Monty; knitting lessons and textiles design in London: February 2012

One of the first things I shall be doing when back from maternity leave is teaching at City Lit. They have a huge variety of exciting Textiles courses available - here's the list of some of their upcoming classes:

This Spring/ Summer at the City Lit features an extended programme in textiles, accessories, sewing and clothes making with new courses to follow in the summer school. Courses are offered in a range of specialist areas giving you opportunities to develop design ideas, skills, and techniques and to explore and experiment with different materials and processes

Accessories

VX113 Fashioning fabrics; collars, cuffs, corsages, cameos

Fri 24/02/2012 to 30/03/2012, 6 sessions,18:00 to 21:00

Discover overlaps between textiles and jewellery to create original fashion accessories. Explore costume, and fashion trends, experiment with new or recycled materials and techniques to develop decorative, even flamboyant wearable art pieces. Tutor: Flea Cooke

VX126 Fashioning fabrics: ruffles, flounces, pleats and tucks

Sun 26/02/2012 to 18/03/2012, 4 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

Develop fabric manipulation techniques to add volume, structure and drama using ruffles and flounces, pleating, tucks and gathering. Sculpt surfaces for fashion/costume detailing or create your own textile surfaces. Sewing skills required. Tutor: Flea Cooke

VX960 Felt Jewellery

Fri 02/03/2012 to Fri 30/03/2012, 5 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Create colourful pieces of jewellery combining the process of making your own felt with simple jewellery techniques. Learn to make felt beads, chains, brooches, rings and earrings. All levels welcome. Basic materials will be provided. Tutor: Harriet Hill

VX118 Fashioning fabrics; personality pockets and pouches

Fri 20/04/2012 to18/05/2012, 5 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Attached or separate, pockets can add personality. Take a fresh look at a functional form to add character, expression and embellishment. Structure cloth, create hidden or striking openings, tell a story, or be highly decorative. Tutor: Flea Cooke

Textiles

VX114 Surface pattern: design and decoration

Tue, Wed 20/03/2012 to28/03/2012, 10:3016:30

Understand pattern and repeats and develop your own designs using motifs, repeats and borders. Explore a variety of ways of applying your designs to paper and cloth. Tutor: Rachel Gornall

VX958 Creative stitched textiles

Create experimental textile samples exploring machine embroidery, manipulative and decorative stitch techniques and related textile approaches. Beginners and experienced students welcome. Tutor: Rachel Gornall

Wed 18/04/2012 to Wed 20/06/2012, 10 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

VX119 Textiles: approaches to drawing, sketchbooks and design development

Fri 20/04/2012 to 25/05/2012, 6 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

Investigate mark-making, layering and juxtaposing ideas through experimental drawings. Explore the importance of imaginative research and how to record it in a sketchbook. Develop versatile design ideas for textiles: interiors, fashion, stationary or textile art. Tutor: Charlotte Hardy

VX952 The textile course 1: evenings; colour and pattern

Tue 24/04/2012 to 13/07/2012, 10 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Project based course for personal development or to begin to build a portfolio for further studies. The emphasis is on developing your ideas and practice using a variety of materials and processes. Basic materials included. Each term has a different focus. Term 3: Colour and pattern. Tutor: Louise Baldwin

VX972 Felt: developing techniques and ideas

Sat 19/05/2012 to 09/06/2012, 4 sessions, 10:30 to16:30

Develop your skills and confidence in making felt as you combine a number of techniques, enabling you to explore your own ideas and personal projects. Tutor: Harriet Hill

VX985 Hand knitting for improvers

Sun 20/05/2012 to 03/06/2012, 3 sessions, 10:30 to16:30

Working with different sized needles and experimenting with different yarns, produce swatches as the basis for designing your own garments or fine art structures. Basic materials included. Tutor: Claire Montgomerie click to view

VX120 Textiles: Recycle, Reuse, Retell

Sun 06/05/2012 to 13/05/2012, 2 sessions, 10:30 to16:30

Recycle your old favourite fabrics into a small experimental quilt; exploring the idea that textile carries many memories and secrets. Re-tell your story or journey of these fabrics, using patching, piecing, darning and machine stitching. Tutor: Amarjeet Nandhra

VX121 Manipulated textiles using heat setting techniques

Sun13/05/2012 to27/05/2012, 3 sessions10:30 to16:30

Create innovative subtle or dramatic fabrics using heat to permanently structure the surface. Explore the creative potential of crumpling, crushing, pole wrapping, stitching and colouring, tying in objects and using origami moulds to shape fabric. Tutor: Caroline Bartlett

VX122 Crochet for improvers

Fri 01/06/2012 to 29/06/2012, 5 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

An improvers crochet course for those who know how to crochet but want to progress from the basic stitches. You will learn advanced techniques such as shaping, working in the round, cluster stitches and reading patterns. Tutor: Claire Montgomerie click to view

VX123 An introduction to fabric printing

12/06/2012 to 3/07/12, 4 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

An introduction to simple and effective methods of printing using silkscreen, block and mono-printing. Experiment with effects of opaque and transparent colour and finishes such as foiling and explore colour, shape and texture. Tutor: Caroline Bartlett

VX214 Structural crochet: working with 3D forms

Sun 17/06/2012 to Sun 24/06/2012, 2 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

For intermediate crocheters, wanting to progress from flat swatches/fabrics. Develop three dimensional pieces for jewellery, fashion items or sculptural objects using advanced techniques such as shaping, working in the round and free forming. Tutor: Claire Montgomerie

Sewing and Clothesmaking

VX105 The clothes making course 3: day

Tue 17/04/2012 to 29/05/2012; 7 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30Further your sewing skills and techniques through working on your own personal project. Demonstrate improved skills in the making of clothes and complete a well fitted and professionally finished garment using a bought pattern. Tutor: Dawn Burton

VX106 The clothes making course 3; evening

Thu 19/04/2012 to 21/06/2012, 10 sessions, 18:00 to 21:00

Further develop your clothes making skills through working on your own assignments whilst learning new techniques. Learn further collars, pleats, lining etc. through demonstrations. You will receive help and advice from your tutor. Tutor: Jasmine Carey

VX997 Clothes making intensive 3

Sun 10/06/2012 to 24/06/2012, 3 sessions, 10:30 to 16:30

Further your skills through working on your own assignments whilst learning new techniques. Learn collars, plackets, pleats, frills, gathers etc. through demonstrations. Help and advice at hand. Tutor: Dawn Burton

VX116 Introduction to using a commercial sewing pattern

Sun 01/04/2012, 10:30 to 16:30

Learn how to buy a pattern for your size and how to cut it out. Recognise symbols and keys in the instructions and follow fabric lays for your style. Understand what some of the puzzling sewing terminology means. Tutor: Dawn Burton

VX998 General sewing to survive! – an Introduction to Sewing

Fri 01/06/2012 to 29/06/2012, 5 sessions 18:00 to 21:00

You will learn mainly machine and a few hand sewing skills, through sample work, such as seam finishes, hems and buttonholes, inserting zips, and move on to complete a small project like a cushion. Tutor: Dawn Burton

SUMMER SCHOOL

The new Summer School Course Guide will be published on 9^th March with enrolment from 11^th March, featuring more Textiles, Fashion, Sewing and Clothesmaking courses that will take place between the end of June and the end of July. Reserve your copy of the new Course Guide.

You can find out more about our courses, by visiting our website, or call 020 7492 2700 / 03, or email visual.arts@citylit.ac.uk.