CIAM’s couture technical sewing workshops provide the perfect opportunity to learn couture sewing techniques that you will be able to apply to garment construction at home. We have workshops appropriate for complete beginners as well as for those who want to take their sewing to the next level.

Previously, only students enrolled in our patternmaking courses could attend these workshops. Since last year, we have made these workshops available to everyone who wants to improve their sewing skills. The workshops have been very popular .

A series of individual workshops is scheduled though out the year. Participants may enrol in any or all of the classes. Most classes are stand-alone but some are in two parts where the first workshop is a prerequisite for the second. While the majority of classes are optional extras for you to improve your sewing skills, it is compulsory for students enrolled in CIAM certificate courses to attend certain technical workshops, depending on their course level.

The workshops are held on Saturdays at the main studio at Belmore and on Thursdays at Pennant Hills. Students must choose which day they wish to attend as workshop sizes are limited.

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Course Requirements

  • Students should bring their own sewing machines along with the manual and accessories. It may be possible to hire one from CIAM on prior application (Belmore only).
  • Students will require basic sewing essentials, including pins, needles, threads, fabric scissors and thread snipers.
  • Participants are also required to purchase a kit including fabrics (and other supplies if applicable) for each workshop they attend. See Cost below.

Couture Garment Construction Workshops

On days when technical workshops are not held, we will hold Couture Garment Construction sewing workshops. Please contact CIAM to register your interest in these workshops.  Participants will need to discuss what garments are suitable for their level of experience with Annamaria Granato, Director of CIAM Patternmaking Australia. As commercial patterns are not suitable for this type of sewing, patterns will be drafted by CIAM to the student’s measurements and style specifications (price dependent upon garment type and style). CIAM Patternmaking students may draft their own patterns.

Cost

The cost for each 3-hour workshop is $66 including GST. There will be an additional $10 charge for the prepared kit. The total cost will be $76. We require the full payment in advance for each course. When a couture technical skill is taught in two parts, where the first workshop is a prerequisite for the second, we require full payment in advance for both the workshops ($132 including GST) – total cost $152 including the workshop kits.

Booking

Workshop places are limited, so CIAM is unable to refund in the event of cancellation. Please check dates before making your workshop bookings as there can be NO exceptions. In the event of there being insufficient numbers for a viable workshop, the workshop will be cancelled and CIAM will make a full refund to the student.

Times

 

Belmore

Pennant Hills

Arrival and set-up time

9:15 am – 9:30 am

9:30 am – 9:45 am

Sewing Class

9:30 am – 12:30 pm

9:45 am – 12:45 pm

Pack-up

12:30 pm – 12:45 pm

12:45 pm – 1:00 pm

 

 

Click on the Read more button under each workshop you are interested in below for further information. Then click on the Read less button at the bottom of the workshop content page to return to the list of workshops on this page.

SATURDAY WORKSHOPS – BELMORE

Workshop Saturday

Interfacing and Lining

March 5th 2022

Content How to stabilise fabrics
Techniques When to use which interfacing and how to apply them.
Level Beginner – intermediate

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

The basics of couture sewing 1

March 19th 2022

Content Seam finishes
Techniques Basic hand-stitching; darts; simple seams (the couture way!); princess seams
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

The basics of couture sewing 2

April 2nd 2022

Content Seam finishes, pleats, gathers & easing
Techniques French seam; Hong Kong finish; flat – fell seam; pleats, gathers & easing
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Zippers

April 30th 2022

Content Different methods of zipper insertion
Techniques Hand-picked; lapped; centred; invisible
Level Beginner –  advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Waistlines

May 14th 2022

Content Different methods of waistline finishing
Techniques Waistbands, elasticised waistlines, facing and petersham finishing
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Skirt Vent

May 28th 2022

Content Skirt vent in a tailored skirt
Techniques Constructing a vent with integral lining rather than a free-hanging one
Level Intermediate –  advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Hems

June 11th 2022

Content Different methods of hemming a garment
Techniques Hand sewn; bias binding; facing; narrow hem
Level Beginner – intermediate

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Fly Front

June 25th 2022

Content Fly front
Techniques How to construct a fly front for a pair of trousers (including jeans)
Level Intermediate – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Jean construction techniques

July 9th 2022

Content Jeans construction techniques
Techniques Top-stitching, rivets, pockets etc.
Level Intermediate –  advanced

Note: Participants should also attend the previous workshop on fly front construction.

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Necklines

July 23rd 2022

Content Sewing different neckline finishes
Techniques Stay-stitching; simple facing; bias edging; piping
Level Beginner – intermediate

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Sleeves

August 6th 2022

Content How to set different sleeve styles
Techniques Easing; gathers; pleats; capped sleeves
Level Beginner – intermediate

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Horsehair canvas

August 20th 2022

Content Using horsehair canvas to add body and shaping to a jacket
Techniques Catch-stitch & pad-stitching. Shaping using stitching & steam
Level Medium – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Pockets

September 3rd 2022

Content Applying different types of pockets
Techniques Patch pockets; slash pockets; in-seam (hidden) pockets
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Bound pockets and buttonholes

September 17th 2022

Content Pocket with welts and a flap for a tailored jacket
Techniques Bound pocket with piping variation that can be adapted for a bound buttonhole
Level Intermediate –  advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Collars

October 15th 2022

Content Collar and stand
Techniques How to sew a professional collar and stand onto a shirt
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Cuffs and sleeve vents

October 29th 2022

Content Cuffs and plackets (sleeve vents)
Techniques 2 methods of sewing a shirt sleeve placket and how to add a cuff
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Introduction to Sewing Knit Fabrics 1

November 5th 2022

Content Using and sewing knit fabrics
Techniques Selecting & cutting-out knits; how to use your sewing machine and overlocker to sew knit fabrics
Level Beginner – advanced

Note: Bring both your sewing machine and overlocker (if you have one) along with accessories and manuals to the class.

