Education Programs - Correspondence Courses

Level: Int
Lessons: 6
Points: 12
Area: SMK
Price: $108

Notes: Prerequisite: Italian Smocking Only offered as an Individual Course

Prerequisite: Italian Smocking

The Italian Smocking Technique has been vaguely mentioned in some books, but little has been devoted to developing different possibilities for this technique. \'The Next Step\' is a course which will not only teach you four new patterns, but also deals with new ideas on how to work the three patterns previously learned; how to work them on striped and checked fabrics, how to combine pattern 11 with pattern 111 to create a new design; how to work Italian Smocking on finer fabrics and spacing it every quarter space instead of half space.

It is a challenging course with several small samplers and a fianl project with 3 critiques. This is only offered as an Individual Course

Level: A
Lessons: 5
Points: 10
Area: SMK
Price: $90

Notes: COST: Individual $90.00 (includes $60 teacher’s fee, $15.00 text & postage and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee. Group $50.00 per student (includes teacher’s fee, text, postage and administrative fee) with a minimum of 4 students and a maximum of 10 students plus a group leader. The group leader pays $30.00 (includes ½ teacher’s fee, text, postage and administrative fee).

Are you tired of the same old thing? Would you like to learn some fun, new things to do with your smocking needle? Do you feel you could design for yourself or others, if only you knew a bit more about how to do it? Have you reached the point where you want to experiment with stitches on pleats? If you have been nodding your head as you read this, This Is The Course For You!



Advanced Smocking Stitches and Design is a five-lesson course for individuals or groups. It will cover 15 different “advanced “ stitches and many more suggested variations. First, the students will stitch and experiment with these 15 stitches on a sampler. An extensive bibliography dealing with design, smocking, and embroidery stitches is included to enable the student to expand her knowledge along her lines of interest. Next, after a comprehensive discussion of color and design, the student will create an original smocking design using the advanced stitches she has learned. She will then stitch this design on a garment. The angel-wing bishop dress pattern is offered through the course, but she is free to use any garment pattern of her choosing. Graphing and detailed construction information are included.



Since very few published designers design with advanced stitches, students will be encouraged to publish their own designs, and will be given information about publishing, printing, and marketing in order to fill this gap.



Students work will be critiqued twice. The sampler will be critiqued for technique. The completed stitched original design will be critiqued for aesthetic value.



Students MUST have a working knowledge of the basic stitches and techniques of English Smocking before taking this course.

Level: A
Lessons: 5
Points: 10
Area: SMK
Price: $93

Notes: COST: Individual $93.00 (includes $60.00 teacher fee, $18.00 text & postage and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee).

This 5 lesson course will focus on letting the student know the criteria used by the Artisan Level II evaluators to grade Artisan Submissions. Students will stitch the required stitches on a sampler. Students will learn about color and design theory and will apply this knowledge to the creation and stitching of an original sampler. Students will then learn to graph and write directions for their original sampler. Students will receive information about construction techniques required by the Artisan Level II, as well as a bibliography of sources of information for further study. Students will learn to use smocking to manipulate a smocked piece into a shape without distortion. Students will learn about pleating different types of fabrics, as required by the Artisan Level II. All student work will be critiqued after each lesson using an evaluation tool similar to those used by the Artisan Program Evaluators.



Although course critiques of student work will use the same criteria as Artisan Evaluators, completion of this course is in no way a guarantee that you will pass the Artisan Level II Smocking Evaluation. It is merely another tool to use to advance your personal growth towards your smocking goals.

Level: B
Lessons: 5
Points: 10
Area: SMK
Price: $90

Notes: COST: Individuals $90.00-(includes $60.00 teacher fee, $15.00 kit, text, postage and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee). Groups $50.00 per student (includes teacher fee, text, postage and administration fee) with a minimum of 4 students and a maximum of 10 students plus a group leader. The group leader pays $30.00 (includes ½ teacher fee, text, postage and administrative fee

While stitching the course sampler, the student learns eight basic smocking stitches, as well as some combination stitches, accent stitches, and the stacked cable stitch used in picture smocking. The student will also learn how to read a graphed smocking design and how to center a design on a garment. The student will learn to use her new skills to smock and construct a girl’s bishop dress in the size of her choice (1 - 12). Directions for every step of construction will be provided including blocking, hand rolled hems, French seams, and thread button loops. No previous smocking experience is necessary, although this course is also an excellent development tool for those who have already had a taste of smocking.

