We offer a number of workshops on a regular basis. The classes are held in the stimulating environment of a working studio.
The tutor/student ratio is very small with 5 being the maximum, so that learners benefit from the expert guidance to the full.
Course dates will be published 2-4 month before the course start. If no dates are shown, we will not have more information at the time so please refrain from enquiring. Please bookmark the page and visit again for forthcoming dates.
We sometimes run tailor made classes for groups of sewing friends from abroad. Should you be interested in a block booking for either of one of our standard courses or one with bespoke content, please get in touch via the “contact us” form.
One to one tuition may also be arranged. The contents can be tailor-made and may cover cutting (both ladies and gents), construction and decorative sewing techniques. It is charged at £60/h.
Bespoke Tailoring: The Couture Jacket
Next Dates: coming soon
The course is 5 days of intensive learning.
New Venue: our studio in Folkestone’s Creative Quarter, a buzzing hub of design, art and craft businesses, trendy bars, cafes and eateries. Folkestone is easily accessible from London St. Pancras International in 55 minutes by train, from the continent via Ashford International in 15 minutes, or London City Airport via Stratford in about 1h.
Tuition time: 9.30 am 5.30 pm
- Intermediate, not suitable for sewing beginners
- Employ traditional non-fusable interfacings such as horsehair canvas, collar linen and padding in the tailoring construction and understand its advantages.
- Learn pressing techniques such as stretching and shrinking cloth (ironwork) to mould the fabric to the human anatomy and how to use it for different figures.
- Use all the hand sewing techniques such as pad stitching interlining, blind stitching a hem, felling a lining, hand embroidering a buttonhole with silk twist.
- Learn how to make a jetted pocket and construct traditional collar and lapels. Make and insert a proper tailored sleeve, using materials such as pads and wadding as interlining to give a professional result.
- The universal tailoring techniques covered on this course can be utilised to make a classic ladies or mens jacket.
On this course you will learn how to build a bespoke tailored jacket from scratch, using all the traditional techniques as explained in Thomas von Nordheim’s book “Vintage Couture Tailoring”.
The first part of day one will be spend in the close up study of actual historical Paris Haute Couture jackets from the 1940s to 1980s to include Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin and Givenchy, some deconstructed to be able to research the hidden craftsmanship of the tailored guts.
Over the 5 days with 30 hours of tuition you will make a full scale jacket half, which you will take away as a reference piece. All professional high quality materials are supplied and included in the course fee.
Reserve a place now
Course terms and conditions
Suitability
We accept students without an interview and it is assumed the prospective client has the required level of skill and experience, as set out in the course description.
The minimum student age is 18 years.
Students are required to bring the tools and materials requested.
Cancellations
If somebody needs to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances the following applies:
The student can transfer his booked place to somebody else i.e. a friend. No fee applies.
If you cancel the class and it is more than 90 days to the course start, 30% of the full course fee (deposit)is retained.
If the notice of cancellation is between 89 days and 31 days before the course start, 60% of the full course fee is retained. At less than 30 days notice no refund can be offered.
Any cancellation attract a £100 administration fee plus refund transfer fees.
In the unlikely event that we need to cancel the course we will refund your course fee in full. Excluded are extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the organiser which would make it necessary to cancel the booking, such as acts of god including, but not limited to strike, war & terrorism attacks.
Insurance/Visa
We do not take responsibility for any loss or damage to the students property whilst on our classes or tours.
You are not covered for accidents and illness and any losses and damages arising from such. By booking and paying for the course you explicitly waive your right for making claims against the organiser Thomas von Nordheim. It is recommended that you take out adequate insurance.
The obtaining of a travel Visa for the UK and France if visiting on the tour, is the sole responsibility of the person making the booking.
Payment
Normal courses or private one to one tuition have to be paid for in full at the time of booking.
For our scheduled workshops & tour we require at least 1/3 of the fees for the booked workshops as a deposit. You are likewise welcome to pay the full amount to secure your booking. The balance will be due no less than 90 days from the course start. Non-payment in time will be treated as a cancellation.
Once we receive your booking we will send you an email acknowledgement and submit the payment details.
Payments made by BACS, SEPA or wire transfer are the preferred payment method. At present we do not accept card payments. For domestic bookings we need to receive your payment within 3 days, 5 days for European payments and 7 days for International payments unless otherwise agreed. If no payment is received within the times stated the place will automatically become vacant again and you may loose your booking.
If making a payment from a foreign bank, the amount to arrive in our account must not be less than the course fee. You must instruct your bank to pay all associated bank fees.
