Fashion Design

Garment Structures: Intro to Sewing

SF 800
Instructor: Susan Robinson
Tues. & Thurs., 5–10 p.m., May 26–July 9 (Two additional all-day Saturday sessions will be determined by the class.)
18 sessions. $1,800 pass/fail* (3 units). Prerequisite: none

This studio class introduces students to the fundamental applications of sewing techniques, the sewing machine, and garment construction. Students gain awareness of the studio, industrial sewing machines, and pattern-making tools. Instructor demonstrations and student practice play an integral role in this course. With hands-on experience, students complete several projects: a standard sleeved shirt, a basic skirt, and/or a pair of pants.

This class is open to all students interested in fashion design, as well as fashion designers who would like to brush up on their skills. The final project is to deconstruct an existing garment to create a pattern. From that pattern a muslin sample and a final garment are sewn. Students purchase patterns and fabric for their projects. A materials list is provided.

*This course also can be taken for a letter grade: $3,879.

Introduction to Knitwear

SF 802
Instructor: Lynda Grose

June 1–July 13: Mon. and Thurs., 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. (no class July 2 and 6)
July 16, Final Thursday, 10 a.m.–1 p.m.
12 sessions. $1,800. Pass/Fail* (3 units). Prerequisite: beginning-level fashion courses or instructor permission

This class will introduce students to knitwear design on single-bed machines. Students learn the appropriate yarns for both standard- and chunky-gauge knitting machines, as well as basic knit stitches. Students also develop a strong sense of knit fabric qualities and how the choice of yarns, tension, and stitch affect those qualities.

Students also learn how to use the machines and become adept in their handling of the knit tools. As the semester progresses, more advanced stitching techniques are taught. Fashion designs for knits are an integral part of each project throughout the class.

*This course also can be taken for a letter grade: $3,879.

Designing for Sustainability

SF 116
Instructor: Jessica Kraft
Tues., 6:45–9:45 p.m., June 9–Aug 11
10 sessions. $300. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none

The challenge for 21st-century design of all disciplines is how to create beautiful environments and products that enhance ecosystems while promoting human health. In this course we explore the paradigm shift of sustainability and examine how designers can respond to the challenges of global warming, resource depletion, over-consumption, and material toxicity with resilience, creativity, and beauty.

Following a critique of the last two centuries of design history, we delve into the current tools of the sustainable designer: Life Cycle Analysis, Cradle to Cradle, LEED certification, and systems thinking. Students develop final projects that integrate these tools and apply them to their own design focus.