Anna Carlson
308 Prince Street Suite 246, St Paul, MN 55101
(p) 651-222-8458    (f) 651-222-8969
anna@annacarlson.com


Workshops

I really enjoy contact with enthusiastic learners and strive to nurture the creative instinct we all have.
Please contact me if you would like to discuss a workshop and/or lecture, if you need more information
or are interested in custom classes for your group or organization.


DRESS FORM TO DRAPING 1-2-3:

Do you use a dress form to design wearable art and /or stylish fashions? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to fit clothes to your own body simply and thoroughly? If you‘ve never used a form, or if you love to make clothes that fit and flatter, come to this workshop to tailor a form to YOUR individual shape, then learn how to use it as a fitting aid, a designer’s tool and a structure for wearable sculpture.

Part 1: Saturday, November 1, 9am-4pm ($75) 

Purchase a Uniquely You dress form kit (approximately$140.) These are a simple, reasonable way to get started. The kit comes with a foam form (various sizes), a stand and a fabric cover which will be custom–fit to your figure. The cover zips onto the form, compressing to your shape and voila! You’ll be ready to design, drape and fit clothes to your exact shape.

Part 2: Friday-Saturday, November 14-15, 9am-4pm ($150) 

If you have your own form and want to learn how to use it, start here! If you’ve just finished a Uniquely You form in Part 1, here’s where you’ll get acquainted! I’ll show you how to fit an existing garment, how to use the form to fit a garment during the construction process and how to drape a basic skirt and top. You’ll also make an “arm” for the form.

Part 3: Friday-Saturday, December 12-13, 9am-4pm ($150) 

Now you’ll be ready to sculpt garments using your form. Create garments using the form as a base. You’ll explore how to work with bias, how to make a pattern from your draped design, and how to conform to and transform the body shape.
8 maximum participants (at Studio 246)
$375 for all 5 days
Part 1 can be skipped if you have your own form; it does not need to be a custom fit form for parts 2-3, 
but is recommended for personalized fit. 
Part 2 is required for part 3.

Location: Anna Carlson Design Studio, Saint Paul, MN 55068
Please complete the attached registration form and send with your check to reserve a place.  A materials list with dress form ordering information will be sent when registration is received.

Design Process: 
Elements and Principles for Fashion

For those interested in stepping up to the Fashion Design "plate".

Design is a process that uses clear steps to foster innovation.  All designers use tools called elements and principles to explore ideas and create successful designs.  How do these elements and principles of design specifically relate to clothing?  Learn to use these concepts in creating compelling and flattering garments for yourself, or others.  We will be introducing the guidelines of design through historical costume study, looking at current artist and designers and illuminating exercises.  Practice using color, texture, line, shape and form to successfully design garments, accessories and artworks.  Practice rhythm and repetition, how to create balance and pleasing proportion, and how unity can tie an entire ensemble together.  Armed with the tools of a designer, participants will create portfolio of design ideas for their own chosen concentration (clothing, accessories, textile art) and have a clear understanding of how to use the design process to explore, focus, edit and evaluate ideas.

The elements and principles will be introduced through discussion, object study and images.  Participants will then practice the concepts, using sketching, collage and draping exercises.  Students will be gathering images, sketching, cutting, pinning and exploring with a variety of materials.

Students can have any level of experience in sewing/garment construction, and should be interested in looking at current and historical dress, gathering information, sketching and exploring ideas and discussing their designs in a friendly atmosphere.

Materials fee $25.

Students bring sketching/drawing supplies, scissors, tape, glue, sewing supplies, 2 yards printed fabric, muslin or test garment fabric, foam core


 

Textured Fabrics

Texture adds sensual interest, it flatters, and it packs and travels beautifully. You can create your own, unique textured fabrics to combine with your favorite garment pattern with the techniques learned in this workshop. 

Next, we'll explore texturing techniques including shrinking, stitching, and manipulation.  Some "old" techniques will be given new life and current appeal. These techniques can transform ordinary fabrics into extraordinary textiles.  With an emphasis on creating fabrics for clothing, participants will make samples of the various techniques and gain an understanding of fabric properties. We will layer, stitch (by machine and hand), wash, shrink, cut, fray and explore! You'll take home a series of samples/ fabric sketches, a textured scarf, and the desire to add texture to your life! 


Maximum of 10 participants.

 

Sculpting Garments: 
Draping in Fashion Design

Sculpting garments using a form and/or live model with a variety of materials:      

Through a series of exercises, students will experiment with the relationship of fabric to form.  Beginning with basic garments, and using different types of dress forms as well as live models (each other), students will learn how fabrics behave when draped, wrapped, seamed, etc. 

Students will practice with several types of material, including non-traditional and recycled materials, and also consider the effect of motion on their designs. Then each student will design a garment, using a (dress) form and muslin, transfer the design into a paper pattern (if appropriate) and make a test garment. Garment designs can be either functional or non-functional.  

Students will gain an understanding of how fabric can conceal and reveal the body, how materials and properties affect the way a garment “hangs”, and how to use a dress form to design their own creations. 

Experience required: understanding of basic garment construction, fabric properties, good hand and machine sewing skills.


Fiber Reactive Dye Workshop

The wonderful world of color awaits you!

Learn how to color fabrics using Fiber Reactive Dyes. Start with basic how-it-works and safety information, then discover how to use several methods to create fabrics with permanent color and soft hand.

Immersion level dying and low water effects on a variety of fabrics will be covered, then we will explore painting with dyes, using resists, poured effects, screen printing and stenciling.

Each day will start with discussion and a demonstration, followed by open studio time in the afternoon for experiments and samples. The end result will be good technical information and samples of many methods, including layering the techniques.

Participants may be able to make a larger piece for a project if they wish.

Level: Beginning

4 days, 6 hours each day

some outside preparation time may be required.



Clothing Design Basics Workshop

Do you wish your garments had a more professional look? 

Do you hesitate to cut into your fabric because you can’t visualize what the finished garment will look like? 

Discover how to identify the different design elements of clothing and put them together so you have confidence before you cut. Plan a garment or ensemble of your choice from the beginning using your own inspiration as the starting point and moving through the steps a designer takes to create a successful design. You will gather information from a variety of sources and create an inspiration collage. From the collage, you will sketch designs and choose one to develop. Pattern drafting basics and tracing garments are the next step. Then your ideas are transformed into a test garment, fitted, and pattern alterations are made, ensuring good fit. You will then focus on the details; fabric choice, closures, seam treatments, etc. in order to make your creation unique. 

By the end of the workshop you will have gone through the entire design process, drafted a pattern that fits, made a test garment, and planned the fabric and details of your design.  You will be prepared to pursue your own design ideas with confidence. The workshop will include group discussion and presentations, demonstrations, individual consultations and time to work on your own.  The mission of this workshop is to teach design tools that can be used to create garments that express individuality and fit properly.

The workshop is a three-day class. Limited to 10 students.

Level: Intermediate; students should have basic sewing skills and have sewed garments using commercial patterns.

Special requirements: sewing machines, one work table per student, $15. materials fee.


 


All designs and photos are property of Anna Carlson.   Copyright  © 2001 - 2008 by Anna Carlson.  
All Rights Reserved.

 
Last Site update, September 2008 by grasshopper