cherrydawson.com - Stays Making Workshop - Feb 2008



Stays Making Workshop
Four-Day Eighteenth Century Stays Workshop Two Weekends - March 15 &16 and April 26 & 27 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Time tentative) Bristol, RI

Expand your sewing skills and discover the secrets to being well-dressed in the eighteenth century.... having properly fitted & well made stays beneath all the finery! A stays making workshop is being conducted by Carrie Midura, owner of Cherry Dawson, Milliner. The workshop will take place over the course of two weekends, beginning in March 2008. Classes will take place at historic Coggeshall Farm in Bristol, RI.

What to Expect:

Participants will attain a better understanding of how stays in the 18^th century were constructed and fitted through individual & group fittings, a slide presentation and hands-on experience. Using this knowledge, each participant will create her own pair of half or fully-boned stays based on patterns taken from original garments. Some construction of the stays take place during the workshop but participants are expected to complete additional work between classes. Detailed written instructions will be provided and assistance will be given through every step of the stays making process. In order to benefit the staff and volunteers at Coggeshall Farm, emphasis will be placed on late 18th century stays (1780-1800) but patterns and assistance will be available for earlier stays as well. Participants are encouraged to contact Carrie (milliner@cherrydawson.com) to discuss specific needs.

Workshop Syllabus:
Each workshop session will take place from 10:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, March 15	Slide presentation & discussion of 18th century stays Measuring & fitting techniques, individual pattern adjustment Construction overview, basting & cutting the pattern pieces Reviewing types of boning
Sunday, March 16	Stitching channels & eyelets, partial casting stays sections Checking stays fit, making pattern adjustments
Saturday, April 26	Final casting stays sections together, boning channels Applying leather welting along seams Trimming stays & boning to final length
Sunday, April 27	Applying leather binding to top and bottom of stays Complete binding of stays Attach lining to stays interior

Items to bring to the workshop:

1 yard of 60” wide fabric (linen or wool is preferred)
Stays boning (sources will be provided to participants)
18^th century underclothing (minimum of shift, one or two petticoats & shoes)
Sewing kit (scissors, thread, pins & needles, measuring tape, marking pen, beeswax, thimble)
Sewing machine with natural color standard thread and natural color topstitching thread.
Notebooks and/or cameras for recording workshop details
Lunch and/or other refreshments

The following will be provided:

Detailed workshop notes
Stays patterns & tracing paper
Linen for stays interlining & lining
Samples of boning
Leather for binding edges
Additional sewing supplies
Coffee, tea & water

Workshop fee is $150 per person.
Please contact Carrie Midura at 508.846.8673 or milliner@cherrydawson.com
if you would like to register for the workshop or if you have any questions.

To register for this workshop using PayPal, please click on the button below.