COUTURE HAND SEWING - SAMPLE BOOK will introduce you to a variety of stitches and techniques used in couture and tailored 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 rolled hems, pin hems, faced hems and tailor’s hems; different types of seams and seam finishes including a flat fell, french and mantua-makers seam whilst documenting each new stitch on a calico stitch chart.

You will be encouraged to repeat these exercises in your own time and in a variety of fabrics including different weights of linen, wool and silk, before moving on to more specialist techniques such as hand worked eyelets and button holes; hand stitched zippers, press studs, hooks and covered eyes. You will learn how to attach buttons including a tailor’s keeper-button; make and appliqué rouleau loops and use insertion stitches to add rouleau loop trims to a hem, a neckline or a cuff.

Should you wish to add miniature hand stitched garments to your sample book, a shift top and shift 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: £575.00 for nine, two hour lessons on ZOOM with a maximum of six attendees (full).

Dates: Tuesday 13th October - 19th December 2026 from 2.00 to 4.00pm.

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.

Please note that this course is not offered as Individual Tuition,
however once you have completed it, you may like to expand your skills by enrolling on:
Couture Hand Sewing - Prom Dress

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