At a Glance
15 HD Video Lessons
Reviews
Instructor
Susan Khalje
Susan is a contributing editor at Threads Magazine and the host of Sew Much More on HGTV and DIY.net. View profile »
Closed Captioning Available
The Couture Dress
with Susan Khalje
From creating a muslin to adjusting fit and hand-stitching hems, Couturier Susan Khalje guides you step-by-step through couture sewing techniques!
Stop searching the ready-to-wear racks and learn how to sew a dress that fits like a dream! Award-winning couturier, author and television personality Susan Khalje will show you how to make a dress in this Craftsy class.
Once Susan teaches you essential couture sewing techniques, you will have the skills to adapt the included Vogue pattern to create whatever dress you need - a swingy summer sleeveless, a classic winter-weight sheath with three-quarter sleeves or an elegant cocktail dress in seasonless black lace.
Susan's expert methods, drawn from years of fine garment design and creation, will help make your couture sewing successful and your wardrobe svelte.
Explore the art of dressmaking by enrolling in The Couture Dress today!
What You’ll Learn
- Muslin construction
- Fit adjustment techniques
- Underlining
- How to hand-stitch perfect hems
- Pattern customization strategies
What You’ll Make
- A couture dress custom fit to your size and style
What You'll Need:
- Susan suggests many specialty products used by professional sewists, but feel free to substitute if they're not available in your local area
- Fashion fabric, muslin, silk organza underlining and silk charmeuse lining, in the yardage required by your pattern
- Sleeve head tape, lamb''s wool or flannel
- Horsehair
- Grosgrain ribbon
- Hem lace
- Zipper
- Silk basting thread and dark machine thread
- Snaps
- Hooks and eyes
- French curve
- Tailor's ham
- Chakoner chalk marker
- Tracing paper and tracing wheel
- Clover fork pins ("double pins")
- Glass-headed pins
- Beeswax
- Spray bottle
- 18" see-through ruler
- Pressing cloth
Lesson Plan
| 1 | Introduction | 6:37 |
| 2 | Muslin 1: Pin & Cut | 47:22 |
| 3 | Muslin 2: Assembly | 29:23 |
| 4 | Muslin 3: Fitting | 25:42 |
| 5 | Muslin 4: Finishing | 18:00 |
| 6 | Underlining 1: Pin & Cut | 35:16 |
| 7 | Underlining 2: Fashion Fabric | 44:42 |
| 8 | Construction 1: Basting | 35:27 |
| 9 | Construction 2: Assembly | 43:01 |
| 10 | Construction 3: Seams & Stitches | 30:04 |
| 11 | Sleeves | 19:52 |
| 12 | Zippers | 30:30 |
| 13 | Hems | 25:49 |
| 14 | Lining | 51:07 |
| 15 | Finishing Touches | 20:49 |
Skills you should have:
- Set in sleeves
- Put in a lining and sew facings
- Sew tailored (fitted) garments
- Insert zippers and sew buttonholes
Recent 5 star reviews of this class
Average Review:
Must Do Class
I have not finished the class yet but it is not due to lack of interest. It is quite the opposite. It is very detailed and I am absorbing every detail. I have learned so many things like placing the transfer paper on the table. Why had I never thought of that one? I hate doing the marking and this just makes it a task not to dread. Cutting the peices out larger than the pattern??? BRILLIANT I feel like a beginning sewer at the moment LOL. I love it when so much info is provided that a 50 year ...
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This class deserved 10 stars!
I could not thank Susan enough for this great course! I've learnt so much from it! Susan's class is now my source of reference for all my sewing projects! She explains all the different techniques so well and she provides so much useful information, yet one does not feel overwhelmed by empowered! Thanks to this class, my sewing skills have considerably improved and I am more sure what to do when I sew. 5 stars are not enough to rate this class!
My Favorite Craftsy Class
This is the first Craftsy class I enrolled in and have since enrolled in several others. I've enjoyed them all, but this one still remains my favorite. Susan Khalje is an excellent instructor. She knows sophisticated techniques and explains them to you in an approachable and encouraging way. She's also wonderful about reminding you to use the Craftsy platform and to make notes about things she's showing you. When I first took this class, my skill level wasn't high enough to tackle a couture ...
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Engaging
Instructor is really engaging. It's great class. I totally recommend this class to anyone.
Best Class Ever
Susan explains in plain English and makes you want to sew your own garments with as much care as she does. Great camera work to show the detail of her stitching and Susan is such a confidence builder! I'll be the first to sign up for a pants class if she would agree to teach one..
$49.99
Included with this class:
Vogue Easy Options Misses' Dress Pattern more info
Vogue Easy Options Misses Dress Pattern
A classic and versatile lined dress to fit any body type. Includes a fitted bust and princess seams for a flattering fit, with options for different sleeve lengths and a circular or straight skirt with a back slit. Can be made in almost any fabric to create the perfect summer, fall, or winter weight dress.
Pattern size measurements:
| SIZE | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Chest | 28.5in (73cm) | 29.5in (75cm) | 30.5in (78cm) | 32in (81cm) |
| SIZE | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 |
| Chest | 34in (87cm) | 36in (92cm) | 38in (97cm) | 40in (102cm) | 42in (107cm) |
This pattern will be shipped directly to you by Vogue. Please allow 14 business days for U.S. shipments (please allow extra time for international shipments).
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