It is not essential to have an overlocker to sew knits. This class will teach you how to use the zig-zag stitches on a traditional sewing machine as well as an overlocker. It does not teach the use of a coverstitch machine.

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Introduction to Sewing Knit Fabrics 2

November 19th 2022

This is the second part of a 2 week course. 

Content Construction techniques
Techniques Seam & hem finishes; neckbands
Level Beginner – advanced

Note: Bring both your sewing machine and overlocker (if you have one) along with accessories and manuals to the class.

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Pattern Balancing and Matching

December 3rd 2022

Content Cutting out patterned fabric (including florals, stripes & checks)
Techniques How to cut out fabric so that the pattern is balanced over the garment and matched at hems and seams.
Level Intermediate – advanced

Read more

THURSDAY WORKSHOPS – PENNANT HILLS

Workshop Thursday

Get to know your sewing machine

March 3rd 2022

Content An introduction to how to use and care for your sewing machine, including the role of different feet and needles.
Techniques Bring your accessory box and instruction manual
Level Beginner

This class teaches the use of traditional sewing machines, not overlockers or cover stitch machines.

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Interfacing and Lining

March 17th 2022

Content How to stabilise fabrics
Techniques When to use which interfacing and how to apply them.
Level Beginner – intermediate

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

The basics of couture sewing 1

March 31st 2022

Content Seam finishes
Techniques Basic hand-stitching; darts; simple seams (the couture way!); princess seams
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

The basics of couture sewing 2

April 21st 2022

Content Seam finishes, pleats, gathers & easing
Techniques French seam; Hong Kong finish; flat – fell seam; pleats, gathers & easing
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Zippers

May 5th 2022

Content Different methods of zipper insertion
Techniques Hand-picked; lapped; centred; invisible
Level Beginner –  advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Waistline Finishing Techniques

May 19th 2022

Content Different methods of waistline finishing
Techniques Waistbands, facing and petersham finishing
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Skirt Vent

June 2nd 2022

Content Skirt vent in a tailored skirt
Techniques Constructing a vent with integral lining rather than a free-hanging one
Level Intermediate –  advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Hems

June 16th 2022

Content Different methods of hemming a garment
Techniques Hand sewn; bias binding; facing; narrow hem
Level Beginner – intermediate

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Fly Front

July 7th 2022

Content Fly front
Techniques How to construct a fly front for a pair of trousers (including jeans)
Level Intermediate –  advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Jeans construction techniques

July 21st  2022

Content Jeans construction techniques
Techniques Top-stitching, rivets, pockets etc.
Level Intermediate –  advanced

Note: Participants should also attend the previous workshop on fly front construction.

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Necklines

August 4th 2022

Content Sewing different neckline finishes
Techniques Stay-stitching; simple facing; bias edging; piping
Level Beginner – intermediate

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Sleeves

August 18th 2022

Content How to set different sleeve styles
Techniques Easing; gathers; pleats; capped sleeves
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Saturday

Horsehair canvas

August 25h 2022

Content Using horsehair canvas to add body and shaping to a jacket
Techniques Catch-stitch & pad-stitching. Shaping using stitching & steam
Level Medium – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Pockets

September 1st 2022

Content Applying different types of pockets
Techniques Patch pockets; slash pockets; in-seam (hidden) pockets
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Bound pockets and buttonholes

September 15th 2022

Content Pocket with a flap for a tailored jacket
Techniques Bound pocket with piping variation that can be adapted for a bound buttonhole
Level Intermediate –  advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Collars

September 29th 2022

Content Collar and stand
Techniques How to sew a professional collar and stand onto a shirt
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Cuffs and sleeve vents

October 13th 2022

Content Cuffs and plackets (sleeve vents)
Techniques 2 methods of sewing a shirt sleeve placket and how to add a cuff
Level Beginner – advanced

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Introduction to Sewing Knit Fabrics 1

October 27th 2022

Content Using and sewing knit fabrics
Techniques Selecting & cutting-out knits; how to use your sewing machine and overlocker to sew knit fabrics
Level Beginner – advanced

Note: Bring both your sewing machine and overlocker (if you have one) along with accessories and manuals to the workshop.

It is not essential to have an overlocker to sew knits. This class will teach you how to use the zig-zag stitches on a traditional sewing machine as well as an overlocker. It does not teach the use of a coverstitch machine.

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Introduction to Sewing Knit Fabrics 2

November 10th 2022

This is the second part of a 2 week course. 

Content Construction techniques
Techniques Seam & hem finishes; neckbands
Level Beginner – advanced

Note: Bring both your sewing machine and overlocker (if you have one) along with accessories and manuals to the class.

Read more

 

Workshop Thursday

Pattern Balancing and Matching

November 24th 2022

Content Cutting out patterned fabric (including florals, stripes & checks)
Techniques How to cut out fabric so that the pattern is balanced over the garment and matched at hems and seams.
Level Intermediate – advanced

Read more

 

Contact CIAM to book your workshops!

Private classes are also available on request at an additional cost.