As well as weekly Open Lab and Teen classes, The Academy of Fine Sewing and Design offers a variety of workshops throughout the year:

A wedding dress is one of the most important garments a woman will ever wear! During this three day workshop we will plan a wedding dress for yourself or someone special. Students will create a sample bodice complete with inner structure, boning, lace, beading and button and loop closure. We will discuss individual designs for garments and headpieces. Students are encouraged to bring fabrics swatches and pictures.

Koos van den Akker - Master Techniques Workshop - April 14-18 with Koos van den Akker

With a career spanning more than 40 years the legendary designer Koos van den Akker has dressed the likes of Bill Cosby, Elizabeth Taylor, Issabella Rossellini, Stevie Wonder and Madonna. His garments have been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and FIT in New York. His fashions have sold at Saks and Bloomingdales. Koos is a master at using garments as a canvas for his unusual collaborations of color and creative collage techniques. He has been featured as a Vogue Pattern designer since Fall 2002.

During this 5 day workshop, students will have the unique opportunity to study with Koos van den Akker, creating samples and working on one of his Vogue Pattern Designer garments. It will be a truly inspiring creative experience!

Making Trousers - May 12 – 16 with David Page Coffin and Kathryn Brenne

Back in 2004, David Page Coffin abandoned his 18-year post as Senior Editor at Threads Magazine to “pursue other interests...” in Brookings, OR. These include developing multimedia products for the sewing and other creative industries, making art, walking on the beach and in the woods, and playing music. He’s the author of Shirtmaking and Shirtmaking Techniques, a book and a DVD on techniques for shirtmaking, and Making Trousers, a book/DVD set that covers a wide range of construction ideas for making trousers. His multimedia projects include CD-ROM Virtual Workshops on surface design and sewing techniques with Marcy Tilton, and Sewing Leather with Kathryn Brenne.

Join Kathryn and David in a five-day pants fitting/pants technique workshop. David will demonstrate how to copy an existing pair of pants to create a pattern. Kathryn will help students to perfect the fit of any basic pants pattern (purchased or copied) sewn up in muslin. Students will create a variety of samples using techniques and variations from David’s new book, Making Trousers. Highlights will include: The Pockets, the Closure and the Waistband. Students will have the opportunity to design their own personalized pant pattern which will become a master block for future garments.

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The garment district of New York is a sewer’s paradise! Join Kathryn Brenne in New York City to visit some of her favorite fabric, button, trim and notion supply shops.

We will be staying in the heart of the garment district. Our midtown hotel is located around the corner from Macy’s department store and the theater district. Several restaurants are all within walking distance. The hotel is convenient located for participants to drop off fabric purchases and put their feet up before heading out again!

Our tour begins Wednesday afternoon with a walking tour of the garment and fabric district. Kathryn will introduce you to the many fabric shops and specialty stores that New York has to offer. Students will have free time to return, shop and explore on their own. A listing of our favorite stores with addresses and phone numbers will be provided. Students will have the opportunity to purchase fabrics, notions, pattern drafting equipment, tailoring supplies, trims, beads, jewelry findings, interfacings, buttons and more!

We have arranged a private lecture and tour of the permanent garment collections at FIT the Fashion Institute of Technology. A stop at the FIT bookstore with their excellent selection of fashion related books is also planned.

We will be visiting the current fashion exhibit at the MET American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity. The exhibit will explore developing perceptions of the modern American woman from 1890 to 1940, and how they have affected the way American women are seen today. Focusing on archetypes of American femininity through dress, the exhibition will reveal how the American woman initiated style revolutions that mirrored her social, political, and sexual emancipation. “Gibson Girls,” “Bohemians,” and “Screen Sirens” among others, helped lay the foundation for today’s American woman.

Spend time exploring 5th Avenue, visit designer boutiques, walk about Soho and visit Canal Street. Students will be inspired by all of the latest fashions!

Sunday is free to explore, walk Central Park and travel home.

Cecelia Podolak sews, teaches, writes and designs from her studio in Port Moody, B.C., Canada. Her Classics Pattern Line is designed for real bodies. She is the author of the best selling book, Easy Guide to Sewing Jackets. She is an experienced university professor and has her own company, Material Things.

Designer T-shirts and knit garments can cost a small fortune but are quite simple to make. Start with Ce’s best selling Fearless T-shirt pattern # 109 as you learn to fit according to the amount of stretch found in the fabric. Based on her many articles on knits, Kathryn will teach students a variety of seam and hem finishes for both the sewing machine, serger and coverstitch machine. Get creative by adding embroidery, raw edges, fancy stitches, combine and seam fabrics together. Students will complete a variety of samples as well as their own T-shirt.

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Jon Moore has an established Couture business in London, England making Couture Clothes for private clients from his studio in central London, www.jonmoore.com

Jon originally studied Fashion Design at Kingston University in London and graduated as most promising final year student. After graduation he joined the Design Studio at Royal Couturier Hardy Amies. He held the positions of Studio Assistant, Women’s Wear Designer and Couture Director. Ultimately he was appointed Design Director and held the role for five years.

During his career, Jon has had the privilege of working with and learning from some of the most extraordinary and talented couture fitters, seamstresses, tailors and clients. It is these traditional couture skills that he is passionate about preserving and exploring, combining them with sharp modern design in a contemporary style to create couture clothes for the modern woman.

Jon has recently lectured at the Victoria and Albert museum in London and has taught several couture techniques workshops. Jon has been asked to return to Hardy Amies to act as a Consultant and Brand Guardian to take the company forward with major expansion in China and Asia.

During this five day workshop, students will have the unique opportunity to study with a master. We will begin the workshop with a wine and cheese social Sunday September 26 from 5:30-7:30 pm where you will have the opportunity to meet and greet Jon and other students.

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This year we are combining our trip to Paris with a day trip to London! On Thursday, October 7, the high speed Eurostar will take us to London first thing in the morning where we have an appointment to visit the archives of Hardy Amies located on Saville Row. The couture house of Hardy Amies dressed Queen Elizabeth ll for over 40 years. We will view the exhibit ‘Hardy Amies and the Queen’ and then spend the rest of the day in London visiting fabric shops and boutiques. This is your chance to visit Liberty of London for their beautiful printed fabrics. We will return to Paris later in the evening.

Paris is the fashion capital of the world! Kathryn Brenne will take you on a designer’s tour of the most inspirational fashion city in the world. Participants will learn how to develop a trend forecasting story board portfolio. Discussion topics will include sketching, color, accessories, design details, fabrics and texture and factors that influence fashion. A tour of the fabric district with its wonderful button, trim and fabric stores will get your creative juices flowing! Each day we will visit a different part of the city. Highlights will include a wonderful notions store, second hand shops and a walking tour of the Marais district with its small designer boutiques. See the newest trends and latest styles at a fashion show. There will be plenty of free time to tour Paris, stop at cafes, stroll the Avenue des Champs Elysees, visit museums, dream at designer boutiques, visit famous flea markets and fall in love with one of the most romantic cities.

An optional day tour for Saturday, October 9 will be available to visit the war memorials located in Normandy.

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Leather Hands-On Workshop - November 4 – 7 with Kathryn Brenne

Kathryn Brenne is known for her extensive work with leather and has released a Sewing Leather CD. Treat yourself to a luxurious leather garment and a four-day sewing vacation!

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Fur vests, accessories and garments have been popular over the past few years. During this four day workshop students will learn how to assess a used fur coat for use in a new garment. Project ideas can include an accessory hat or handbag, vest, short jacket or garment lining. Kathryn will demonstrate techniques for reusing fur, cutting, reinforcing and seaming to create something new.

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