The following short courses are taught by Rowena Luke-King online.

COUTURE HAND SEWING - SAMPLE BOOK

COUTURE HAND SEWING - PROM DRESS

DESIGN & CUT DRESS PATTERNS

QUARTER SCALE VINTAGE FASHION DOLLS

Please click on the links above or scroll down this page for more information

With a maximum of six in each online class, a second camera over her hands
recorded demonstrations and dedicated WhatsApp groups to offer support between lessons,
Rowena creates a warm and welcoming environment for learning via Zoom.

Each course has its own set of detailed handouts
and for those of you who are left handed, mirrored stitch diagrams are available on request.

New courses are added as they become available, so do keep an eye on this page
and/or sign up for Rowena’s newsletter,
by filling in the second form at the bottom of this page.

COUTURE HAND SEWING - SAMPLE BOOK will introduce you to a variety of stitches and techniques used in tailored and couture fashion, as you work on a series of step-by-step samples to keep on file for easy reference.

Working with different weights of cotton fabrics you will explore a number of hems including an invisible, a rolled and a faced hem; different types of seams and seam finishes including a French, a flat fell and a bound seam, whilst documenting each new stitch on a calico stitch chart. You will learn how to make and add different types of trims such as frills, pleats and piping and how to use insertion stitches to add extra length and decoration.

In your own time you will be able to repeat these exercises in a variety of fabrics such as different weights of linen and wool, and anything else that you have in your scrap bag. Before moving on to more specialist techniques such as hand worked eyelets and button holes, hand stitched zippers and casing for elastic and boned bodices, you will learn how to make and attach rouleau loops; cover and attach buttons, press studs and hooks and eyes. You will use diagonal tacking for temporary closures and pad stitching, and learn how best to prepare and stitch velvet.

Should you wish to add miniature hand stitched garments to your sample book, a shift top and dress pattern in quarter-scale will be provided.

A WhatsApp group will be set up offering you ongoing support and trouble-shooting tips between lessons, and an opportunity to swap favourite books and suppliers with your fellow students.

Price: £550.00 for nine, two hour lessons on ZOOM with a maximum of six attendees.

Dates: Wed 15th Jan - March 12th from 10.00 am to 12.00pm UK time (1 place left).

Equipment and materials are excluded from the price of this course,
however the list of what you will need to purchase will be kept to the absolute minimum
and some swatches of specialist fabrics will be provided.

Samples and Sample Book Pages by Rowena Luke-King.

Once you have completed this course, you may like to expand your skills by enrolling on:
Couture Hand Sewing - Prom Dress
the details of which are coming soon!

I you prefer to study ‘in person’, Rowena teaches a short, hand sewing course at Central Saint Martins;
Hand Sewing for Couture & Bespoke Fashion

COUTURE HAND SEWING - PROM DRESS will build on techniques practiced in Couture Hand Sewing - Sample Book as you work in silk to produce a series of specialist samples and a boned bodice prom dress in quarter scale.

Adapted from her miniature Cocktail Dress pattern, this dress will have a fully lined princess seamed bodice with a gathered skirt and net petticoat. Tiny bones will be constructed and inserted into flat fell seams and you will be shown how to adapt the pattern to include a train for bridalwear.

Whilst investigating different types of silk and exploring the challenges of working with black thread on black silk and white thread on white silk, you will be introduced to different support fabrics and linings. You will learn how to applique lace; layer sheer fabrics such as chiffon and tulle; add nylon crinoline for a more structured hem, insert a miniature zipper and make miniature pads to add volume at the bust.

As a feature of this course you will learn how to make wired and gathered fabric flowers in full scale as inspiration for miniature embellishments; how to design layouts for sequinned, beaded and/or ribbon embroidered motifs, and engineer a design ready to embroider directly onto a miniature bodice shape.

A WhatsApp group will be set up offering you ongoing support and trouble-shooting tips between lessons, and an opportunity to swap favourite books and suppliers with your fellow students.

Please note that working with luxury fabrics requires a more practiced level of hand stitching.
Couture Hand Sewing - Sample Book 1,
my V&A online course or my CSM face-to-face course will prepare you for this course.

Price: £575.00 for nine two hour lessons on ZOOM with a maximum of six attendees.

Dates: Friday 17th January - 14th March 2025 from 10.00am to 12.00pm UK time (full).

or: Thursday 8th May - July 3rd 2025 from 6.00 pm to 8.00pm UK time.

