Millinery: Straw and Sinamay

When & Where

10 January 2025 - 21 March 2025 ( 30 hours, 10 weeks )
Morning, Friday
View course timetable
Waterloo Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Tutor Vesna Pesic
Course Code W24FASC08B
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

This is your chance to explore plant fibres in the context of hat making. Materials made from plant fibres have been used to make hats for thousands of years and the techniques used to create beautiful shapes are some of the simplest to learn. Create fashionable or vintage hat styles as you are introduced to professional hat making from straw and sinamay. This course will enable you to produce your own stunning creations for both men and women, trimmed to perfection. If you have existing skills, you will be encouraged to research and develop your design skills alongside your technical abilities. All students will be encouraged to pursue their own project work where appropriate.

Learning Outcomes

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

To develop designs for hats in straw and sinamay
To steam, block and cut a variety of straw materials
To use appropriate methods to construct and finish hats
To develop and use trims using appropriate methods and materials

Cost

Full fee

£335

Concession fee

£250

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

Class format and activities

Teaching is both to the whole class and on an individual, one-to-one basis using demonstrations, discussion, examples, samples, hand-outs and other technical support material where appropriate. You will receive feedback throughout your course to help you develop your skills. For you to be able to achieve on this practical class punctuality and attendance are key. Please inform your tutor of any absences. Microsoft Teams will be used for general class specific communication and for posting additional information. Health and safety inductions are planned into your course delivery, and you are asked not to use any machinery or specialist equipment until you have received specific training. Morley provides a positive and friendly atmosphere and to support this all students should be considerate and kind and work in a collegiate and collaborative way and to not monopolise the tutor.

Entry requirements

This is a beginner's course, all are welcome. Competence in using a sewing machine is desirable but not essential.

What you need to know before you enrol

Activities in class can involve standing at high tables for a period of time. 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 lift access to the first floor. Please note the eating and drinking is not allowed in the fashion studios - you are allowed to have bottled water. Students must be able to read, write and understand fluent English. Digital, mathematics and numeracy skills are desirable but not essential.

What you need

A basic sewing kit: fabric scissors, small trimming scissors, tape measure, dressmakers pins, blocking pins (sometimes called household pins), millinery(straw/modiste) needles, a thimble(essential), tailor’s chalk/pencil, a variety of sewing threads Paper scissors, UHU glue Also:• A comprehensive list of materials and suppliers will be provided at the first lesson An Apron• notebook and a pencil• You must provide your own straw hoods, trimmings, haberdashery, millinery wire etc.• Pattern paper and card is available for use in the studio• You will need to purchase a machine bobbin from the tutor for £1, refundable at the end of the course You may purchase some sinamay as well as millinery wire.

What you can do next

Ready for more? So are we! Try our Contemporary Millinery course next to continue building on your skills or explore some of our other Millinery courses. Continue your journey with us in a variety of engaging courses on offer all the way up to a full BA (Hons) in Fashion Design. Visit www.morleycollege.ac.uk today for more inspiration and information!