The patternmaking and design course is 18 to 30 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 a patternmaking text of approximately 145 exercises. Class size allows individual attention. Students produce an eight piece line of clothing as a final project. No experience is necessary, but some sewing skill is helpful.

For more information about the patternmaking and design course, click here.

Learn approximately 48 sewing techniques such as buttonholes, zippers, button fly, bias tape, mitered corners, topstitching, flat-felled, French seams, slot seams and many more. Students sew a sample of each and come away with a complete construction sample binder with notes and sewn examples. This class is for beginning as well as advanced sewers. Students attend 3 hour classes once a week for 8 weeks.
Recommended Text: Sewing Basics, by Patricia Moyes

Learn how to analyze the fit of various muslin test garments on real bodies with figure irregularities and posture concerns. Bring in your mockups and get them to fit perfectly. Learn how to transfer fit corrections to the patterns. Be open to sharing your patterns and corrections with the class. Everyone will learn from Lynda and each other. There will also be discussions of line and proportion related to specific figure types. This is a very exciting class if you feel fit is a missing component to a perfect line or wardrobe. Bring in as many muslins as you like and we will try to get to them all.

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.

Learn the fine art of couture sewing from couturier Susan Khalje. This course is a six 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. Class size is limited for individual attention. Susan will also share her expertise during a one night lecture on starting and maintaining a couture sewing business.

The textile class will focus on recognizing fabric types. Two hundred swatches of common fabrics will be given out and discussed. We will also address which fabrics to use, when and how in the construction of a garment. In addition, we will cover how to source fabrics and work with fabric reps. This class will benefit the beginner to advanced students. Students attend 3 hours classes, once a week for 3 weeks.

Students will start with the fundamentals of draping by draping the skirt, bodice and sleeve slopers. Then, students will move on to collars, necklines and flares. Fun and sexy cowls and twists will be covered in the latter part of the class. Allison will also demonstrate how to transfer the draped muslin into a paper pattern. Students attend three hour classes once a week for eight weeks.
Recommended Text: Draping for Fashion Design, by Jaffe/Relis

This class will build on the foundation of the initial 8-week draping class. We will drape a sleeve/bodice combination, draped pleat variations, more collars and have an opportunity to drape your own design.
Required Text: Draping for Fashion Design, by Jaffe and Relis and/or Draping for Apparel Design, Helen Joseph-Armstrong

Learn to grade a simple skirt, pant, sleeve and princess line and darted bodice in this 3-week class. Grading will be done up and down one size to learn the basics of grading garments.
Recommended Text: Basic Techniques for Fashion Design, by Price/Zamkoff