What you will learn Learn the techniques required to produce stylish and contemporary hats for both men and women. Each term will focus on different materials and methods: felt in the autumn, straw and woven materials in spring and in summer, the development of patterns for both soft and structured hats will be in focus. Each course will cover a wide range of techniques to enable you to produce beautiful modern hats with a professional finish. Attendance on all three…

Guided sessions on working with specialist Millinery materials and a range of different Millinery techniques Learning how to master the skills of hand blocking, hand manipulation, determine proportions, trimmings and finishes of hats Learning how to design and make hats using specialist equipment and hand sewing techniques Learning from scratch you will cover: Blocking different fabrics Felt • Straw • Sinamay • Buckram How to insert a petersham ribbon head ribbon How to wire and manipulate fabrics How to trim…

Weekly What you will learn For high fashion or everyday hats, this course will introduce you to professional hat making from straw and sinamay. Materials made from plant fibres have been used to make hats for many thousands of years and the techniques used to create beautiful shapes are relatively simple to learn. This course will enable you to produce your own stunning creations for both men and women, trimmed to perfection. Beginners to the subject will be introduced to…

Parisisal Straw Explored (2 day) £225 inc all materials This course is aimed at: Those who want to explore working with Parisisal straw and experiment with the many possibilities it brings. Previous experience of blocking sinamay is needed. The course will involve: Learning how to block Parisisal and its foundation materials using traditional techniques of steaming and pinning over a vast choice of wooden blocks. A tutorial in how to create a Parisisal brim. Learning how to wire and line…

Come and learn how to source research from primary and secondary sources. Create a mood, colour and fabric board. As well as design development to start creating your own collection of hats (or bags, shoes, belts). (£75 + materials) Tuesdays 10.30 - 3pm Tutor: Chloe Scrivener

Jinsin & Silk Abaca Explored This course is aimed at: Those who want to explore working with Jinsin and silk Abaca. The course will involve: Exploring and experimenting with Jinsin, a material renowned for its sculptural quality. It creates incredible shapes when curved and flexed. The fabric can be stripped away to create a wild spray of fibres. Exploring and experimenting with Silk Abaca, a material which is fine and smooth and can be free-shaped, blocked or used for draping. …

Whether you've got your eye on a career as a professional milliner or becoming the best amateur around, this intensive 5 day workshop is an opportunity to sharpen up your skills and get off to a flying start. Suitable for both beginners and intermediate students, this action-packed course will give you tips, techniques and hands-on practice. From adding warmth and style to your daily commute, to turning heads at Royal Ascot, there’s always an excuse to wear a hat. So, get equipped to…

Fur Felt Winter Fedora  (1 day) £130 inc all materials This course is aimed at: Students of any skill level who want to create a unique wearable Fedora hat for winter The course will involve: Choice of black, grey, navy or tan fur felt Exploration of different trims you can use on Fedora’s. With tuition you will block your fur felt hood to your desired head size and shape. Creation of a feather trim or a petersham trim to adorn…

Silk and Fabric Flower Making (2 day) £195 inc all materials This course is aimed at: Those who have always wanted to make detailed fabric flowers to adorn hats, headpieces, bridal designs or corsages. The course will involve: Working with a range of silks/fabrics in different compositions and discussion on the pros and cons of these materials when making flowers. Understanding of how to apply these techniques to other fabrics such as man made fibers. Exploring a variety of shaping…

Tutor: Louise Pocock

About the Course Two day course resulting in a complete cloche hat and possibly a pillbox hat too. Using traditional millinery techniques, basic seeing skills is an advantage although not essential. Learn how to make your hat, finish in different ways, and trim with various styles. Relaxed learning environment. What's included in the price? All materials included, break for lunch, refreshments included. Details of local hotels, B&Bs etc upon request. Town centre location.

£195 (inc all materials) – Level: Intermediate

Sundays, over 5 weeks £595 On this beginners millinery course we'll introduce you to the technical skills for blocking and shaping straw and felt hats. We'll show you professional techniques and help you develop the correct manipulative skills, while learning how to use a range of specialist traditional equipment. You'll learn a range of decorative techniques and methods of professionally finishing hats, as well as measuring the head and fitting a hat. You will be encouraged to develop your design…

Advanced Crown & Brim Hat Blocking This course is aimed at: Those who want to learn the couture techniques involved in creating a sinamay crown and brim hat. The course will involve: Learning how to block a crown and brim using traditional techniques of steaming and pinning over a vast choice of wooden blocks. Practical knowledge of how to edge with wire and a bias piece and also create different brim edgings. Learning how to size your hat. Creating samples…

Bias, Split and Veiling Brim Techniques This course is aimed at: Those wanting to explore different brim techniques. This is an advanced course and students need to have completed the crown and brim techniques course. The course will involve: Learning how to create a bias brim, a technique which works well with waffle and plain sinamay and enables you to block difficult shapes as well as creating brims using less material. Learning how to create a moon cut brim where…

Louise Pocock