Costume College - Classes I taught

Wow, I have to admit that Costume College always goes by in a quick blur. This is especially true whether teaching classes, taking classes or just enjoying the long weekend of costuming and costume friends, lol. And I'm quite delayed in getting my posts up!

I taught three classes this year, one on Friday and two on Sunday, all workshop kit classes, which ended up being a lot, but I had a great time teaching, and the students said they had a great time in the classes, so yay!

1) Winter Wear - Muff Workshop

This one was on Friday, it was a full class, and we made silk taffeta portrait muffs!
I brought the down pillows pre-done (you've seen some of the pictures of the mess that makes, right?!), and everyone got one, plus a kit that included silk taffeta, silk ribbon, a fabric portrait and pattern instructions. Everyone got right to work, some making it up by hand and some by machine, and quite a few of the students finished by class end, and we had a lot of fun!

Here's some of the students finished portrait muffs:

Katherine Adrian's lovely Marie and purple silk muff

Mother and daughter took the class together! 

Lovely bright aqua trim!

Beautiful and quickly finished!

2) Regency Detailing: Learn Reverse Applique

This one was Sunday, and a workshop/skills class, which was really fun. Everyone got a kit with silk taffeta squares, drew on an alphabet letter and design of their choice, and then cut away the inside of the top layer of their design, tucked under the seam allowance and did reverse applique: end result is the back fabric shows thru to the front. It was also a full class and a lot of fun!

Students hard at work!

Samples with Reverse Applique and Historical Detailing

3) Sewing Kit or "Housewife" Workshop

This one was also Sunday, and the only class that had a couple of spots open: since it was one of the final class times of the weekend, I wasn't surprised, lol. I had a great group of students, who each got a housewife kit of embroidered silk taffeta, cream silk taffeta and quilted silk, along with binding, pocket, pin and needle 'holder', silk ribbon for ties and more. It went by quickly with everyone sewing and learning together!

Finished student housewife:

Silk Housewife sewn by Pam Metsers

Yay, so I had a wonderful time at Costume College teaching classes again this year, and hope to teach again next year!

I'm teaching at Costume College - Winter Wear - Hooded Cape workshop

Guess what?! I'm teaching at Costume College this year! I'm pretty excited about it, a workshop class to make a late 18th century hooded cape, called "Winter Wear - Hooded Cape workshop.' I submitted a class to teach and they accepted! I've taught classes (Late 18th century muff workshop & Regency Dress Detailing) at a small convention called Dress U and Dress U the second in 2012-2013, but teaching at CoCo is new for me: I've only attended one other year years ago, and this year I'm attending again and teaching a class, yay!

It's a 2 1/2 hour workshop, and the class size is fairly small (limited, since it's so hands on). Students will bring their fabric and pre-made binding, and then will get a pattern I created for a late 18th century cape with optional hood and trim options. Students can choose to make a high fashion hooded cape/muff, a more subdued mourning cape, a more practical winter garment & much more: I'm also going to do a brief talk on history of outerwear. I've been so obsessed with outerwear lately, I'm super excited to share the knowledge I've learned about the shapes, history, and how to.

It's going to super fun, I can't wait!!

Here's the first late 18th century hooded cape I did: it's pink silk taffeta lined with pink linen and trimmed in white marabou.

Here's a link to my blog entries on capes and related outerwear:
-Late 18th century Pink silk & white marabou feather hooded cape & muff
-Late 18th century Black silk marabou feather hooded cape
-Late 18th century Black silk mourning cape

-Early 19th century Regency cream silk & white marabou feather pelerine
-Early 19th century Regency 'fichu' in Rusty red burgundy silk & black marabou
-Early 19th century Regency 'fichu' in Yellow silk w/ black trim

I'm really looking forward to CoCo and hanging out with everyone, and I'm about to start my Gala outfit and will share my plans on that soon!