Crafting shirts with Jane McCann and Sirpa Mörsky

Associated with the ‘Wool Works’ exhibition which opens at Craft NI Gallery on July 7, this workshop will be lead by Jane McCann together with visiting practitioner Sirpa Mörsky from Finland.

The focus of this workshop will be on shirts – to produce garment shapes from a basic shirt block for on-going development that may be:

• Enduring style as opposed to transient fast fashion
• Adaptable to different end uses from casual workwear to the exotic
• Ageless and inclusive: Sized to the style preference of the wearer
• Offering potential for embellishment and personalisation
• Suitable for domestic machine sewing – or potentially hand sewn.

Pattern style adaption: 

Introduction to practical pattern block adaptation for a range of styles:

For example, adaptation can: Elongate / Crop / Gather / Flare etc.

Typical adaptations may include: Workwear Jacket/ Smock/ Shirt Dress.

Guidance on fabric selection and potential for embellishment and personalisation

Brief reference to methods of  joining of seams

Equipment:

Please bring: 2 / 3 metres calico

Please select light, medium or heavy weight calico dependent on style preference to be developed. (NB: Medium weight calico will be available for participants to buy if necessary)

• Set square – if available and/or  Ruler – if available
• Pattern Tracing Wheel – would be helpful!
• Tape measure
• Pencils (Soft and Hard) and Pencil sharpener
• Rubber
• Paper scissors and Fabric scissors
• Pins, Needles, and thread

Participants: (Maximum 4) (Not suitable for under 16)

Those with a love of timeless clothing, with an interest in textiles and simple shirts/ workwear and some basic experience in sewing / making.

Please note: the cost of he workshop does not include calico, this will be extra if buying from host; please bring a packed lunch: coffee and tea will be provided.

About Wool Works:

‘Wool Works’ is an exhibition of contemporary textile design spearheaded by co. Down professor Jane McCann. The Northern Irish textile expert brought together Welsh, Finnish and Northern Irish textile artists who have been working together since 2001. 

The theme of the exhibition is wool and the way traditional motifs and techniques can be reinterpreted in a contemporary setting, embracing links between the cultural heritages of Wales, Ireland and Finland. The exhibits include unique hand-woven tapestries, woollen blankets, framed textile art, one-of-a-kind accessories and garments such as Irish style workwear jackets or house coats (with some of these unique pieces available for sale), and highlight techniques such as felting, free stitching, digital embroidery, knitting, hand weaving and plant dying.

Participating makers have used sustainable materials such as Cambrian and Finnish wool, indigo dyed Merino wool, Irish bainin tweed and Donegal yarns in the works. Professor McCann is passionate about the potential of wool and an advocate of its increasing use in the textile industry. She believes that this unique material deserves to be celebrated and highlighted alongside linen and other sustainable textiles.

Come along to:

Booking:

To book please contact jane.mccann47@gmail.com.

Social Media Links and Contacts:

Event page

If you have any questions contact the team at info@craftni.org