 20’s. Traditionally it was made of felt and is designed to be worn low on the forehead. The cloche is still very chic and stylish today. Jasmin will walk the students through drafting and fitting a pattern for the hat, sewing it up and embellishing it. Check out Jasmin’s website at www.jasminsorlu.com to see her incredible creations and inspiring style. A supplies list will be sent to students after they register.
Very Basic Sewing
Sara Alm
Very Basic Sewing is for the beginner sewer with little or no experience with a sewing machine. Students will learn the ins and outs of the sewing machine (machines provided in class) and how to read a pattern. Students will sew a simple sling bag by Amy Butler (Birdie Sling) www.amybutlerdesign.com which can be purchased at Whiz Bang Fabrics (www.whizbangfabrics.com) in San Francisco. Be sure to bring all fabric and notions to the first day of class. You will receive a 10% discount on fabric if you purchase through Whiz Bang Fabrics. If the Birdie Sling style is not your style, try this easy messenger bag: www.burdastyle.com/patterns/show/3829.