How do I Choose the Best Textile Class?

Textile class provides instruction on the use of a range of materials. Understanding the different materials and their treatments and issues is very important for careers as a fashion designer, stylist, or seamstress. There are three different ways to find textile classes: as part of a fashion design or interior design program at the college level, through a specialized fashion institute, or from a community center. Selecting the best textile class for you depends on your long term goals and current skill level.

The level of textile classes varies quite widely, depending on the institute and its target audience. Read the course description carefully, and make sure it provides the appropriate level of detail for your needs. If you are taking a textile class as part of a diploma program, make sure the course is appropriate and will be accepted for credit by the institute. People taking a textile class for personal interest should make sure they have the background necessary to understand all the concepts being presented. This will ensure the experience is an enjoyable one.

As a fashion designer or stylist, it is important to be intimately familiar with the different textiles. The selection of the material is a very important part of the overall finished product. The design process typically starts with a design drawing. Once the correct design is finalized, the material must be selected and a prototype sewn. It is very common to change the materials multiple times during this process, until the perfect combination is found.

Textile classes should be taught by qualified instructors. In many programs or courses, the bulk of the material is taught by a fashion designer and a guest lecturer from a textile mill is brought in to provide detailed information on how the different products are made. Take advantage of this opportunity to further your understanding of how different products are made, treated, and altered. This is essential to designing clothing that moves as expected.

At the community center level, the classes are typically eight to 10 weeks in length, providing an opportunity to meet other people who also enjoy sewing. Learning how to work with different materials and incorporate them into designs is a process that requires a great deal of creativity. Many community centers offer beginner, intermediate, and advance classes. These options ensure that students with the similar level of experience are in the same class.