This fashion engineering program is currently being taught at PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY, and has been for more than 12 years. It has a great following, and traditionally these classes fill quickly. The program was developed by listening to student’s needs and concerns. It is a practical, hands on; a thorough series of courses which will enable students to start their own fashion business, finely hone their sewing skills, become fashion designers and pattern makers, and move into the fashion industry. Because this is a low level engineering program, students who take courses in the program also learn basic engineering concepts. In addition the applied math, with charts to make the computations easier, give students a better appreciation of math's many practical uses. The author and instructor, Laurel Hoffmann can guide your university, vocational school, high school, or continuing education program instructors in the teaching of this course.

The program consists of several courses:

Required Foundation Courses

• Design-Room Techniques (No Prerequisite - recommended as first course)
• Fitting Home Sewing Patterns (Grading to Fit - No Prerequisite)
• Copying a Man’s Shirt (Copying a Ready-Made Garment - No Prerequisite)
• Drafting & Fitting Pants and Skirts (No Prerequisite)

Required Advanced Courses

• Grading & Sewing a Blouse and Jacket (Prerequisite: Fitting Home Sewing Patterns)
• Marketing to the Fashion Industry (Prerequisites may include: Drafting & Fitting Pants and Skirts, Copying a Man’s Shirt and/or Grading and Sewing a Blouse and Jacket)

More about the courses:

Design-Room Techniques

This course is the introductory course to the certificate program, but does not have to be taken first. Students learn zipper sets, hem finishes, pull-through and sew-out procedures, seams, and more. A sample book of professional, high-end pattern making and sewing techniques that are used in the industry will be compiled. (Students must also purchase a textbook, Design-Room Techniques, for an additional fee.) Typically runs 9 Saturdays for 3 hours each Saturday.

Copying a Man's Shirt - Copying a Ready-Made Garment

Students learn how to copy ready-made garments by copying a man's shirt. Course includes a study of the American's man's clothing culture that explores why men wear what they do. Men's shirt making techniques are presented and used to make a sample shirt that fits the student's chosen model. The model can be a son, husband, friend, or the student himself. (Students must also purchase a textbook, Copying a Man's Shirt, for an additional fee.) Typically runs 9 Saturdays for 3 hours each Saturday.

Drafting & Fitting Pants and Skirts

Students learn how to fit from measurements by draft pants to fit themselves. First students learn how to measure by measuring each other in class. They then draft and fit a basic skirt pattern in muslin. That pattern is then used to draft the remainder of the pant pattern. Measurements and charts help in the process. (Students must also purchase the student textbook set, Drafting & Fitting Pants and Skirts, and Sewing Pants and Skirts for an additional fee.) Runs 9 Saturdays for 3 hours each.

Fitting Home Sewing Patterns - Grading to Fit

Students learn how to work with grade rule systems and how to use that information to custom grade to fit. They begin by learning how to use Standard Sizing, the grade rule used by the large home sewing pattern companies, to custom fit home sewing patterns to their personal fit. This course is the first in a series of two courses that enable students to produce professional patterns that fit from home sewing patterns. (Students must also purchase a textbook, Grading to Fit, for an additional fee.) Prerequisite for Grading & Sewing a Blouse and Jacket. Typically runs 12 Saturdays for 3 hours each Saturday.

Grading & Sewing a Blouse and Jacket

This course combines two courses, Drafting and Sewing a Blouse, and Drafting and Sewing a Jacket. It is the sequel to Fitting Home Sewing Patterns. Together these courses enable students to produce professional patterns that fit from home sewing patterns. Students will work at their own pace to test their grading coordinates developed in the prerequisite course. Students will also learn high-end professional cutting and sewing skills in this course. Begin by completing pattern work, then custom grade and test a blouse pattern chosen by the instructor. Repeat with your choice of jacket pattern. Diagrammed instructions enable students to finish their work at home. Most students need to take this course twice. (Students must also purchase the textbooks, Grading & Sewing a Blouse, and Grading and Sewing a Jacket, for an additional fee.) Typically runs 10 or more Saturdays for 3 hours each Saturday. Prerequisite: Fitting Home Sewing Patterns NO exceptions.

Marketing to the Fashion Industry

Guided independent study/intensive writing course in which students develop their business ideas, determine a niche market, research that market, write a business plan, make presentation boards if appropriate for their business, and make a presentation of their work to their classmates on the last class day. Prerequisite(s) may include: Drafting & Fitting Pants and Skirts, Copying a Man’s Shirt and/or Grading & Sewing a Blouse and Jacket (Students must also purchase a textbook, Marketing to the Fashion Industry, for an additional fee.) Typically runs 3 Saturdays, spaced over a nine week period, for 2 hours each.

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