GBACG Workshop: Straw-embroidered Bergère hat with Lynn McMasters

Class Description and Agenda*:

If you love embroidery, fabric appliqué and adding cord or Soutache to the surface of garments; then you will also love doing similar decorative techniques with straw over straw.

When researching 18th C Bergère’s Lynn noticed that some of the straw hats had decorations made of straw. No matter if it was straw appliqué, straw lace or decorative straw elements, Lynn found them even more interesting than those decorated with bows and flowers.

In the class Lynn will talk about and demo how to use straw in many different ways to make items that you can use to decorate the Bergère you get in class and give you a solid foundation in the techniques you can use to finish off your hat. In the second part of the class with Lynn's help the students will decide how they want to decorate their hat and how to get started. You may or may not finish the hat in class depending on just how complex your design is.

Student Brings :

• Basic sewing kit,
• Some straw colored sewing thread (cotton wrapped polyester) is best,
• Some straw needles, (you should be able to find these in a regular fabric store,
• Iron away markers or ballpoint pens (frixion),
• Small craft iron if you have one,
• Detail scissors,
• Becon Fabric Tac and White glue and a small brush.
• A plastic bin that will take hot water to soften your straws (`10-12 L, ~4-5 W,~4-5 T)
• Straight edge (ruler) see through best,
• X-acto or other razer blade cutter,
• Hand towel for keeping straw damp (not best shape),
• Seam ripper.

Things to bring if you have but don’t go out and get them if you don’t:

• Small cutting mat, small rotary cutter 1.75” blade,
• You can bring 2 yards of ribbon for ties but it might be best to wait until you finish your decorations and line your hat to choose the best color.
• ½ to 1 yd of cotton or lightweight silk to line the underbrim. ½ is enough if you will be using a solid but best to have more with an 18th C print so you can pick the part of the print you want to show,
• Metal toothed dog comb.
• Long Upholstery needles 6,8 or 10”

Instructor Provides :

• Basic straw bergère
• Ironed wheat or rye straw to fill in the colors
• Straw tubes for decorative items
• Raffia
• Decorative straw plait for edging hats or edging crown
• Vintage rye straw threads to edge the colors
• A pattern with written instructions for the lining
• Several patterns for the appliqué to choose from or, if you would rather do your own design pattern then I can send you the PDF beforehand so you can draw your design out to scale.
• Small pieces of taffeta to match our straw
• Fusible iron on glue
• Plastic sheets to make cutting templates.

Practicalities:

The women’s club only has stairs and Laurie Tavan’s studio is on the second floor. Parking is mostly street parking.

Students need to be willing to test for Covid before class. Mask is required and will be provided.

THERE IS NO REFUNDS ON WORKSHOP REGISTRATIONS. HOWEVER YOU MAY TRANSFER YOUR TICKET TO ANOTHER PERSON.