Fashion Foundations: Tudor Corsetry - Morley College Courses

When & Where

18 September 2024 - 4 December 2024 ( 33 hours, 11 weeks )
Wednesday
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Tutor Sharon Steed
Course Code W24FASE03B
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

Making corsets is an essential skill needed to create a proper historic silhouette and is much sought after by Theatre and Film production companies as well as in the fashion industry. This course is designed to give you an introduction to the processes and techniques involved in designing and making your own corset. A focus on Georgian corsets, also called stays, will cover both historical and contemporary approaches. Immerse yourself in the history of corsetry, by applying the various elements of construction involved in corsetry using specialist materials and components to produce a corset to your own measurements. Gain the knowledge of how to create channels for boning and for sewing the corset from start through fitting to finish.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Understand how a corset affects the silhouette
Gain an understanding of design processes used in corsetry
To select and use suitable materials for corsets and stays, including fabrics, interlinings and boning types
To understand and apply appropriate construction and professional finishing skills specific to period corsetry
To create a corset showcasing construction techniques
To gain an understanding of the pattern making processes involved in producing a corset to your own measurements for future study

Cost

Full fee

£365

Concession fee

£275

Click here for information on Fees, Funding and Concessions (including financial support)

Class format and activities

Weekly sessions will consist of discussion and presentation of students work, followed by demonstrations and practical tasks to be completed . Handouts and other documents will be provided to support design and skill development. If you are a returning student, you will be able to build on past work by developing your skills to create portfolio-based samples of corset design and construction techniques. Teaching will be in groups with feedback on an individual one-to-one basis in a constructive and supportive environment. In order to make the most of the course and make the best possible progress, you will be expected to put in approximately 3 hours per week of your own time.

Entry requirements

This is a Beginners/Intermediate level course. Past sewing experience and familiarity with pattern cutting are necessary. Students must be able to use a sewing machine and have access to a sewing machine and basic equipment at home. Students must be able to read, write and understand fluent English. Digital, mathematics and numeracy skills are desirable but not essential.

What you need to know before you enrol

Working on patterns and cutting fabric can involve standing at high tables, (you will also need a suitable workspace at home). Please let the tutor know if this would be difficult for you. Sewing machines have a foot operated speed control. The fashion studios are on the first floor of the Nancy Seear building and there is a lift access to the first floor. Please note eating is not allowed in the fashion studios - you are allowed to have bottled water.

What you need

Tools, equipment and materials for this specialist area will be discussed during the first lesson and a list will be provided. You should also have a basic sewing kit: fabric scissors, sharp trimming scissors, dressmaker’s pins, tape measure, dressmaker’s tracing wheel and carbon paper, a selection of hand sewing needles and threads, notepad and pens, pencils, sharpener and eraser Also you will need to provide your own fabrics, haberdashery, threads, etc. but these will be discussed during the first lesson.

What you can do next

Our Georgian and Regency corset courses will not be offered again next year, as we will be introducing corsets from other time periods to help you further develop and expand your skills into pattern cutting and fitting for a range of time periods. We also offer a variety of specialist costume and accessories courses. To create a full Georgian ensemble, you might want to try Costume Design and Make: Georgian Gown and / or Fashion Foundations: Side Hoops. Want to go further? Our Access to HE: Fashion Studies or BA (Hons) Fashion Design course can be the first step to making fashion or costume your new career. For more details: https://www.morleycollege.ac.uk