This course will explore the world of couture sewing by fully constructing a garment using hand-sewing techniques. No machines involved here. You will develop an appreciation for the skill of the human hand and its role in quality constructed garments. These are skills that anyone can learn.

Students will gear their garment towards evening wear, lingerie, and/or detailed items with a focus on hard-to-handle fabrics such as silk, organza, chiffon. satin, lace, velvet, and others.

Students will learn a variety of couture finishes specific to their projects.

Couture techniques covered include basic hand stitches, darts, pressing, seams, hems, seam finishes, decorative edging, button holes, fastenings, lacework, and decorative details.

This is an advanced workshop. Students must have a strong understanding of garment construction. Students will be required to purchase a commercial pattern of their choice with corresponding materials. A detailed supply list with guidelines will be given at registration. Pre-course consultation with the instructor will assist you in selecting a suitable pattern and fabric.

The fashion industry thrives on creativity, diversity and innovation.

The same 3 concepts can be used to describe Sheila Wong Fashion Design Studio, or SWFDS as it is more commonly known in the Vancouver fashion circuit. The company, founded by Sheila Wong, who herself is a walking example of diversity (being French-Chinese Canadian), helps develop all aspects of fashion design, whether it be skills, creativity, marketing or simply making the numbers work.

Sheila Wong started showing interest in design at a very young age. While other teenagers aspired to be models on a runway, she was much more interested in the garments and accessories that made the models shine.  At the age of 18 she started her first company designing outfits and managing dance performers at music festivals in her home town of Calgary, Alberta. She knew she had found her passion the first time she saw her designs showcased in front of a large energetic crowd.

But ideas and talent don’t always guarantee success, so Sheila made sure she was ready to tackle whatever obstacles the industry might have. She first completed a Bachelors of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship Degree at Mount Royal University, with a focus on International Business. She then went on to obtain her Fashion Design Diploma from Vancouver’s own Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Center. It was here that she fine tuned her skills and developed her ideas. Her time at Blanche Macdonald allowed her to shine in front of her peers and industry professionals, earning her the Design Portfolio of the Year award. After years of making sure she had the education to support her goals, she sought real-world experience, taking on positions like Studio Assistant at the Fashion Exchange building, Production Manager at clothing retailer Aritzia, and even instructing at Blanche Macdonald Fashion Center and Vancouver Community College in the Fashion Design programs. 

What truly makes Sheila Wong stand out in the industry, however, is her desire to help other artists succeed. Sheila loves collaborating with other designers and artisans, and has this to say to anyone who has ever wanted to see their own name on a piece of clothing: 

“Anyone can design and construct a garment, you just need the right amount of guidance and motivation. My goal is to help inspire people to create beautiful things. If you are passionate and driven, there is no reason why you cannot be creative every day.”

Knitters are always looking for the perfect colour–or that elusive colour in between the two they have in their stash. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could colour your own yarns using natural dyes?

In this workshop students will learn ways to naturally dye wool yarns. They will also learn how to overdye  wool yarns so that they can coordinate their stash.  Students will learn how to create a palate that is vat-efficient and conserves water.

The class will work through a progressive series of natural dye exercises to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to dye wool for their own knitting projects. Students will learn to dye so that colours are as lightfast and colourfast as possible. When the three days are complete, participants will have produced a sample book of colours on wool, with recipes to guide future work, in addition to having dyed their own projects.

Fibres are provided for this workshop; however, students are welcome to bring up to 200gms of wool from their own stash. Hand-spun wool yarns are also welcome.

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. 

Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. She  has also developed a line of naturally dyed and printed fabrics and has been commissioned by such clients as the city of North Vancouver. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio. 

This workshop will introduce students to the world of woven tapestry. Inspired by textiles from many cultures and traditions, both historical and contemporary, students will learn to build on basic techniques to create both geometric and figurative imagery. Using portable copper-pipe looms and wool yarns dyed with natural dyes, each student will explore slit and weft interlock tapestry techniques to build areas of shapes, shading, and outlines. Students are encouraged to bring photos for inspiration in designing a small tapestry.

Copper-pipe looms will be supplied for use in class, or students may use their own portable tapestry loom. Warp and weft materials as well as loom plans will be supplied.

