Foundation Level – Introduction to Professional Millinery

Foundation Level – Introduction to Professional Millinery

£1,000.00

Begin Your Journey into the Art of Traditional Millinery

Have you ever dreamed of making hats professionally, starting your own millinery business, or simply learning the traditional skills behind beautifully handcrafted headwear?

The Rose Collins Foundation Course in Millinery has been carefully designed for complete beginners who are serious about learning the craft from the ground up.

Taught in my professional studio in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, this immersive foundation course introduces you to the essential techniques, materials and skills used by professional milliners. Working in a small, supportive group or one to one,  you’ll receive individual guidance while building the confidence and technical knowledge needed to progress onto more advanced millinery.

Throughout the course, you’ll gain a thorough understanding of traditional craftsmanship while creating a portfolio of techniques and beautifully finished pieces.

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Description

4 hours /day (flexible times to arrange) / 5 days

For complete beginners or Those who want a deeper understanding of Millinery

Aim: To introduce an in-depth deep dive into the core materials, tools and techniques used in traditional and contemporary millinery.

Introduction to Millinery

  • History of millinery
  • Types of hats and headpieces
  • Understanding the role of the modern milliner
  • Introduction to the millinery industry

Materials and Their Uses

  • Sinamay
  • Wool felt
  • Fur felt
  • Buckram
  • Parasisal straw
  • Crinoline
  • Veiling
  • Feathers
  • Petersham ribbon
  • Stiffening agents

Tools of the Trade

  • Wooden hat blocks
  • Steamers
  • Millinery irons
  • Needles and threads
  • Brim cutters
  • Blocking pins
  • Sewing machines and specialist attachments

Core Techniques

  • Hand sewing techniques
  • Measuring and fitting
  • Applying petersham
  • Wiring edges
  • Introduction to stiffening
  • Basic trimming techniques

Practical Projects

  • Simple sinamay fascinator
  • Felt pillbox or small blocked piece
  • Sinamay bias samples
  • Feather flower or decorative trim
  • Wide brimmed sinamay hat

What You’ll Take Away

By the end of the Foundation Course, you will have:

  • A solid understanding of traditional millinery techniques
  • Experience working with professional tools and materials
  • A collection of completed projects and technical samples
  • The confidence to continue developing your skills
  • A clear pathway towards intermediate and advanced millinery

Fascinator Design 101

This part of the workshop introduces the basics of fascinator design, perfect for weddings, race days, formal events, and special occasions. You will learn how fascinators are built, styled, and decorated, with guidance on choosing suitable materials and embellishments.

You will explore different fascinator styles and learn how design choices such as shape, colour, texture, height, and trimming can completely change the look and feel of a piece.

Topics include:

Introduction to fascinator styles
Choosing materials for occasion wear
Understanding balance, shape, and placement
Working with embellishments and decorative trims
Creating a polished and wearable design

Fundamentals of Fedora Making

You will also be introduced to the foundations of fedora making, including basic hat blocking techniques and the key elements that make up a structured hat. This section gives beginners an insight into how classic hat shapes are formed and assembled.

You will learn about crown and brim shapes, basic stitching, and simple assembly techniques used in fedora-style hats. This is a great introduction for anyone interested in structured millinery and traditional hat-making methods.

Topics include:

Introduction to hat blocking
Understanding crown and brim shapes
Basic stitching and assembly techniques
Exploring fedora structure and styling
Learning how shape affects the overall finished ha

What To Expect

During the workshop, you can expect a friendly, creative, and informative experience. The session is designed to give beginners a strong introduction to millinery without feeling overwhelming.

You will be guided through the basics step by step, with the opportunity to ask questions, explore materials, and understand how different techniques are used in the creation of handmade hats and fascinators.

Please note that exact workshop content, dates, times, pricing, and availability may vary depending on the selected workshop option.

Materials and Tools

Basic materials and tools may be introduced during the workshop. Full details of what is included, what to bring, and any additional requirements will be confirmed before your selected session.

Important Information

This is a beginner-level workshop. No previous experience is required.

Workshop dates, duration, pricing, and availability will be confirmed once details are finalised. Please use the available options to register your interest or book your preferred workshop where applicable.

Additional information

Foundation Level

I'm a Complete Beginner, I have some Experience

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