Equipment and materials are excluded from the price of this course,
however the list of what you will need to purchase will be kept to the absolute minimum
and some swatches of specialist materials will be provided.

Quarter Scale Cocktail Dress by Rowena Luke-King

DESIGN & CUT DRESS PATTERNS will see you create a collection of calico tops, skirts and dresses in half-scale and/or quarter-scale that can easily be increased and adapted to full-scale.

This beginners course will start with an introduction to the front bodice block and the endless variety of styles that can be created by rotating the fullness of the darts to different positions around the bust point. You will be shown how to use the fullness of the darts to introduce gathers; ignore the fullness for a shift top and cut away the fullness for princess seams and fitted waist bands.

Using the front and back bodice blocks together you will learn how to mirror style lines from the front to the back, alter the neckline, create basic collar shapes; add button wraps, facings and seam allowances.

You will learn how to ‘slash and spread’ your pattern pieces whilst creating ‘set in’ sleeves such as capped, fluted and puffed, and different skirt shapes including pleated, panelled and flared.

You will be shown how to use the skirt block to extend a fitted bodice below the waistline; how to test and perfect your patterns in half-scale and produce, should you wish to, a capsule collection of finished quarter-scale toiles that will add a unique story to your portfolio of work.

A WhatsApp group will be set up offering you ongoing support and trouble-shooting tips between lessons, and an opportunity to swap favourite books and suppliers with your fellow students.

Price: £575.00 for nine, two hour lessons on ZOOM with a maximum of six attendees.

Dates: Mon 20th Jan - 17th March 2025 from 6.00 to 8.00pm UK time (Full).

or: Wed 7th May - 2nd July from 10.00am to 12pm UK time.

Equipment and materials are excluded from the price of this course,
however the list of what you will need to purchase will be kept to the absolute minimum.

A kit to make your own quarter-scale tailors dummy is included in the price of this course
along with a pattern to make your own half-scale tailors dummy
and a set of standard UK size 12 pattern blocks in both half-scale and quarter-scale.

Quarter-scale and half-scale tailors dummies by Rowena Luke-King.

Please note that this course is not offered as Individual Tuition.
However, once you have completed the course you may opt to revise and extend your pattern cutting skills
as part of an individual study program.

QUARTER-SCALE VINTAGE FASHION DOLLS combines doll making and garment construction in miniature.

Inspired by Théâtre de la Mode, Rowena Luke-King has created specifically for this course, a beautifully proportioned pattern from which to make a cloth doll whose vital statistics are that of a standard UK garment size 12, reduced to perfect quarter-scale. Using needle sculpture to enhance her shape; embroidery to add facial features and polished nails; flax, wool tops or yarn for her hair, once inserted with wire she will be able to stand on her own and bend her limbs into a pose.

With the vintage-style quarter-scale dress pattern provided, you will be guided through the accompanying written instructions as you stitch it together, either by hand or a mixture of hand and machine. You will be shown how to adapt your dress pattern to create different styles, use the original doll pattern to make trousers and panties and will use a variety of media and found objects to create matching miniature accessories.

A WhatsApp group will be set up offering you ongoing support and trouble-shooting tips between lessons and an opportunity to swap favourite books and suppliers with your fellow students.

NEW DATES AND PRICE TO BE CONFIRMED

This beautiful quarter-scale doll was created by Trudy Grant whilst studying with Rowena at Central Saint Martins.
Trudy’s doll is wearing a vintage dress pattern; McCall’s 4885, reduced to quarter-scale.

Please note that this course is not offered as Individual Tuition.

Terms & Conditions: You must be over 18 to attend an online course with Rowena Luke-King. Exceptions are made for under 18s who are about to turn 18 while preparing an A-level portfolio for application to art college. Your place on an online short course will be confirmed once full payment has been received. Your payment is non-refundable unless under exceptional circumstances, however in the event that you are unable to attend a course that you have booked a place on, every effort will be made to offer you alternative dates for the same course or an alternative course.

Online Courses take place on ZOOM with additional support via Email and WhatsApp, so please check that you have good internet connection before booking. You will be expected to work on your projects in your own time between lessons and will need to buy equipment and materials, the cost of which will be kept to the absolute minimum.

Prices, dates, terms & conditions are subject to change. Please check details before booking.

If you have any questions about or would like to book a place on any of the short courses outlined above
please contact Rowena by completing and sending the form below.

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