Level: B
Lessons: 3
Points: 6
Area: SMK
Price: $81

Notes: COST: Individual $81.00 (includes $36.00 teacher’s fee,$30.00 text,pattern,piping and postage and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee)

Picture perfect construction work is a must in tailored children’s clothing where there is little “fluff” to hide mistakes. In this 3 – lesson course, taught on an individual basis, you will make a girl’s lined jumper with buttons on the shoulder, and has patch pockets set into side seams and with contrasting ties. The blouse buttons down the back, and has puffed sleeves with bias bands and an eyelet trimmed collar.



This course is for the intermediate beginner and those who wish to sharpen their technical sewing skills. The methods presented are those that the teacher has found are the best ways after almost 25 years of teaching and hopes the student will incorporate with their own skills to improve their sewing techniques.

Level:
Lessons: 6
Points: 12
Area: SMK
Price: $105

Notes: COST: $105.00 (includes $72.00 teacher’s fee, $18.00 text and postage and $15.00 SAGA fee

Continental Smocking evolved from Traditional English Smocking. It is a popular type of smocking in different countries in Continental Europe, hence the name. French, Italians, Portuguese and particularly Spanish work a great deal of their smocking using this form of embroidery.





The craftsmanship and intrinsic beauty of garments made in the Traditional English Smocking manner will always be admired and will always have a rightful lace among the basic skills of the professional embroiderer. Continental Smocking does not disregard tradition; rather it is a skillful blend of the traditional with the new to achieve a total effect that will be admired by future generations as we admire the best work from the past.





Continental Smocking is a six-lesson course for individuals. It covers easy techniques on how to obtain the perfect wave, how to work solid rows of stitches, different backgrounds, types of backsmocking, decorative stitches, Continental techniques for blocking and shaping smocked pieces, insertions and more. It also includes easy to follow graphs for smocking, accent stitches and garment construction.





After working a series of front and back smocking combinations, the student will practice a series of decorative stitches over a sampler. Everything learned will be applied in a full front garment project. The course includes seven different collar shapes; the choice of one will be used in the final garment project.


Students interested in this course will need to have a good working knowledge of the basic stitches and techniques of English Smocking.

Level:
Lessons: 6
Points: 12
Area: SMK
Price: $105

Notes: COST: $105.00 ( includes $72.00 teacher fee, $18.00 postage and text, and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee )

Throughout the centuries smocking has shown, and continues to demonstrate, its adaptability and versatility. The aim of this correspondence course is to teach you how to turn traditional combinations of stitches into ethnic patterns by working them with ethnic colors, adding beads and in some instances intertwining satin ribbons, using different types of embroidery cottons and, of course, having fun in the process.





Ethnic Smocking is a 6 lesson course that not only focuses on designs inspired from past art forms, but also shows already established styles that have been known for decades. During this course the student will be introduced to beads, the meaning of the color, the intricacy of interlaced ribbon designs, how to smock with metallic threads and other techniques. At the end of the course the student will develop her own Ethnic smocking design using the knowledge acquired during the course.





The minimum requirement to take this course is to be experienced with the basic smocking stitches and be proficient in stacking cables.





……The true limit to smocking is your imagination. You can make it as limited or unlimited as you want it to be. Look around you and the world is the greatest inspiration of all.

Level:
Lessons: 5
Points: 10
Area: SMK
Price: $103

Notes: COST: Individual $103.00 (includes $60.00 teacher’s fee, $28.00 text, kit & postage and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee).

This course will provide an opportunity for you to work with some “off the beaten path” fabrics and flosses. In lesson 1 you will pleat and smock Linen with cotton threads and flosses, lesson 2 is Wool and Wool threads. Featherwale corduroy with cotton and nylon flosses are in lesson 3 and lesson 4 uses silk fabric with silk flosses. The final lesson, 5, is your choice of fabric and a hand dyed floss to stitch your design. This course is designed to stretch your imagination and try flosses and fabrics you don’t see used in smocking everyday. The smocking graphs are included in the course for lessons 1 thru 4, in lesson 5 you may use your own design or a published one. To take this course you should be proficient in the execution of basic smocking stitches and pleating fabric. For artisan program participants, the sampler pleating will offer practice for your Smocking Level II submissions.