Elaine Duncan has been interested in weaving since she took her first course in 1969. In university she received both her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Textiles.  She has been weaving tapestry almost exclusively for the past 23 years.  Born and raised in Canada, she currently lives in a casita in Lo de Marcos, Mexico where she shares her knowledge and love of textiles, plays with natural dyes, and immerses herself in the rich culture of the country.     

In this workshop students will turn their pattern-drafting skills to custom-fit a pair of trousers. Pants and trousers, especially on women, are a test of the pattern drafter’s skill. It is a rare instructor that can lead students through the complete process with full consideration of how altering one measurement will impact every aspect of the garment. Fortunately students will be in the capable hands of Sheila Wong whose infectious enthusiasm for pattern-drafting is communicated to the class.

Students will begin with measurements and the creation of a trouser block. A toile (fit sample) will be made, fitted, and adjusted as needed. From here the class will progress to patterndraft fly zippers, slash pockets, waistbands, belt loops, and a variety of seams. Students will learn to create professional patterns with grain-lines, titles, notches, and darts. From patterns, students will move to constructing a pair of trousers.

This is a seven-day class, broken into two sessions. There is a generous break after the first session, during which students will be expected to work on projects. They will benefit from bringing  work and questions back to the final stage of the workshop.

This is an advanced workshop. Students must have already taken the Pattern-Drafting: Make Your Own Blocks workshop or have a strong understanding of patterns. It is not necessary to have experience with pants.

Students are encouraged to bring and learn on their own machines (this workshop requires a working zipper foot). In situations where this is not possible, Maiwa has a limited number of machines that can be reserved prior to the workshop. Basic supplies will be provided; however students will be required to purchase materials (fabric, interfacing, zipper, matching thread, and hardware). A supply list will be given at registration with woven fabric recommendations.

The fashion industry thrives on creativity, diversity and innovation. 

The same 3 concepts can be used to describe Sheila Wong Fashion Design Studio, or SWFDS as it is more commonly known in the Vancouver fashion circuit. The company, founded by Sheila Wong, who herself is a walking example of diversity (being French-Chinese Canadian), helps develop all aspects of fashion design, whether it be skills, creativity, marketing or simply making the numbers work.

Sheila Wong started showing interest in design at a very young age. While other teenagers aspired to be models on a runway, she was much more interested in the garments and accessories that made the models shine.  At the age of 18 she started her first company designing outfits and managing dance performers at music festivals in her home town of Calgary, Alberta. She knew she had found her passion the first time she saw her designs showcased in front of a large energetic crowd.

But ideas and talent don’t always guarantee success, so Sheila made sure she was ready to tackle whatever obstacles the industry might have. She first completed a Bachelors of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship Degree at Mount Royal University, with a focus on International Business. She then went on to obtain her Fashion Design Diploma from Vancouver’s own Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Center. It was here that she fine tuned her skills and developed her ideas. Her time at Blanche Macdonald allowed her to shine in front of her peers and industry professionals, earning her the Design Portfolio of the Year award. After years of making sure she had the education to support her goals, she sought real-world experience, taking on positions like Studio Assistant at the Fashion Exchange building, Production Manager at clothing retailer Aritzia, and even instructing at Blanche Macdonald Fashion Center and Vancouver Community College in the Fashion Design programs. 

What truly makes Sheila Wong stand out in the industry, however, is her desire to help other artists succeed. Sheila loves collaborating with other designers and artisans, and has this to say to anyone who has ever wanted to see their own name on a piece of clothing: 

“Anyone can design and construct a garment, you just need the right amount of guidance and motivation. My goal is to help inspire people to create beautiful things. If you are passionate and driven, there is no reason why you cannot be creative every day.”

Autumn leaves lifted from the rain-spattered sidewalk often leave a print behind. When collecting produce from the garden,  one often encounters a range of colours held within flowers, leaves, roots, and stalks. The chromatic potential of what lies just beyond our front door provides a jumping-off point to consider options for contact printing, pressing, steaming, and immersion dyeing.

In this three-day exploratory workshop, students will learn techniques that can be used to investigate the colourful world hidden in the plants around them. Techniques such as direct printing, hammering, and steaming will be combined with the fundamentals of natural dye chemistry so that students gain an understanding of how colour is held in plant matter and under what conditions it may be transferred to fabric. Students will learn about mordants and tannins and substantive dyes (dyes which do not require a mordant). The workshop will conclude with indigo overdyeing and some special tricks that can be used to add focus to contact prints.

