Blue Navajo clutch by Katherine Pogson

Katherine’s work will be on display in Crafting Excellence, an Exhibition of Craft at Fortnum & Mason in association with QEST. 6 February to 29 July 2012 www.fortnumandmason.com

A couple of places still available on Leather fashion accessories weekend March 24 & 25 & How to make a handbag weekend 21 & 22 April

2012 Course schedule at a glance:

• Leather fashion accessories weekend January 21 & 22, 10.30 – 4.30pm, £265.00 including materials

• How to make handbags & accessories evenings Thursdays, 2 February – 15 March, 6- 9pm. £460.00 including materials. It is possible to pay by instalments for this course.

• How to make a handbag weekend February 18 & 19, 10.30 – 4.30pm, £265.00 including materials

• Leather fashion accessories weekend March 24 & 25, 10.30 – 4.30pm, £265.00 including materials.

Katherine Pogson’s original and famous How to make a handbag course gives you the chance to explore the process of creating a handbag to your own design, from conceiving the original idea, through to making up the finished article.

Starting with design, you will look at sketches and ideas in flat form, and discover ways of developing volume and shape. You will go on to create a resolved pattern and work through the stages to make up the finished article, picking up some professional tips along the way. This course consists of seven three-hour sessions:

• Create a working pattern: exploring volume and shape.
• Develop your design: choosing colours, materials, fittings and styles.
• Prepare: learn to mark up, cut out, reinforce and make linings.
• Add detail: pockets, zips and tabs.
• Stitch by hand, domestic or industrial machine.
• Work with leather: edges, skiving, cylinder arm machines.
• Finishing techniques: attaching straps, handles and metal fittings.

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. Beginners are encouraged to work in fabric; leather is possible for those with some existing sewing experience.

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

(If you only wish to make a general enquiry, please use the Contact Form on the Home page instead).

Katherine Pogson, author of Complete Leatherwork, introduces a range of construction, decoration and finishing techniques for leather fashion accessories and other products. In this enjoyable hands-on class, you will experiment with a variety of different approaches and apply them to designs of your own – including bags, belts, purses, and other leather accessories.

Day one focuses on classic leatherwork and saddlery techniques: you will learn to cut, colour, stamp and polish hide, master the art of saddle-stitching, and practice fixing buckles, studs and eyelets. You will make your own individually designed belts, cuffs, boxes or other objects from firm leather, and discover how to mould leather for 3D effects.

Day two explores the softer world of fashion leather, nappa and suede. Practise vital techniques for machine-sewing leather including straight and curved seams, experiment with foiling, appliqué and other methods of surface decoration. You will design and make your own purse, small bag or other soft leather item, using a combination of these techniques.

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.

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

(If you only wish to make a general enquiry, please use the Contact Form on the Home page instead).

Design and construct your own handbag from scratch in this fast-paced workshop – an intensive two day version of the famous How to make a handbag evening course.

Make a pattern to your own design, and work through the stages to make up the finished article, picking up some professional tips along the way.
You will:

• Create or adapt your own basic pattern
• Work with linings and facings
• Attach pockets, handles and zips
• Apply metal fittings for professional results

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 and examples of bags you love, to help you get started. On this weekend, beginners will find it easiest to work in fabric. Lightweight leather is possible for those with some experience.

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

(If you only wish to make a general enquiry, please use the Contact Form on the Home page instead).

Here is a taster of last year’s course, to give you an idea of its content:

Book the time off work now! This summer, Designer Courses offers four full days to explore innovative pattern design and development for fashion accessories and handbags, together with the chance to make up your final ideas. 

Is there a bag you love, an idea you have in mind, or a range you are planning and need help with? This summer, Designer Courses offers four full days to explore innovative pattern design and development for fashion accessories, together with the chance to make up your final ideas. Participants will create their own story for an accessories range and develop three or more real-size patterns, before choosing one to turn into a fully resolved toile. You can choose to come to the first session on design development only, or attend both for a saving of £50.00!

1: Design development, 4 & 5 August, 10.30 – 4.30pm. £250.00
The first half of the course concentrates on three- dimensional design. You will look at innovative ways of manipulating paper and cloth to create volume and shape as a starting point for original accessory designs for handbags, belts, neck pieces or small leather goods.
Katherine will show you how to make several variations on one core design, by swinging seams, altering scale or adding details such as pockets, flaps and alternative closures. 

Bring in some images of shapes you covet for inspiration, and come away with a brand new blueprint to make up. Each student will complete one or more designs on paper, and a toile in calico. Beginners welcome.

2: Producing your design, 6 & 7 August, 10.30 – 5.30pm £300.00 BOOK BOTH FOR £500.00
In the second part, you will have the opportunity to make up your selected design into a finished prototype using leather or fabric, exploring some innovative contemporary decorative and construction techniques along the way.

In the heart of Central London, but tucked away from the throngs, Cockpit Arts is “Stunning – a rabbit warren of creativity” (Jon Snow)  housing 165 talented designer-makers over two sites.

Come and snap up high quality hand- made gifts including fashion accessories, jewellery, ceramics and more, plus workshops for kids, a cafe bar and the chance to win a designer Christmas Tree decked with unique, collectable baubles in the Prize Draw.

Friday 11am-9pm, Sat/Sun 11am-6pm.
Holborn: 25 – 27 November
Deptford: 2-4 December
Entry £5.00 joint ticket

cockpit-xmas-html-2011-03

www.cockpitarts.com

This short  course is a fun and fast-paced exploration of rapid pattern-making and idea generation for accessories. If your head is full of ideas, but you don’t know where to start, come along and take the first step towards creating your own original products.

Katherine will show you quick methods for formulating ideas and developing ranges, and you will learn how to turn a flat sketch into 3-dimensions, solve construction problems and master the basics of accurate pattern-making for bags, purses, wallets, belts, corsages, leather jewellery and more – the first step towards realising your collection.

This course is suitable for beginners, as well as those with a particular project or complicated idea that needs ‘surgery’. You will receive a folder with information on suppliers of essential equipment, and pattern-cutting equipment will be provided.

This course will run again in Spring/Summer 2012, dates to be confirmed shortly.

Origin logo

time this September.

New work by Katherine displays a departure into decoration, and features embroidered bags and purses in vibrant coloured soft leathers and new ranges of delicately gilded and moulded leather jewellery, alongside the signature hand-stitched  bags and boxes that made her name. The show runs from 22 – 29 September and Katherine an be found on stand E01.

Origin is organised by the Crafts Council,Visit their website direct for tickets and further information.