The text, 16 different flosses, floss for lesson 5 and specialty needles are included in the required kit. The student will provide five fabrics for the lessons unless she chooses to order the optional fabric kit which provides one piece each of wool, silk, linen (100% or blend) and featherwale corduroy. The fabric for lesson five is the students choice and not included in the optional fabric kit. The student will supply additional materials which may include safety pins, pleating thread, needles, needle threader, scissors, pens, pencils and graph paper.

Level: B
Lessons: 5
Points: 10
Area: FMS
Price: $101

This 5-lesson course takes you through beginning heirloom techniques step-by-step. In addition, each lesson includes information your home economics teacher probably never told you, concerning topics such as machine maintenance, threads, machine needles, tension theory, and the anatomy of a perfect seam. Techniques include pin tucking, rolling and whipping, joining laces and entreduex, construction of a fancy band, and more.

The student will create a sample notebook that will become a valuable reference tool, and in the final lesson will construct a beautiful neck roll pillow incorporating heirloom techniques learned in previous lessons.

Level:
Lessons: 3
Points: 6
Area: SMK
Price: $81

Notes: COST: Individual $ 81.00(includes $36.00 teacher’s fee, $30.00 text, pattern, piping and postage and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee)

The prettiest smocking or needlework deserves picture perfect construction work. In this 3 - lesson course, taught on an individual basis, you will learn to improve your sewing skills and learn some new techniques, as you construct a boy’s shirt that buttons down the back, has a piped front yoke, collar and cuffs, and a pleated shirt front. The lined pants button onto the shirt and have side plackets.



This course is for the intermediate beginner and those who wish to sharpen their technical sewing skills. The methods presented are those that the teacher has found are the best ways after almost 25 years of teaching and hopes the student will incorporate with their own skills to improve their sewing techniques.

Level:
Lessons: 5
Points: 10
Area: SMK
Price: $95

Florentine embroidery emerged during the fourteenth century. Its origin seems as complicated as the extensive variety of patterns available within it. Its precise lineage is veiled in nostalgic legends and the confusion arises from the use of the three names to describe it – Bargello, Florentine and Hungarian Point.



Florentine Smocking is a new and exciting technique based on Bargello embroidery. This course will teach you how to recreate tapestry patterns on pleated fabric. It is a simple technique but it requires a great deal of accuracy in the stitching. This correspondence course is ideal for someone who wants to try something new or someone who wants a new challenge.



Florentine Smocking is a six-lesson course for individuals. It covers three patterns from easy to more advanced. In this course you will learn about ideal fabrics to reproduce the technique, how to pleat them, how to work with different types of threads, needles, beads and more.



Everything learnt will be applied in a project. The final lesson provides different ideas and patterns for projects to choose from.



The minimum requirements to take this course are that you should: be an advanced- intermediate or an advanced smocker; be accurate in stitching; have a experience in pleating difficult fabrics and have access to or own any 24 row pleating machine.

Level:
Lessons: 3
Points: 6
Area: SMK
Price: $65

Notes: COST: Individual $65.00 (includes $36.00 teacher’s fee, $14.00 text & postage and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee).

If you are looking for a rather easy challenge that will teach you to work a stylish and elaborate symmetrical pattern of smocking, this is the course for you. Italian Smocking is the “art of manipulating pleats”. This style of smocking evolved from an old technique known as “Italian Shirring”. This three-lesson course will show you how to work a beginner, an intermediate and an advanced Italian Smocking pattern for girls, teenagers, adult wear and interior decorating projects. The lessons cover ideal fabrics, threads and the correct width calculation for each pattern. A list of 8 or more options is included at the end of each lesson to entice your imagination and help you create a variety of different designs from each pattern. The student will also learn the stitch-thread technique using silk embroidery ribbon to outline sections of the pattern. This technique can later be used on traditional smocking. Upon completion of the course, any of the three samplers will enhance the center of a cushion or a child’s garment. This is an intermediate level class.

Level: B
Lessons: 4
Points: 8
Area: EMB
Price: $142.5

Learn the basics of Point de Beauvais, how to tie on and off, and how to stitch with wool and Cordonnet silk threads while using the Luneville crochet hook. You will also learn to use fine soutache and how to stitch with unusual fibers such as silk chenille. Once completed, you will have a piece of embroidery that can be used to cover a footstool making it comfortable and elegant. When you put your feet up, you will feel like an Ottoman princess. This course\'s design would also be lovely on a decorative neck roll or throw pillow.