The emphasis will be on guiding student intuition and providing a range of methods that can be used to investigate any environment for colouring matter.

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. 

Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. She  has also developed a line of naturally dyed and printed fabrics and has been commissioned by such clients as the city of North Vancouver. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio. 

Charllotte Kwon’s passionate study of natural dyeing techniques has led her to visit and work with traditional artisan cultures around the world. In this new expanded version of her very popular workshop, she and her daughter Sophena will teach a full study of natural dyes and then take this knowledge even further with direct application techniques such as thickening, printing, and painting.

In this six-day workshop students will be introduced to natural dyes and the cultures that use them. The class will gain an in-depth understanding of mordants and tannins and work with some of the most famous colourants in the world: from madder reds to cochineal and lac insect dyes to the intense browns, yellows, and golds obtained from petals, barks, leaves, and roots. A complete day is given over to indigo, perhaps the most magical and singular dyestuff. Students work with a variety of vats and explore the potential of shaped-resist techniques.

As with Charllotte’s other class, the goal is accomplished dyeing at a professional level. The workshop will move through the creation of more than 80 colour samples on a variety of fibres using both cloth and yarns. The direct application component gives students the opportunity to experiment with the interplay of dyes, mordants, and tannins in a way that is not possible with straight immersion dyeing.

This is a practical workshop which requires lifting dyepots. As we like to put it: if you can get your suitcase on an international flight—you should be fine.

Charllotte Kwon is the owner of Maiwa Handprints Ltd. and the director of the Maiwa Foundation. Through Maiwa, Charllotte also runs a textile archive and research library located on Granville Island. Under her direction Maiwa has produced four documentary films and a number of print publications. She also guides Maiwa’s substantial web presence.

Charllotte travels extensively each year to research handcraft and to supplement her natural-dye research. Always looking to extend natural dye use, she also teaches dyeing workshops with artisans around the world and has planned a series of natural dye master classes to bring exceptional practising artisans together.

Sophena Kwon has grown up with Maiwa as the family business. In 2009 she studied with Michel Garcia in France; in 2010 and 2011 she assisted with natural dye workshops in Peru and India. In 2013 Sophena assisted in natural dye troubleshooting at the Living Blue Cooperative in Bangladesh. Since 2012 she has been co-teaching with Charllotte Kwon and has helped deliver workshops at the Canandaigua, the Penland School of Craft, and Shakerag. In 2015, in an effort to bring artisan dyeing to a new audience she founded the very successful Indigo Social.

Some of the most famous textiles in the world were created by stamping fabric with wooden blocks. Maiwa works with artisans of three distinct blockprinting traditions: the intense geometric complexity of ajrakh, the folk-art patterns of dabu, and the intricate line-work of kalimkari.

In this workshop students will learn how to create their own blockprints working with fabric paints and a versatile medium known as “speedy-cut.” The class will design and cut their own blocks, learn the techniques to create and register complex patterns with sets of blocks, and experiment with the combination of repeat pattern and embellishment. A selection of Maiwa’s wooden blocks from India will be made available to students (both to use and for inspiration).

In addition to creating their own blocks, students will complete a project and a comprehensive and informative reference book filled with creative ideas and samples. All materials and supplies for blockprinting will be provided. In addition, participants are invited to bring their own fabrics from home to experiment with.

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. 

Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. She  has also developed a line of naturally dyed and printed fabrics and has been commissioned by such clients as the city of North Vancouver. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio. 

This class will provide a comprehensive understanding of resist as a vital element of surface design. Students will learn the proper methods for manipulating colour and fabric, the advantages each resist has, and what effects may be achieved.

Students will work with fibre-reactive dyes, fabric paints, discharge agents, and water-based paste resists (including flour paste, potato starch, corn dextrin, and devoré). Students will also study a variety of pre-made resists such as wax emulsion, Presist, Sabra-silk, gutta, glue gels, and puff pigments (used to greate puckered effects).

Time will also be spent on crackling effects and the creative potential of such techniques as stenciling, direct hand-painting, block printing, silk screening, and tjanting. Finally students will study a range of bound-resist techniques including pole wrapping, clamped resist, and stitch resist.

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. 

Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. She  has also developed a line of naturally dyed and printed fabrics and has been commissioned by such clients as the city of North Vancouver. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio. 

In architectural terms, pattern blocks are the foundation for all garment construction. In this advanced, five-day class, students will learn how to manipulate and alter a basic set of dress blocks (bodice, skirt, and sleeve) through flat-pattern drafting techniques. Students will learn dart manipulation, sleeve variations, skirt variations, neckline and collar variations, as well as techniques to add fullness such as pleats and tucks.

This workshop provides a level of advancement for both the clothing designer and artisan working in garment construction.

This is an advanced workshop. Students must have taken the Pattern-Drafting: Make Your Own Block course (previously called Pattern-Drafting: Pattern Blocks) or they must have experience sewing a number of completed garments on their own. Students will be required to bring some basic supplies. A supply list will be provided at registration.

The fashion industry thrives on creativity, diversity and innovation.

The same 3 concepts can be used to describe Sheila Wong Fashion Design Studio, or SWFDS as it is more commonly known in the Vancouver fashion circuit. The company, founded by Sheila Wong, who herself is a walking example of diversity (being French-Chinese Canadian), helps develop all aspects of fashion design, whether it be skills, creativity, marketing or simply making the numbers work.

Sheila Wong started showing interest in design at a very young age. While other teenagers aspired to be models on a runway, she was much more interested in the garments and accessories that made the models shine.  At the age of 18 she started her first company designing outfits and managing dance performers at music festivals in her home town of Calgary, Alberta. She knew she had found her passion the first time she saw her designs showcased in front of a large energetic crowd.

But ideas and talent don’t always guarantee success, so Sheila made sure she was ready to tackle whatever obstacles the industry might have. She first completed a Bachelors of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship Degree at Mount Royal University, with a focus on International Business. She then went on to obtain her Fashion Design Diploma from Vancouver’s own Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Center. It was here that she fine tuned her skills and developed her ideas. Her time at Blanche Macdonald allowed her to shine in front of her peers and industry professionals, earning her the Design Portfolio of the Year award. After years of making sure she had the education to support her goals, she sought real-world experience, taking on positions like Studio Assistant at the Fashion Exchange building, Production Manager at clothing retailer Aritzia, and even instructing at Blanche Macdonald Fashion Center and Vancouver Community College in the Fashion Design programs. 

What truly makes Sheila Wong stand out in the industry, however, is her desire to help other artists succeed. Sheila loves collaborating with other designers and artisans, and has this to say to anyone who has ever wanted to see their own name on a piece of clothing: 

“Anyone can design and construct a garment, you just need the right amount of guidance and motivation. My goal is to help inspire people to create beautiful things. If you are passionate and driven, there is no reason why you cannot be creative every day.”

This two-day project-based workshop will introduce students to shibori and indigo blue. When these two techniques are combined, the results are some of the most immediate and creative textiles imaginable.

Working with organic cotton napkins, a large organic cotton gauze shawl, and a Japanese cotton table runner, students will learn shaped-resist pattern techniques such as stitched shibori and itajimi shibori (clamp resist). Students will be guided through the procedure for making an indigo vat (using natural indigo) before dyeing the prepared cloths.

The excitement of removing an item from the indigo dye-bath is matched only by the revelation of the final pattern. Students will leave the workshop with their completed projects and a knowledge of how to prepare their own indigo vats for future projects.

Danielle Bush is the manager of Maiwa Supply. Her career in textiles began with sewing and fashion studies at the University of the Fraser Valley. Upon completing courses in design, drawing, drafting, and construction, she was accepted to Maiwa Handprints to do a week-long practicum in the textiles collection. In her words, “It changed my life.” 

Since 2011 Danielle has developed and taught workshops for the Maiwa Textile Symposium.  In 2009 Danielle represented Maiwa at the International Shibori Conference held in France and in 2011 she was a facilitator for the Maiwa Natural Dye Master Class taught by Michel Garcia in Bengal, India. Danielle has a deep understanding and aptitude for dye techniques and creative process. Together with Sophena Kwon, Danielle travels to India each year where she helps manage the Maiwa studio.

