Vintage Millinery Workshop Short Course

About this course

Participants make three types of women's headwear inspired by 20th-century fashion: a 1920s cloche, a 1940s turban and a 1950s headpiece. The course combines historical fashion context with practical millinery methods, including blocking, stitching, applying trimmings and inserting linings. Each hat is fitted to the wearer, and participants make flowers and other embellishments for decoration. Work involves materials including wool felt, foundation materials and silk, with the opportunity to use personal fabrics.

What you'll learn

• Construct three vintage-inspired headwear styles using millinery techniques
• Apply blocking methods to shape hat forms
• Use stitching, trimmings and linings in millinery construction
• Fit finished hats to the wearer
• Create flowers and other decorative embellishments

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners at any experience level, including beginners and experienced milliners. Its format involves making and fitting several hats individually, while developing knowledge of vintage styles and specialist construction methods.

Before you go

• The course uses wool felt, foundation materials and silk.
• Participants may bring their own fabrics to use if they wish.