Ref: S3D33623
The course will begin with a brief contextual introduction to the Swiss and British straw hat industries and feature many of the long forgotten techniques and millinery trimmings. You will learn about the different types of straws used in the hat industry and how to select and prepare natural wheat/rye straws for successful working. The course will be an opportunity to rediscover popular techniques and designs used in the hat trade. You will learn how to split straws, how to spin them into threads and then different ways to use them.
Progressing through a structured development you will make a range of millinery decorations.
By the end of the course you will have the ability to use these techniques to develop your own designs for trimmings and headpieces.
On the first evening there will be a welcome meeting with a health and safety briefing, an introduction to the straw hat industry and a PowerPoint presentation.
On the first day you will learn how to prepare the straw, make split straw motifs and learn how to assemble these into different decorations. You will also learn how to make straw sheets.
On the second day you will learn about spinning straw threads and making motifs with straw threads. You will be introduced to other types of straw and will make motifs with these including learning how to assemble them. You will also work with the straw sheets.
On the third day you will make a range of interesting plaits for millinery trimmings working with various types of straw. You will finish with a summary and review of techniques learned.
Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above
Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.
Daily timetable
Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.
From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).
Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.
Last day
Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.
Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.
(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)
Veronica Main MBE is the most experienced traditional straw hat plaiter in the UK. For more than 40 years she has researched the hat industries of the UK, Europe, and the United States, unlocking information and learning how to recreate plaits using authentic techniques by working as a forensic curator.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
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