Hello all I'm happy to announce the pants masters workshop coming soon to the Oro Station Community Hall on March 19, 2020 from 9:00 to 4:00!  Pattern drafting experience is required.

This workshop will be focused on the pants draft for women, what to look for, a few line changes specifically for women that will make all the difference in fitting the body.  I offer a unique perspective on how to draft pants because of the many bodies that have been fit during the course of the various classes that I have taught plus the pants that I have made for clients, family and of course myself.  Understanding the negative space in the crotch and how to deal with it is a bit of a mind bender, but once understood it will be invaluable in future projects! We will also  be sewing a mock up, fitting the body, making the necessary adjustments to the pattern as well as the pants among other things.    

The classes are always a fun way to really learn a lot, they are jam packed with information not to mention the confidence gained that will last a lifetime!  Registration is limited to 10, small enough for one on one time, large enough to have a variety of body shapes as well as many diverse questions!  Looking forward to it!

Register early to avoid disappointment!

So who do you call when you want to do 6 weeks worth of work in 1 day??? 
The Bradford class that's who!!!! 
Yesterday was a humdinger to say the least!  This amazing group of ladies did the impossible, I pushed them to their limits and they do not disappoint.  The topic was skirts, pencil, A-line, tapered, gored, bias, circle (both semi and full circle) with the added bonus of the volants!!!  Whew! 
In the morning we started with the basic pencil skirt using generic measurements then did the same using personal measurements AND created a mock up to fit the body!  Continued with the A-line and tapered skirts all before lunch!  In the afternoon we did the rest of the work and finished early even!!!  I tell you it was an amazing day of learning, fun and work, work, work. 
The homework is the following: 

• Draft circle skirts using the forearm measurement; once this is done if you wish you can draft full size skirts
  
• Draft the gored mermaid skirt, bias or godet skirt are to be drafted using personal measurements and create a mock up for these.
  
• Draft a spiral volant as well as a circle volant for the neckline as shown in class   
  
• be sure to complete all the hand sewing that was already assigned
  

Next semester will start March 26, 2020 from 1 to 4 pm.  I will have a syllabus for you by the end of February.  The class also decided to complete the blazer immediately following semester 4 in June 2020.  This will be a 4 week course with some or all full day class. This whole section is an exam for the certificate of completion from Italy.  It will consist of drafting and sewing a blazer from start to finish in the bespoke tradition of excellence.  Well earned recognition.
Have a great winter. 

We had a class with Amanda who is almost finished the first  book!  This young woman has excelled in pattern drafting taking all her classes on Skype!  Who said overcoming distances is hard?  She lets me know when she is ready for the next class and we plan accordingly.  All that is left to do to complete the first book is the collars and two piece sleeve! 
This is quite an achievement especially for the pants fitting, it was a bit tricky but it was done.  Amanda had a couple of fit models she used making mock ups, taking pix, sending them to me and I would look at them, critique them and send them back, puts a whole new twist on correspondence classes! 
This week we focused on the man's vest pattern, I did a demo and then Amanda drafted one on her end while I watched to make sure she understood the method, which she did very well. 
There is homework; draft the vest on page 89 (bottom graphic) using boyfriends’ measurements and mock up, draft top vest using the same measurements.  For next class get ready a sheath pattern using personal measurements as shown on page 95, we will be adding the collar in class and creating the facings etc. 
Have a good week!

Hello all I hope the Holidays were happy, spent with family and friends and of course a lot of food!  I haven't posted in a while because of the Holidays, still trying to catch up with the to-do list, still working on chapter one, may give up on it and start chapter 2!  
I will be taking a vacation this year for a change so I'm actually trying to finish a bunch of work, I have 7 garments to finish by January 20; 5 are done and then I ran out of fabric for the remaining 2 so this project is on a holding pattern for the time being.  
While I wait for the fabric I have a suit, jacket and pants, to finish before leaving.  Today I completed the pad-stitching that was started yesterday, put the pockets in, put the jacket together ready for the sleeves; the suit was cut way before Christmas... 
The grandkids were up for a couple of days, they were supposed to return home today but the impending inclement weather scared everyone into getting them home early leaving me with a full day to work today. 
Before Christmas I completed the men's jacket with the bufant roses that turned out so beautiful if I do say so myself!  The client came to pick it up a few days ago and his comment was that it looks like a work of art!  This made me very happy! 
Now it's back to class on Thursday with a full day in Bradford focusing on the skirts and volants.  It will be nice to see the class again! 
Have a good week!