It is not possible to reserve a place without paying a deposit.
Bookings are accepted subject to availability.
Bookings are taken strictly on a first come first serve basis.
Once we receive your payment, we send you an acknowledgment and booking confirmation by email.
Copyrights
The student may record images of her or his own work during the tuition, but taking images, voice or film footage of the lecturing is prohibited.
The copyright for any hand out or literature supplied to the student remains with the author.
Content
Our educational tour itenary is subject to possible variations or change. This might be due to unforseen changes with our associates and affiliates, which are beyond our control. In this unlikely event we will endeavour to replace the activity with an experience of equal or superior quality.
The quoted price only includes what is explicitly stated in the description of the course or module. Transport, accomodation, fabrics, notions, meals and drinks are not included in the price, unless otherwise stated.
Meals included are to be chosen from a set menu and do not include drinks which have to be paid for seperately.
Course terms and conditions
Couture Pockets
New dates coming soon
10am – 6pm
- Start with the simple construction of a seam pocket.Move to more intricate construction of the welt pocket and flap pocket, employing loose interfacings. Learn how to use a flap on its own or inserted in a jetted pocket.
- Learn the more complex construction techniques of the patch pocket and patch pocket with a cut on flap and how to apply them to a garment.
- Explore pockets beyond their utilitarian feature by combining decorative techniques such as topstitching or contrasting effects and buttonholes (time permitting).
This course is entirely devoted to the construction techniques of different pockets as used on tailored couture garments. Build up a small portfolio of actual samples over this weekend. Handouts with clear illustrations will also be given to the students for each pocket.
Reserve a place now
Course terms and conditions
Suitability
We accept students without an interview and it is assumed the prospective client has the required level of skill and experience, as set out in the course description.
The minimum student age is 18 years.
Students are required to bring the tools and materials requested.
Cancellations
If somebody needs to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances the following applies:
The student can transfer his booked place to somebody else i.e. a friend. No fee applies.
If you cancel the class and it is more than 90 days to the course start, 30% of the full course fee (deposit)is retained.
If the notice of cancellation is between 89 days and 31 days before the course start, 60% of the full course fee is retained. At less than 30 days notice no refund can be offered.
Any cancellation attract a £100 administration fee plus refund transfer fees.
In the unlikely event that we need to cancel the course we will refund your course fee in full. Excluded are extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the organiser which would make it necessary to cancel the booking, such as acts of god including, but not limited to strike, war & terrorism attacks.
Insurance/Visa
We do not take responsibility for any loss or damage to the students property whilst on our classes or tours.
You are not covered for accidents and illness and any losses and damages arising from such. By booking and paying for the course you explicitly waive your right for making claims against the organiser Thomas von Nordheim. It is recommended that you take out adequate insurance.
The obtaining of a travel Visa for the UK and France if visiting on the tour, is the sole responsibility of the person making the booking.
Payment
Normal courses or private one to one tuition have to be paid for in full at the time of booking.
For our scheduled workshops & tour we require at least 1/3 of the fees for the booked workshops as a deposit. You are likewise welcome to pay the full amount to secure your booking. The balance will be due no less than 90 days from the course start. Non-payment in time will be treated as a cancellation.
Once we receive your booking we will send you an email acknowledgement and submit the payment details.
Payments made by BACS, SEPA or wire transfer are the preferred payment method. At present we do not accept card payments. For domestic bookings we need to receive your payment within 3 days, 5 days for European payments and 7 days for International payments unless otherwise agreed. If no payment is received within the times stated the place will automatically become vacant again and you may loose your booking.
If making a payment from a foreign bank, the amount to arrive in our account must not be less than the course fee. You must instruct your bank to pay all associated bank fees.
It is not possible to reserve a place without paying a deposit.
Bookings are accepted subject to availability.
Bookings are taken strictly on a first come first serve basis.
Once we receive your payment, we send you an acknowledgment and booking confirmation by email.
Copyrights
The student may record images of her or his own work during the tuition, but taking images, voice or film footage of the lecturing is prohibited.
The copyright for any hand out or literature supplied to the student remains with the author.
Content
Our educational tour itenary is subject to possible variations or change. This might be due to unforseen changes with our associates and affiliates, which are beyond our control. In this unlikely event we will endeavour to replace the activity with an experience of equal or superior quality.
The quoted price only includes what is explicitly stated in the description of the course or module. Transport, accomodation, fabrics, notions, meals and drinks are not included in the price, unless otherwise stated.
Meals included are to be chosen from a set menu and do not include drinks which have to be paid for seperately.