Join us at cockpit Arts in Holborn for a behind-the-scenes studio shopping spree with 165 exceptional designer-makers. Sow the seeds of sustainability and buy beautifully crafted pieces you will want to keep for a lifetime.

Summer cocktails, special attractions and  seasonal delights – and entry is free!

Join Katherine in the delightful Sussex countryside for the second round of this new residential weekend course,  from 15 – 17 November 2013

Gloves: design & make bespoke fashion gloves

Discover the secrets of bespoke glove-making in this very special new course. Delving into fashion archives and museum collections for inspiration; you will gain an overview of the design and decoration possibilities, before trying out key making techniques and going on to create your own pair of fitted leather gloves.

Attendees of the sell-out first session in March will be able to fine-tune their pattern-making skills, and look at design options for wrist openings – vents, covered buttons, elastic and more….

Book directly via www.westdean.org.uk

Hand-worked details are high-fashion at the moment, adding value, resonance and personality to simple garments and accessories. Working with a variety of different colours and textures of soft leather, suede and other fabrics, you will:

• Practice machine sewing techniques for leather, including different seam constructions, appliqué, and surface decoration.
• Learn how to decorate your designs using punched work and printing with foil, as well as how to employ metal fittings for decoration and construction.
• Introduce elements of contemporary stitch to create your own patterns and motifs.

The emphasis is on individual design development and finished pieces can either be made up in to purses, belts, or other accessories during the course, or designed as panels for incorporation into bags, interiors products or fashion garments at a later date.   Book directly at:  www.westdean.org.uk

She is available for individual tuition by appointment, so please do email to discuss your ideas in more detail if you are interested.

Katherine works with a number of emerging design-businesses in the arenas of fashion accessories, costume and product design, focusing on pattern-cutting, design development and construction techniques.

Clients include those who are developing or setting up a design business, practising designers and artists from a variety of disciplines who want to experiment with a new material, and private individuals as well as company ‘away days’  and groups by appointment.

Subject areas include:
Design development and pattern-cutting.
Construction and machine-sewing techniques for soft and fashion leathers.
Leatherworking techniques: saddlery, hand-stitching, skiving and edge-finishing for firm leather and hide.
Where to source materials, equipment and tools.                                                                                                                                       Preparing designs for manufacture.

Please contact Katherine if you would like to discuss this further.

Past one to one students include:

www.stleonardsonline.com

www.use-uk.com

www.wadabagsand.co.uk

www.tangini.com

Bond & Knight wallets

City and Guilds away day

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.

Materials are included in the price of this course. Bring along some ideas and inspirations  to help you get started.

TO BOOK ONE OF ONLY TEN PLACES ON THIS COURSE, PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW.

Mingle with makers over a glass of mulled wine and feast on delectable treats at our café by Hand Made Food. Win a set of individual tree decorations created by a selection of our master-crafters. Children can take part in a ‘Winter Petals’ workshop to create decorations from reclaimed card. And there will be live music and other festivities.

Holborn: 30 Nov – 2 Dec
In the heart of Bloomsbury
Cockpit Yard, Northington St, London, WC1N 2NP

Deptford: 7 – 9 Dec
A stone’s throw from glorious Greenwich
18-22 Creekside, London,
SE8 3DZ

Opening times: Fri 11am-9pm, Sat – Sun 11am-6pm

Entry £5 joint ticket or £3 Deptford only. Includes prize draw entry. Free entry for children under 15. Free entry at Deptford on Friday 7 December.

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.

Day one: Pattern-making. Three classic bag types, looking at volume and structure. Creating block patterns and understanding markings. Design. Playing with scale, fullness, and seam orientation.  Create new variations in paper, and calico toile.

Day two: Construction methods. Three seam types- flat, felled, curved. Three  handles- turned edge, piped, strap-and-hoop.

Day three: Construction methods. Three pocket types- hidden, pleated, surface. Three  zip treatments- exposed, inset-facing, top-stitched.

Day four: Making -up bag: cutting out, reinforcing, preparing meatl fittings.

Day five: Completion of bag: sewing, lining and finishing.

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.

TO BOOK ONE OF ONLY TEN PLACES ON THIS COURSE, PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW.

Learn how to cut, treat and decorate leather, set in buckles and studs and make  fashion belts, and cuffs.

You will go away with two or more finished pieces. Materials, 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.

TO BOOK ONE OF ONLY TEN PLACES ON THIS COURSE, PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW.

Design,  make and decorate a metal-framed purse or small bag, complete with lining and chain handle.

Working in fabric or light weight leather, you will learn how to make a pattern to for a particular frame, cut, sew, line and embellish your design and fit the frame properly.

You will go away with one or more finished pieces. Materials, and a full information pack on suppliers and technical tips are included in the price of this course. 

Bring along some ideas, inspirations and sketches to help you get started.

TO BOOK ONE OF ONLY TEN PLACES ON THIS COURSE, PLEASE USE THE FORM BELOW.