"LONDON MADE, TABBY, AND TICKING: Constructing 18th Century Stays in Miniature"
Workshop starts Wednesday, February 9th
The quality of a pair of stays is determined not only by its cut and fit but by its construction. This workshop will demonstrate and discuss 18th century approaches to stitching, boning, and finishing stays. Students will work through each component of stay-making starting with fabric choices, continuing through assembly, and ending with finishing techniques. Through making a miniature pair of stays students will gain a working knowledge of the concepts and techniques necessary to construct an Enviable pair of stays.
In this workshop participants will:
- Discuss the intricacies of 18th century English stays construction, including variations in boning and interior reinforcements and where/when they might be used in various 18th century types of stays.
- Complete four pre-recorded units of study relating to stays construction including prepping and cutting, assembly, additional reinforcements, and finishing.
- Have four live group (25 people) Meet Q&A sessions (one session every two weeks on Tuesdays or Wednesdays at 4 p.m. EDT) with the instructor.
- Unit 1- Wednesday 2/9
- Live Q&A- Tuesday 2/22 or Wednesday 2/23
- Unit 2 - Wednesday 3/2
- Live Q&A- Tuesday 3/15 or Wednesday 3/16
- Unit 3 - Wednesday 3/23
- Live Q&A-Tuesday 3/29 or Wednesday 3/30
- Unit 4 - Wednesday 4/6
- Live Q&A-Tuesday 4/26 or Wednesday 4/27
- Receive two half size stays patterns (late 1760s-early 70s and 1780s-90s) for their mini-mannequin. (The mannequin is not required for this workshop but is recommended.)
- Construct a half-size pair of stays using skills which can be applied to future full-size projects.
This is a LEVEL 2 workshop; good hand sewing skills are required. Participants should be prepared for upwards of 20 hours of stitching and should have produced an article of simple 18th century clothing (any of the items from our Sew Alongs would qualify).
Workshop Cost: $150.00 includes two E-patterns for half-size pairs of stays (late 1760s-early 70s and 1780s-90s), four units of pre-recorded instruction, four live Meet group Q&A’s and 14 weeks of access to course from start of Unit 1.