Costume College, hosted by Costumer’s Guild West, is an annual event attracting attendees and teachers from around the globe. This year’s theme was “The 60’s—Vintage Daydreams”. I attended the event for three days. During this time I attended presentations, took classes, presented, and taught two classes.
I attended presentations on the social significance of the flapper and reviewed measuring techniques. I took classes on sewing curves, illustration, and the making of a Regency reticule. In the sewing curves class I added to my knowledge about sewing with the grain which I will be able to share with my Costume Construction students.
GETTING STARTED
The Regency reticule (shown here) is an excellent project for beginning sewers. I was exposed to different techniques in the illustration class which I can share with my costume design students.
KEEPING EVERYONE IN STITCHES
I created a presentation and time line on the location of women’s waists from the Ancient Egyptians to the 1970s. This is something I will be able to share with my students, as well. I presented on the usefulness of the thread chain and instructed people in its creation. The samples I used in that presentation will be useful for teaching students how to make these. In addition, I presented a session on basic hand-sewing in which the attendees created a sampler of basic stitches.
While attending one sees people in so many different types of costumes that it is impossible not to gather inspiration and images for later use.