Sophena Kwon has grown up with Maiwa as the family business. In 2009 she studied with Michel Garcia in France; in 2010 and 2011 she assisted with natural dye workshops in Peru and India. In 2013 Sophena assisted in natural dye troubleshooting at the Living Blue Cooperative in Bangladesh. Since 2012 she has been co-teaching with Charllotte Kwon and has helped deliver workshops at the Canandaigua, the Penland School of Craft, and Shakerag. In 2015, in an effort to bring artisan dyeing to a new audience she founded the very successful Indigo Social.

The transitional space between order and chaos is fruitful territory for artistic exploration. A pure substance is one that is uniform throughout–one that lacks impurities. Such substances are, surprisingly, the starting point to create unexpected patterns.

In this workshop students will discover how pure substances can come together in unexpected ways. The delight in the unexpected is a big part of this workshop, and students will gain much from a series of “aha” moments.

The class will work with a special selection of natural dyes: tannins, indigo, and rust (oxides of metals such as iron and copper). Using both contact printing and immersion dyeing, students will explore ways to drive the print process in different directions or to limit its intensity. Once mastered, these techniques may be used as a starting point for further surface design or as an embellishment that adds character and depth to finished work. The unpredictable element is the key to these techniques: creation of a new print is always an adventure. 

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. 

Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. She  has also developed a line of naturally dyed and printed fabrics and has been commissioned by such clients as the city of North Vancouver. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio. 

Are you a textile enthusiast wanting to add stitch for embellishment? If so, this is the workshop you won’t want to miss. The stitches you’ll learn are those known across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. They have passed between families and persisted for generations.

This fast-paced workshop will introduce a long list of traditional embroidery stitches. As the class progresses, emphasis will shift to variations and combinations of these stitches, with experimentation leading to a means of personal expression. For those interested in shisha mirror work, we will study the art of attaching mirrors to fabric with thread.

Threads will be available in a variety of weights and textures. A variety of background materials will also be available to try. The class will make small samples that can be placed in a book along with documentation for future reference. Students will leave the workshop with the confidence to add embellishment to their work and to create textures and patterns allowing for self-expression in thread.

Bonnie Adie is inspired by the dialogue between traditional and contemporary embroidery techniques. She is also captivated by the potential dynamics of thread textures and backgrounds. Bonnie has completed the City and Guilds of London Creative Embroidery and Design course presented by Julia Caprara and the Opus School of Textiles as well as several courses with national and international tutors.

Her work has been exhibited in various galleries in British Columbia, England, and the United States. She is involved with the North Shore Needle Arts Guild and the Vancouver Guild of Fibre Arts and assisted in forming Arrowsmith Needle Arts. Bonnie is also a past member and treasurer of fibreEssence.

The original hooked rugs were a matter of thrift. Yet they left a legacy rich in personal history and storytelling.

In this two-day workshop, students learn the basic rug-hooking and finishing techniques needed to make their own hand-hooked rugs and accessories. The class will hand-hook fabric strips onto a linen backing.

Each student receives one-on-one attention from the instructor. Students may select from one of three designs provided by the instructor or are welcome to create their own. They will leave the workshop with a completed, hand-hooked, 20 cm x 20 cm sampler. Topics covered in the workshop include fabric selection, backing, the sourcing of supplies, and the history of hand-hooked rugs in Canada.

This two-day workshop is ideal for those who are beginners as well as those who have not hooked in awhile and want to refresh their skills.

Michelle Sirois-Silver is a McGown-certified instructor who teaches rug-hooking workshops on design and colour planning in Canada and the United States.

Her work has been exhibited at fibreEssence, Contemporary Craft in BC, Surface Design Traveling Exhibition, FibreWorks Gallery, Convergence, Gibsons Fibre Arts Festival, and the Silk Purse Arts Centre. She has a Creative Arts Diploma from Vanier College, a BA Specialization in Communications from Concordia University, and a Public Relations Certificate from the University of Toronto. She studied colour theory with Michele Wipplinger and at BC Open University. Ms. Sirois-Silver first began teaching rug-hooking in 1998 and formed Big Dog Hooked Rug Designs in 2004. 

www.michellesirois-silver.com

While it may not be true that the apron makes the artisan, in this workshop it certainly is true that the artisan makes the apron.

Beginning with a sewing class led by Sheila Wong, students will spend the first day creating a linen apron. Consideration is given to all fibres used in the garment for effective dyeing.  On the second day the class is led by Sophena Kwon, who will instruct students on how to apply shaped-resist patterning techniques to their completed apron. Students will then make an indigo vat and the prepared apron will be immersion-dyed with indigo.

