Join us on Friday 08 September 2023 in the beautiful county of Rutland for a truly fabulous One-Day, live In-Person workshop with Gary Mills and his 'Rudimentary Basics of Pattern Cutting' class!

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Introduction:-

When it comes to teaching a class like this, you need someone who is both experienced and educated to a high level in both dress design and dress-making, hence why Gary Mills fits the bill! Gary has a BA (Honours) in Design Fashion, Postgraduate for Teaching. He was the former Programme Leader for Higher Education in Fashion, Textiles and Surface Design at the University Centre Somerset and has had years of experience on the practical side of the industry tailoring and making outfits for both men and women - and even some celebrities!

 

What you will learn in this in-person Workshop:-

Have you ever wanted to change a favourite dress pattern, or update it? Have you wished that bust dart could be in another place, but just don’t know how to go about changing it? You don’t quite like the neckline on that pattern, and you would like to alter it to also include a proper facing; Gary will teach you how. Would you like to add a long sleeve when the pattern only offers a shorter option? That dress pattern has a straight skirt, but you prefer a flared skirt; its quite easy once you’ve been taught how to go about it.  And …. have you ever made a toile? What is it? How can a toile inform your dressmaking? Gary will teach you how you can solve all these questions with some fundamentals in pattern cutting, which you can take away with you to build upon knowledge, skills, and confidence in your dressmaking.

 

The workshop is a practical hands-on exercise, where you will be working on drafting pattern paper to change basic pattern blocks (everyone will be working on the same sized pattern) through various examples and tasks. Once the patterns have been created you will then produce a half toile in calico towards the end of the session.

 

In the workshop you will learn the following:

• Bust and Body dart manipulation

• Necklines and facings

• Adding volume to sleeves

• Changing the silhouette, from a straight skirt to flared skirt.

• Making a half-toile

• Considerations to fit and further style lines.

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Skill Level for this Workshop:-

Gary has many years of experience as a professional practitioner and teacher in Fashion and Pattern Cutting. His lessons are so enjoyable, fun, and very well organised with his clear and patient guidance. This lesson is suitable for all; if you are a beginner this is a great way to start to understand dress making through the learning process and skills which explore the rudiments of pattern cutting practices. For those with some confidence and experience you could add further to your knowledge and skills within this professionally pitched lesson.

 

Material requirements for this Workshop:-

All the materials are easily accessible.

5 metres of pattern drafting paper suggested type: Sewing Pattern Paper Spot Dot Cross for Marking Designs Dressmaking - 10 Meters : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen or any wide white paper will do

3 metres of calico

Cream or white of good quality sewing machine thread

 

Equipment requirements for this Workshop:-

For the Pattern drafting:

• Long ruler or a metre of straight wood to draw against

• A French curve ruler or large dinner plate to draft curves. Suggested: 2 pcs 3 In 1 Plastic French Curve Metric Sewing Ruler Measure For Dressmaking Tailor Grading Rule Pattern Making : Amazon.co.uk: Stationery & Office Supplies

• Or Pattern Maker Ruler Clothing Making Curve Ruler Sewing Tools for Tailor Designer : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

• Optional Quilting ruler square is useful

• Sharp HB pencil, rubber, and pencil sharpener

• A glue stick (such as Pritt Stick)

• Masking tape

• Paper scissors

 

For the Sewing:

• Sewing machine

• Pins, fabric scissors and snips

• Fabric marker pen

• Tape measure

• Optional small travel iron and pressing mat could be useful

 

Additional Information relevant to this Workshop:-

Please Note: This workshop is not a lesson on individual pattern sizing / fitting/ made to measure. The block pattern for the exercises will be a standard block size 12, although all the tasks and exercises can later easily be transferred to your own preferred pattern size.

 

​Pattern Information relevant to this Workshop:-

There is no pattern for this class!

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Tickets for this Live, In-Person, One-Day Workshop will be limited and allocated on a first-come/first-served basis, so please be sure to book quickly!

 

The ticket price of £125.00 is based on ONE person attending this live, in-person crafting class.

The price includes your Lunch, Tea & Coffee and Light Refreshments on the day, as well as the class Tuition which runs from 9.30am to 4.00pm.

 

If however you would like to attend the One-Day Pattern Introduction class (as listed above) but ALSO stay at the Rutland Hall Hotel for your Evening Dinner, and stay overnight in a Double En-Suite Room (solo occupancy) with Breakfast the next morning (Saturday 9th September) included, the ticket price is £295.00.

 

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Why Not Make A Full Weekend Of It?!

If you would like to make a bonanza weekend of it and embrace the One-Day Live In-Person Free Motion Quilting Workshop AND attend our Weekend Sewing Retreat, we've got great news!

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At the time of writing, there are still a few places available on the Weekend Sewing Retreat, but you would need to book BOTH the £125.00 event ticket for the One-Day Workshop AND the Weekend Sewing Retreat ticket (which is priced at £595.00 for Single Occupancy or £485.99 for Shared Occupancy, subject to availability) separately in order to stay on the Friday AND Saturday nights and attend BOTH events!

 

Phew! That's a lot of information to take in! If you are at all confused by any of the above and need any help whatsoever by way of explanation, please just email us via

hello@craftymonkies.com.

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