Level:
Lessons: 5
Points: 10
Area: SMK
Price: $93

Notes: COST; $93.00 - includes $60.00 Teacher’s fee, $18.00 text and postage and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee

Have you ever wondered how other smockers can get their pleaters to consistently pleat on grain, pleat over French seams, or pleat more rows than their pleaters provide? Did you look over the vague instructions that come with your pleater and think “ There has to be more to know than this?” If you want to learn tips and tricks for convincing your pleater to do what you want it to, then this is the course for you.



Practically Perfect Pleating is a 5 lesson course for individuals. Through this course you will gain experience in on-grain pleating of batiste, calico, stripes, gingham, plaid, silk, wool and corduroy fabrics. You will find out how to double pleat to make 30 rows. You will learn how to care for your pleater, performing minor maintenance. You will be able to pleat over French seams as well as “ Seamless Appearing Seams. “ You will also learn the criteria used by Artisan Program evaluators to assess Level 1 and 11 pleated samples. Your work will be critiqued five times for on-grain pleating, tying off to size, free standing French seams, finishing of seamless appearing seams, and steam setting of pleats.



The student must own or have access to a pleater for the duration of the course. Previous pleating experience is not required, however this course is an excellent development tool for those who have some pleating experience.

Level:
Lessons: 5
Points: 10
Area: SMK
Price: $93

Notes: COST: Individual $93.00 (includes $60.00 teacher’s fee, $18.00 text & postage and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee)

This course explores the use of fabrics and floss colors for dramatic variations of one simple smocking design. You will be challenged to try to discover new combinations and discover how simple it is to customize smocking designs to match your fabric. To take this course you should be proficient in pleating fabric and the execution of three basic smocking stitches, the cable, trellis and wave. For Artisan program participants the lesson samplers and pleating will offer practice for your Smocking Level I submissions.



The course text is included in the text fee while all other materials for the course will be provided by the student. Materials required are five pieces of fabric, floss, pleating thread, needles and additional materials may include pins, needle threader, scissors, pen, pencils and paper. Simple Stitch Effects is a five-lesson course taught for individuals only.

Level:
Lessons: 5
Points: 10
Area: SMK
Price: $93

Notes: COST: $93.00 (includes $60.00 teacher’s fee, $18.00 text & postage, and $15.00 SAGA administrative fee)

Are you an experienced smocker looking for a fun way to experiment with smocking stitches? This course will be of interest to intermediate and advanced smockers who would like to play around with design, and to apply what is learned in this course to the creation of smocked lace designs. Students must have a working knowledge of the basic smocking stitches and may be familiar with the more advanced stitches.



“Smocked Laces and Design” is a five-lesson course for individuals. It has six overall goals:

• to teach more advanced stitches to students, while noting the required form of each stitch for Artisan Program members

• to teach students how multiple layers of smocking in different stitches, and variation in the number of strands used, can give a lace-like effect to smocking

• to teach students the basic elements and principles of design

• to aid student graphing and instruction writing

• to encourage students to apply their designs to a finished product

• to provide useful information about the techniques evaluated at the Artisan Program, Level II, Smocking



Student work will be critiqued three times for pleating technique, application of design elements, and stitch quality. Graphs and notes/instructions will be critiqued for readability and clarity. The final project will also be critiqued for construction techniques.

Level: Int
Lessons: 4
Points: 8
Area: FMS
Price: $74

Notes: Individual $74 (includes teacher’s fee, text, pattern, domestic postage, and administrative fee). Group $38 per student (includes teacher’s fee, text, pattern, postage, and administration fee) with a minimum of 3 students and a maximum of 10 students plus a group leader. The group leader pays $30 (includes ½ teacher’s fee, text, pattern, domestic postage and administrative fee).

This baby bonnet has three front layers of frill and gives the student an opportunity to learn intermediate fine machine sewing skills. These skills include shaped lace for an edging and as an insertion, attach entredeux to multiple layers of fabric, mitered lace corners, and pin stitching. Student will incorporate beginning and intermediate techniques while completing this frilly baby bonnet.



Students taking this course need to be confident with their beginning level skills in fine machine sewing. They will need to know how cut on grain, roll and whip lace to fabric, construct a french seam, match entredeux corners, attach gathered lace to entredeux, and gather fabric without extensive teacher instruction.



Student will need to have a sewing machine capable of performing a pin stitch. A list of materials and sources is provided in the lesson plan.