The Indigo Apron is a great opportunity to complete a project-based workshop with two of our most dynamic and energetic instructors.

For the first day of this workshop, students will require a sewing machine. Students are encouraged to bring and learn on their own machines. In situations where this is not possible, Maiwa has a limited number of machines that can be reserved prior to the workshop.

Sophena Kwon has grown up with Maiwa as the family business. In 2009 she studied with Michel Garcia in France; in 2010 and 2011 she assisted with natural dye workshops in Peru and India. In 2013 Sophena assisted in natural dye troubleshooting at the Living Blue Cooperative in Bangladesh. Since 2012 she has been co-teaching with Charllotte Kwon and has helped deliver workshops in Canandaigua, the Penland School of Craft, and Shakerag. In 2015, in an effort to bring artisan dyeing to a new audience, she founded the immensely successful Indigo Social.

The fashion industry thrives on creativity, diversity and innovation.

The same 3 concepts can be used to describe Sheila Wong Fashion Design Studio, or SWFDS as it is more commonly known in the Vancouver fashion circuit. The company, founded by Sheila Wong, who herself is a walking example of diversity (being French-Chinese Canadian), helps develop all aspects of fashion design, whether it be skills, creativity, marketing or simply making the numbers work.

Sheila Wong started showing interest in design at a very young age. While other teenagers aspired to be models on a runway, she was much more interested in the garments and accessories that made the models shine.  At the age of 18 she started her first company designing outfits and managing dance performers at music festivals in her home town of Calgary, Alberta. She knew she had found her passion the first time she saw her designs showcased in front of a large energetic crowd.

But ideas and talent don’t always guarantee success, so Sheila made sure she was ready to tackle whatever obstacles the industry might have. She first completed a Bachelors of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship Degree at Mount Royal University, with a focus on International Business. She then went on to obtain her Fashion Design Diploma from Vancouver’s own Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Center. It was here that she fine tuned her skills and developed her ideas. Her time at Blanche Macdonald allowed her to shine in front of her peers and industry professionals, earning her the Design Portfolio of the Year award. After years of making sure she had the education to support her goals, she sought real-world experience, taking on positions like Studio Assistant at the Fashion Exchange building, Production Manager at clothing retailer Aritzia, and even instructing at Blanche Macdonald Fashion Center and Vancouver Community College in the Fashion Design programs. 

What truly makes Sheila Wong stand out in the industry, however, is her desire to help other artists succeed. Sheila loves collaborating with other designers and artisans, and has this to say to anyone who has ever wanted to see their own name on a piece of clothing: 

“Anyone can design and construct a garment, you just need the right amount of guidance and motivation. My goal is to help inspire people to create beautiful things. If you are passionate and driven, there is no reason why you cannot be creative every day.”

In this two-day workshop students will work in reverse–from garment to pattern. Often we have a favourite article of clothing and would like to re-create it in another colour or fibre. Students will bring a completed garment and learn how to create a pattern. Suitable starting points include: tops, shorts, pants, dresses, and skirts (basically not complicated or lined garments). The garment will be taken apart–please keep this in mind when choosing. Students will finish the course with a completed pattern to sew at home. This workshop does not involve sewing–it is pure pattern-drafting.

This is an intermediate-level workshop. Students must be competent in the operation of a sewing machine and possess basic sewing skills. It is expected that students will have sewn with commercial patterns prior to the workshop or have knowledge of garment construction. Students will be required to bring some basic supplies. A supply list will be provided at registration. Basic sewing supplies will be provided; however, students are encouraged to bring their own sewing kits.

The fashion industry thrives on creativity, diversity and innovation.

The same 3 concepts can be used to describe Sheila Wong Fashion Design Studio, or SWFDS as it is more commonly known in the Vancouver fashion circuit. The company, founded by Sheila Wong, who herself is a walking example of diversity (being French-Chinese Canadian), helps develop all aspects of fashion design, whether it be skills, creativity, marketing or simply making the numbers work.

Sheila Wong started showing interest in design at a very young age. While other teenagers aspired to be models on a runway, she was much more interested in the garments and accessories that made the models shine.  At the age of 18 she started her first company designing outfits and managing dance performers at music festivals in her home town of Calgary, Alberta. She knew she had found her passion the first time she saw her designs showcased in front of a large energetic crowd.

