Practical short courses in contemporary leather, handbags and fashion accessories design, taught at her Central London studio by Katherine Pogson.
A new short evening course for Spring/Summer, exploring the roots of creativity, and how to take your flashes of inspiration to the next level, turning them into truly original finished ideas for products or whole ranges.
Course Listing
May 19, 2012
Gloves: Design and make bespoke fashion gloves
Discover the secrets of couture glove-making in this very special new course. Delving into fashion archives and museum collections for inspiration, you will gain an overview of the wealth of design and decoration possibilities, before trying out key making techniques including couture hand stitching methods and modern machine trickery, and going on to create your own unique, fitted pair of gloves, in fabric or leather.
July 13, 2012
Classic leather techniques: contemporary hand-stitched goods
A structured approach to classic leather goods making and design over a long weekend. Drawing on the traditional saddlery skills that inform the British luxury goods market, you will learn how to work with vegetable-tanned hides and firm leathers with an emphasis on hand-finishing techniques.
Each student will come away with:
- A hand-decorated belt with covered buckle detail.
- A turned -edge wallet or purse with internal dividers.
- A hand-stitched stud or mini jewellery box, or small bag with gussets to your own design.
- Patterns developed to their own design.
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Contemporary Leather design long weekend
A structured approach to classic leather goods making and design over a long weekend. Drawing on the traditional saddlery skills that inform the British luxury goods market, you will learn how to work with vegetable-tanned hides and firm leathers with an emphasis on hand-finishing techniques.
Each student will come away with:
- A hand-decorated belt with covered buckle detail.
- A turned -edge wallet or purse with internal dividers.
- A hand-stitched stud or mini jewellery box, or small bag with gussets to your own design.
- Patterns developed to their own design.
On Friday you will explore design options, techniques and finishes, and create patterns for a belt, purse or wallet or other item to your own design. Over the weekend, you will practice the various techniques, create samples, and apply them to your individual projects.
Key skills covered in this course include:
Cutting, staining and edge-finishing hide.
Decorate surfaces with stamping, foiling and embossing.
Paring, skiving, and dealing with thickness.
Saddle-stitching, including butt-stitch and box stitching for complex shapes.
Develop your own design ideas, based on sample templates.
Materials to the value of £40.00 , and a full information pack on suppliers and technical tips are included in the price of this course.
You will be able to choose your own materials and fittings and receive a comprehensive information pack including information on suppliers, tools, equipment and other resources, together with key technical tips for successful making. Bring along some ideas, inspirations and sketches to help you get started.
This course will repeat on 28 – 30 September 2012.
TO BOOK ONE OF ONLY TEN PLACES ON THIS COURSE, PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW.
July 30, 2012
Introduction to leather accessories: Fashion belts & cuffs
This one-day course is part of the Designer Courses Summer school 2012, and introduces some of the essentials of working with leather for professional results, with little outlay on tools or equipment.
Learn how to cut, treat and decorate leather, set in buckles and studs and make fashion belts, and cuffs. (more…)
July 31, 2012
Introduction to fashion bags: Frame purses and clutches
This one-day course is part of the Designer Courses Summer school 2012, and introduces some of the essentials of working with soft fashion leathers for fast, professional results.
Design, make and decorate a metal-framed purse or small bag, complete with lining and chain handle. (more…)
August 1, 2012
Bag School: Make a structured leather bag (Summer school)
On this structured five day course, you will study three archetypal handbag designs, and learn how to decode the pattern-making process through practical exercises, allowing you to alter scale, shape and fullness with ease.
You will move on to practice construction methods for key handbag elements by creating samples of different seam, zip, pocket and handle types, before going on to make up a complete bag, with facings and linings.
You will practice use of the skiving machine, and have the opportunity to work with a cylinder arm, walking foot industrial sewing machine.
Summer School 2102: Make a structured bag
On this structured five day course, you will study three archetypal handbag designs, and learn how to decode the pattern-making process through practical exercises, allowing you to alter scale, shape and fullness with ease.
You will move on to practice construction methods for key handbag elements by creating samples of different seam, zip, pocket and handle types, before going on to make up a complete bag, with facings and linings.
You will practice use of the skiving machine, and have the opportunity to work with a cylinder arm, walking foot industrial sewing machine.
September 13, 2012
Couture leather techniques: decoration & manipulation
A short and delightful evening course over six weeks, exploring some of the methods of fabric manipulation and surface decoration that can be seen gracing the catwalk, and museum collections.
Quilting, appliqué, embroidery, stencil-work and intrecciato weaving are just some of the couture techniques you will try your hand at, as you create your own sample swatches, designs and colour stories. The emphasis is on soft leather, but also incorporates fabrics and trims. You will go away with a portfolio of ideas, and a head bursting with ideas for creating embellished bags, purses, wall hangings or wearable works of art.
Move on to one of our handbag courses, and incorporate your designs into a finished bag.
Materials to the value of £30.00, and a full information pack on suppliers and technical tips are included in the price of this course. Bring along some ideas, inspirations to help you get started.
TO BOOK ONE OF ONLY TEN PLACES ON THIS COURSE, PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW.
October 8, 2012
Handbags: Design for manufacture, advanced course
This exciting new course is aimed at those wishing to launch a handbag design business. You will prepare your designs for manufacture by creating fully drafted patterns, specifying materials, fittings and finishes, and gain an understanding of some advanced construction techniques by practising examples of boarding, pleating, inset gussets, and piped and bound seams.
The course includes a visit to a leather merchants, and culminates in an introduction to a London factory, where you will see how a bag is manufactured and have the opportunity to get your own designs prototyped and put into production. (more…)
December 8, 2012
Leather accessory gifts: jewellery, brooches, tassels & more
A fun-packed festive weekend, in the nick of time for those crafty enough to rustle up their own presents!
Focusing on decorative techniques for small leather goods, you will make your own leather cuffs, brooches and neck pieces, key-ring fobs, bag tassels, mirror compacts, purses and gift bags, and personalise them with stamped initials, colour and other details including studs and foil. Each person will go away with at least three unique gifts and there will be a choice of templates to work from. You will work in bright suede and soft, fashion leathers for a celebratory seasonal feel. (more…)
