My Professional Training

I started sewing seriously in 1980 and have been developing my professional skills ever since. My special interest is haute couture techniques--the skills employed in the workrooms of Parisian designers. I have also studied other sewing specialties, including swimwear, Victorian corsetry, and traditional tailoring. This page contains a list of the various classes and courses I have taken in recent years. Two highlights of my professional education were a class in embroidery at the Royal School of Needlework in England and a six-day bridal couture class in San Francisco. 

Bridal and Evening Wear Classes
General Dressmaking Classes and Courses
Embellishment Classes
Professional Memberships

Bridal and Evening Wear Classes

1. Bridal Couture Sewing School, Susan Khalje, The Sewing Workshop, July 12-17, 1998
2. Victorian Corsets, Vintage Reflections, San Jose Historical Museum, Mar. 29, Ap. 12, May 3, 1997
3. Bridal Veils & Headpieces, Favrile Sewing Concepts, Sunday April 13, 1997 
4. The Designer Dress, Favrile Sewing Concepts, July 1996 
5. Introduction to the Designer Series, Favrile Sewing Concepts, Spring 1996 
6. Custom Bridalwear, Laura Brown & Debi Cournale, East Bay AFP/PACC, c. 1994 
7. Special Occasion Sewing, The Sewing Workshop, Spring 1993 
8. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Silk, The Sewing Workshop, 1993 
9. Couture Eveningwear, Evergreen Valley College, Spring 1992
10. Bustier, Kenneth D.King, Canada College, October 7-8, 2000

General Dressmaking Classes and Courses

(c) = Community College Course
1. Contemporary Tailoring, 5-Day Sewing Retreat, Oregon PACC, Oct. 3-6, 1996 
2. Custom Swimwear, Favrile Sewing Concepts, July 1996 
3. Custom Hatmaking, Douglas Fabrics, c. 1995 
4. Pants Fitting, The Sewing Place, c. 1994 
5. Basic Sewing (prerequisite to Pants), The Sewing Place, c. 1994 
6. (c) Introduction to the Sewing Industry, Canada College, c. 1992 
7. (c) Pattern Drafting and Pattern Design, Evergreen V. College, Fall 1992 
8. Sewing with Knits, The Sewing Place, April 1, 1992
9. Tour of Bay Area Designers, Canada College, c. 1991 
10. The Bias Cut, The Sewing Workshop, March 23, 1991 
11. Personal Style, Canada College, c. 1991 
12. (c) Designer Techniques, Canada College, Summer 1990 
13. Pants, New York Fabrics, c. 1990 
14. (c) Pattern Drafting, West Valley College, c. Fall 1989 

Embellishment Classes

1. Jacobean Embroidery, Royal School of Needlework, Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, England, April 15-16, 1998
2. Floral Applique, The Quilting Bee, Aug./Sept./Oct., 1998
2. A Rose Is a Rose, Candace Kling, The Sewing Workshop, July 1990 
3. Antique Ribbonwork and Trim, The Sewing Workshop, c. 1991 
4. Silk Ribbon Embroidery, The Quilting Bee, Summer 1995 
5. Bows! Bows! Bows!, Candace Kling, Rose Mille, May 13, 2000

Professional Memberships

Since 1993, I have been a member of the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers, a nationwide organization of dressmakers, milliners, tailors, and other fashion professionals.

I am also a member of the Embroiderers Guild of America.
 

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Christina Cary

Copyright 2000 Christina Cary/The White Bow. Last modified June 2000.