Blocking net

Blocking net is the wonderfully versatile stuff we used to help hold the shape of parisisal. You can find it online here. http://www.hattersmillinerysupplies.com.au/on/millinery-supplies/blocking-fabric/ 

Millinery Weekend intensive- elegant racewear materials.

To create a piece of stylish racewear you will need to buy a suitable straw from one of the following suppliers. Parisisal is a fine straw that will give good results and help you create a smart fashionable hat in a wide range of colours. Sinamay is a see through material which can also be blocked with good effect, you will need to block at least 3 layers to achieve a quality result (3 meters is plenty). Torb and Reiner sell both and I have included the links here. http://www.torbandreiner.com/online-shop-1/millinery-supplies/hoods/parasisal-sleeves
http://www.torbandreiner.com/online-shop-1/millinery-supplies/Blocking-Materials/sinamay
You can also purchase the same materials from The House of Adorn http://www.houseofadorn.com/index.php/.
You will also need to have matching petersham ribbon, 25mm wide, 1.5 meters (will do 2 hats) and matching Gutterman thread. If you find trims you like you can purchase from the range of feathers, flowers, ribbons and other materials.
In our neighborhood we have L'Uccello-http://luccello.cart.net.au/ for some wonderful trims... we will go there at some stage on the first day and Clegs for general sewing and haberdashery materials which is just round the corner in Elizabeth Street.  http://www.clegs.com.au/.
If you would like to do a fabric binding you will need about a meter of that fabric (natural fibres are best, dupion silk or light weight cotton or linen) and similar amount of "shapewell" (available from Clegs). You will have more than you will need for one hat but it must be cut on the bias for good results, excess can be used for making trims, flowers and bows etc.

Here are some of the blocks available for use in your millinery intensive.

When you enrol in a weekend intensive at my studio you will have access to many blocks in a wonderful array of shapes. They can be combined to create hats in a wide range of shapes. The possibilities are really only limited by your imagination. You can also combine blocked shapes with hand forming to further extend the range of possibilities.

Equipment for class

Equipment list

Here is a complete list of equipment you will use in your millinery work, the more of it you can bring to our sessions the better. I recommend a trolley tool box or one of those shopping trolleys to carry everything so you can keep everything contained. If you have problems finding everything don't worry, I can give you some suggestions in the first class.

If your tool kit contains the following you will be prepared for everything.

·       Coverall type apron

·       Sewing needles-“Straws” assorted sizes, include 8 and 5 and 2.

·       Scissors for paper and scissors for fabric

·       Good quality small claw hammer ( Bunnings or similar)

·       Small long nose pliers for cutting wire

·       Good quality thimble to fit your second finger on your sewing hand –available Torb and Reiner

·       Tape measure with inches and centimeters-

·       Pins berry head type- the long ones are the best

·       Sewing thread in colours to match your hat

·       Tailors chalk

·       Sticky tape

·       Recycle plastic bags from dry cleaners, supermarket bags and vegetable bags from supermarket.

·       A hat brush- available from The City Hatters

·       Blocking pins- general household pins, available Torb and Reiner

·       A sketch book for drawing your ideas and pasting inspirations.

·       Notebook suitable for recording what you learn in class and pens and pencils

These are the main things you will need. There will be other equipment which you can gather over time.
For security please put your name on each of your tools so that if they are left behind we know who to return them to.
Thanks, Serena