But ideas and talent don’t always guarantee success, so Sheila made sure she was ready to tackle whatever obstacles the industry might have. She first completed a Bachelors of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship Degree at Mount Royal University, with a focus on International Business. She then went on to obtain her Fashion Design Diploma from Vancouver’s own Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Center. It was here that she fine tuned her skills and developed her ideas. Her time at Blanche Macdonald allowed her to shine in front of her peers and industry professionals, earning her the Design Portfolio of the Year award. After years of making sure she had the education to support her goals, she sought real-world experience, taking on positions like Studio Assistant at the Fashion Exchange building, Production Manager at clothing retailer Aritzia, and even instructing at Blanche Macdonald Fashion Center and Vancouver Community College in the Fashion Design programs. 

What truly makes Sheila Wong stand out in the industry, however, is her desire to help other artists succeed. Sheila loves collaborating with other designers and artisans, and has this to say to anyone who has ever wanted to see their own name on a piece of clothing: 

“Anyone can design and construct a garment, you just need the right amount of guidance and motivation. My goal is to help inspire people to create beautiful things. If you are passionate and driven, there is no reason why you cannot be creative every day.”

Fundamental to the fine arts (oil on canvas, pencil on paper), markmaking enjoys a new vitality when it is considered as a surface design technique in the textile arts. Painterly, graphic, or illustrative effects can be achieved on cloth in a variety of ways, and the transition from traditional “fine arts” to the fibre arts opens up new fields of exploration for the artisan.

In contrast to markmaking, where the trace of the human hand gives the mark its vitality, bringing imagery onto the surface can provide a counterpoint, a foundation, or a map. The tension between imagery (in particular photo-based imagery) and markmaking can be exploited for full creative effect.

In this workshop students will explore both image and markmaking as complementary approaches to surface design. Photo transfer techniques will be used, and methods for using inkjetprinted images on cloth will be surveyed. Students will work on both cloth and paper with a variety of materials including fabric paints and inks. Emphasis will be on exploring effects with a consideration of which combinations of techniques are most effective to achieve student aims.

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. 

Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. She  has also developed a line of naturally dyed and printed fabrics and has been commissioned by such clients as the city of North Vancouver. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio. 

Few things can influence us in the way colour does. Working with our conscious desires or subtly playing off our deeper natures, colour can move our emotions and influence our thoughts.

This workshop will give students a theoretical and creative grounding in working with colour. Classical theories of colour put forth by Newton, Goethe, and Itten will be introduced. The language of colour will be covered, giving a grounding in harmony, value, saturation, and hue.

Students will be led through various exercises to help them observe the effects that colours have on each other, their relativity to the human eye, and the way they respond to different surfaces such as paper and cloth. Students will use various materials such as fabric paints, watercolours, colour crayons, pre-dyed fabric and fleece, and paint chips.

This workshop will provide the tools for students to investigate and analyze the effects of colour, create their own colourways and palettes using inspiration from different directed sources, and develop their senses to better appreciate and work with the chromatic world.

Natalie joins us from BC’s Sunshine Coast.

Instructor Bio

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. 

Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. She  has also developed a line of naturally dyed and printed fabrics and has been commissioned by such clients as the city of North Vancouver. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio. 

Create a set of basic pattern blocks to fit your measurements perfectly. This detailed course will work step by step on how to pattern-draft a bodice, skirt, and sleeve block to make up the basic dress foundation. Students will also test out their blocks by sewing a muslin for fitting.

At the end of the course, students will have drafted their own basic dress foundation which they can alter, fit, and design to their desired style. Creating your blocks with professional guidance makes this course exceptionally rewarding.

Techniques covered include:

- Body measurements and figure analysis.

- Introduction to pattern-drafting by drafting a basic pattern set  for personal use.

- Understanding elements of patterns and marking them appropriately.

- Creating a toile (fit sample) for each block. Learn how to fit and make necessary adjustments.

This is an intermediate-level workshop. Students must be competent in the operation of a sewing machine and possess basic sewing skills. It is expected that students will have sewn with commercial patterns prior to the workshop. Students will be required to bring some basic supplies. A supply list will be provided at registration.

The fashion industry thrives on creativity, diversity and innovation.

