Couture Sewing techniques

Finesse the art of the perfect fit and master the sewing techniques used by the world's finest fashion houses. In couture sewing, three techniques feature prominently: the calico or muslin toile, which is essentially a test garment, the art of pressing and the use of specialised, hand-sewn finishes. 

 
 

Skill Level: Advanced

This course suits advanced sewers who want to master couture construction techniques, (including those used in vintage patterns) or learn some basic pattern making techniques to produce garments with high-end finishes.

The course is designed to be undertaken for 1 day per week for a term. Students work at their own pace so finishing times will vary.

couture-sewing-lace-techniques

Classes & Cost

All Day: 77 hours tuition | $1,869
Morning/Afternoon: 38.5 hours tuition | $999
Evening /33 hours tuition | $875
Save $129 when you book whole day classes

Mid-term enrolments are often possible. Please contact us and we'll do our best to fit you in.

couture-sewing-techniques-bound-buttonhole

bookings

This class is open to everyone: home sewers and professionals are all welcome. It's also available as part of the Professional Program or HSC Textiles Program.

CAFA 2025 TERM DATES

Term 1: 20 January - 5 April 2025
Term 2: 14 April - 28 June 2025
Term 3: 7 July - 20 September 2025
Term 4: 29 September - 13 December 2025

 

What is Couture Sewing?

Let's start with haute couture, the French term that literally translates as "high dressmaking" or "high fashion". Haute couture garments are custom-made for an individual client using beautiful fabrics and hand-finished techniques. In France, there are strict requirements about who can use this term and only a handful of brands are accredited to the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode. 

That doesn't mean that ambitious sewers can't aspire to the fine techniques and attention to detail used by the great fashion houses and you'll learn these in our Couture Sewing course. 

couture sewing techniques Course Details

Couture garment construction is about learning sewing and pressing techniques, taking time and care with garment fit and finishes, and establishing a personal library of skills so decisions on the best technique to achieve a finish can be made.

Students work on a number of samples and after the course may continue on and select a project and be guided through the techniques appropriate for their design. Projects may include cardigan jackets, notched lapel collar jackets, shawl collar jackets, pants, blouses, skirts, evening wear, corsets, and lace applique.

What You'll Learn

This course is an introduction to couture sewing techniques and includes:

  • Marking garments for fitting

  • Layout of patterns for difficult to manage fabrics

  • Thread tracing and basting techniques

  • Zipper applications including a hand-picked lapped zipper and an invisible zipper.

  • Interlining techniques to support and maintain fabric hand including organza and batiste

  • Hong Kong and mock Hong Kong finishes

  • French seams

  • Faced and rolled hems

  • Sample finishes for a couture lined skirt

  • Sample finishes for sewing curves and points

  • Bound buttonholes

  • Welt pockets with and without flaps.

  • Matching patterns and stripes.

  • Stretching and shrinking pressing techniques

More Information

Please feel free to email or call us on 02 9449 1450 and we'd be happy to provide more information or tailor a program for you.

 

Feeling Social?

There's nothing we love more than to see our students work in progress or finished creations!