"Susan Khalje is a beloved teacher, both on TV and face-to-face. Students from her Couture Sewing School describe the experience as life changing. Her action-packed six-day Couture Sewing School and Classic French Jacket classes are featured at locations throughout the country. Every November Susan conducts an "Elegant , inspirational, and educational" nine-day small group Couture Tour of Paris that includes visits to couture drapers and patternmakers, fabric shopping at exclusive Paris resources and a full day of instruction at the House of Lesage...."

Marcy Tilton
VoguePatterns Magazine, March 2006

Dear Sewing Enthusiast,

Do you want to raise your sewing skills to a whole new level? Do you want to interact with people who share your enthusiasm and passion for your art? Do you want to be inspired? Do you want to grow?

... then the Couture Sewing School is for you!

I'd like to quote a letter I received the other day from a student who attended one of this past October's sessions:

"Thank you for an aesthetically inspiring, gracious, supportive, warm, skill-packed and wonderful experiece. That was a very special week, made possible by an incredible instructor!"

M.K., San Francisco
At the Couture Sewing School, you'll spend a week with kindred spirits, and while there, your confidence will soar, your skills will multiply, and I promise you'll be a different - and better - sewer at the end of our time together.

You'll spend an action-packed six days learning, growing and sharing. You'll learn from me, and you'll learn from each other as the beautiful creations you're working on take shape.

Join me for a week that will transform you - you'll think about your sewing in wonderful new ways. I guarantee it!

Sincerely yours,

Susan Khalje

SESSIONS AVAILABLE:

    The Draping Classes
    Fall, 2008: Dates & Locations to be announced [link]
 
    Classic French Jacket Classes
    June 9-14, 2008: Chicago, IL
    September 29-October 4, 2008: St. Louis, MO
 
    Couture Sewing School Classes
    May 5-10, 2008: San Francisco, CA
    June 2-7, 2008: Chicago, IL
    July 14-19, 2008: San Francisco, CA
    August 4-9, 2008: Denver, CO
    September 8-13, 2008: Baltimore, MD
 
    The Corset Class
    May 12-15, 2008: San Francisco, CA
 
    The Couture Skirts Class
    July 9-12, 2008: Sacramento, CA
 
    Couture Tour to Paris
    November 9-17, 2008: Paris, France [link]
 
    Other Events
    October 9-12, 2008 Sewing Getaway in Orlando with Louise Cutting
Note: For information on the July and October events, contact Susan Khalje

Please contact Susan Khalje if you would like to arrange a class in your area.

Learn the fine art of couture sewing from couturière Susan Khalje.

In the Couture Sewing School, 6 intensive days are devoted to creating your one-of-a-kind garment - it can be evening wear, a wedding gown, or sophisticated day wear. It can be for yourself, a client, a friend, or a sample. The Classic French Jacket Class, which also lasts 6 days, will use special couture techniques to create a fitted jacket; it will be subtly quilted and finished with the trims, pockets and buttons which make these jackets so unique and timelessly stylish. The Corset Class [pictures] lasts 4 days, and provides a wonderful opportunity to create a timeless vintage-inspired garment and enhance it with couture finishing details. The Couture Skirts Class also lasts 4 days, and our focus will be to apply a wide range of couture techniques – both basics and fine details – to skirts.

During your couture session, you will plan, buy the fabric for, and sew your creations. You will incorporate into your project the couture techniques and details that go into Susan Khalje’s exquisite garments.

Professional dressmakers and others with solid sewing skills and a passion for learning will benefit from this excellent course, and from the camaraderie of working with fellow skilled sewers. Classes are small to allow for individual attention. In addition to teaching couture techniques, Susan operates her own successful couture business, and she will share her business expertise with Couture Sewing School participants.

 

Each session will include a shopping trip so that you can purchase fabrics and related materials for your project if you have not done so prior to class. In Baltimore, we will go to G Street Fabrics in nearby Rockville, Maryland. In San Francisco, we will visit Britex Fabrics.

Couture Sewing School students will:

  • fine-tune the fit of the muslin and adapt it for project use
  • assemble notebooks for your notes, handouts and the couture samples that you will make in class (handouts include Susan's personal Resource List)
  • choose and work with appropriate underlinings and linings
  • learn expert techniques for difficult fabrics, including lace
  • master boning and support techniques
  • take a close look at a number of Susan Khalje's garments
  • spend an evening discussing business issues, including advertising, pricing, public relations, business growth and related professional organizations
  • and most important of all, construct your garment using couture techniques under Susan Khalje's close supervision.
Classic French Jacket students will:
  • fine-tune the fit of the muslin
  • adapt their sleeve pattern to allow for better placket placement
  • learn special haute couture construction techniques that are specific to these jackets
  • learn to apply the trims, decorative buttons and pockets that are essential components of these classic jackets
  • examine a number of Susan Khalje's jackets
  • and most important of all, construct your jacket under Susan Khalje's close supervision.
Corset Class students will:
  • choose from a variety of period corset patterns and make a muslin of their selected design
  • create a muslin and fine-tune its fit
  • construct your own corset(s) under Susan's supervision, incorporating the couture techniques for which she is known
  • examine a number of corsets that Susan has made.
Couture Skirt Class students will:
  • construct a muslin of their chosen skirt
  • be fitted by Susan
  • construct their skirt, which will be underlined and lined, under Susan's supervision
  • learn couture construction techniques specific to skirts, including closures, waistbands and hems.

Fees:

The Couture Sewing School
       $995, which includes 6 full days of instruction and one evening session.

The Classic French Jacket Class
       $995, which includes 6 full days of instruction.

The Corset Class and The Couture Skirts Class
       $695, which includes 4 full days of instruction

For more information, please Email or call Susan Khalje at (410) 592-5711.

Home Couture Sewing Seminars Couture Sewing Photos Student Garment Gallery
The Draping Classes Paris Tour Paris Photos Testimonials Books About Susan Khalje FAQ


Contact Susan by Email
Couture Sewing School - Box 51, Hydes, MD 21082
Phone (410) 592-5711 • Fax (410) 592-6913