The same 3 concepts can be used to describe Sheila Wong Fashion Design Studio, or SWFDS as it is more commonly known in the Vancouver fashion circuit. The company, founded by Sheila Wong, who herself is a walking example of diversity (being French-Chinese Canadian), helps develop all aspects of fashion design, whether it be skills, creativity, marketing or simply making the numbers work.

Sheila Wong started showing interest in design at a very young age. While other teenagers aspired to be models on a runway, she was much more interested in the garments and accessories that made the models shine.  At the age of 18 she started her first company designing outfits and managing dance performers at music festivals in her home town of Calgary, Alberta. She knew she had found her passion the first time she saw her designs showcased in front of a large energetic crowd.

But ideas and talent don’t always guarantee success, so Sheila made sure she was ready to tackle whatever obstacles the industry might have. She first completed a Bachelors of Applied Business and Entrepreneurship Degree at Mount Royal University, with a focus on International Business. She then went on to obtain her Fashion Design Diploma from Vancouver’s own Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design Center. It was here that she fine tuned her skills and developed her ideas. Her time at Blanche Macdonald allowed her to shine in front of her peers and industry professionals, earning her the Design Portfolio of the Year award. After years of making sure she had the education to support her goals, she sought real-world experience, taking on positions like Studio Assistant at the Fashion Exchange building, Production Manager at clothing retailer Aritzia, and even instructing at Blanche Macdonald Fashion Center and Vancouver Community College in the Fashion Design programs. 

What truly makes Sheila Wong stand out in the industry, however, is her desire to help other artists succeed. Sheila loves collaborating with other designers and artisans, and has this to say to anyone who has ever wanted to see their own name on a piece of clothing: 

“Anyone can design and construct a garment, you just need the right amount of guidance and motivation. My goal is to help inspire people to create beautiful things. If you are passionate and driven, there is no reason why you cannot be creative every day.”

The magnificence of indigo blues have thrilled artisans of almost all cultures and times. The transformation of cloth dipped in indigo suggests a potency recognized by craftspeople all over the world. When combined with the many variations of shibori resist techniques the result is blue and white patterning that ranges from simple motifs to elegant three-dimensional pleating.

This highly focused three-day workshop presents the opportunity to connect with traditional artisans through making and maintaining an indigo vat and applying a beautiful array of resist patterns on cotton and silk. Students will work through a variety of shibori methods and will complete the workshop with a finished project on silk. They will work on all-natural fibres using natural indigo.

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. 

Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. She  has also developed a line of naturally dyed and printed fabrics and has been commissioned by such clients as the city of North Vancouver. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio. 

This workshop is one of our most inspiring and creative, so much so that we have students who have taken it more than once. Students come to answer the question: How can creativity be tapped, mined, or made to flow when we need it most? In this original workshop, students will travel on an exploratory adventure, discovering techniques and letting go of assumptions that may hold them back.

The class will provide a wealth of images, sounds, and sensory inspirations. These will be combined with a variety of studies exploring the elements and principles of creative design. Such ideas as balance, symmetry, harmony, contrast, and unity will provide a toolbox that may be opened to understand both what we like about an artwork and what we want to work toward in our own work.

Using collage, image deconstruction, mono-printing, writing, and drawing, students will learn to narrate their stories incorporating personal references and applying design principles. Students will leave the workshop with a creative journal, the beginning of their ongoing artistic journey, as well as a series of small textile art pieces.

Instructor Bio

Natalie Grambow has an extensive background in design, teaching, and textile arts. An accredited Interior Designer, she spent many years in Ottawa working within the architectural design field and teaching Design Theory. Natalie’s first deep exploration of textiles began during her Visual Arts/Photography studies at the University of Ottawa when she experimented with non-silver techniques of transferring photographic imagery onto cloth. She subsequently studied at the École d’Impression Textile à Montréal and later travelled to Asia and Latin America where she spent six months learning to weave with local Mayan weavers in Guatemala. Shortly after completing the Textile Arts program at Capilano College in 2001, she was awarded the BC Craft Association’s Award of Excellence. 

Natalie has exhibited her textile art installations in the Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast. She  has also developed a line of naturally dyed and printed fabrics and has been commissioned by such clients as the city of North Vancouver. Currently living in Roberts Creek, BC, she continues her art practice and studies from her studio.