Classes Past

Coming later in 2022

Covered Buckram Bonnets (Three sessions)

Millinery Basics- Wire Tiaras (one session)

Bridal Headpieces (one session)

Millinery Basics; Blocking techniques Felt Bodies (two sessions)

Millinery Basics: Blocking Techniques for Straw Bodies (two sessions)



Improvising Hat Blocks ~ one session ~ Three Hours ~ $75
https://denisewallacespriggs.com/improvising-hat-blocks/(opens in a new tab)

From Feather To Plume ~ one session ~ Three Hours ~ $75
https://denisewallacespriggs.com/upcoming-class/(opens in a new tab)

Top Hat Tuesdays in zoom

This is an intermediate/advanced level class

July 12, 19, & 26, in zoom 3 -6pm ETZ ( 3 sessions, hours of instruction $450)
https://denisewallacespriggs.com/upcoming-class-top-hat-tuesdays/(opens in a new tab)


“Let’s Make” Series

November 20: Millinery basics- Patterning for milliners (one 3 hour session) 

December 4 and 11: Millinery Basics- Cut & Sew Cloche (two 3 hour sessions)

January 8 and 15: Millinery Basics-intro to Buckram (Two, three hour Sessions) 

Registration for this class has closed

March 2021

Do you want to learn more about working with wire for millinery? I am teaming up with the Fuller Craft Museum to teach a live zoom class!

Wire Hats and Headpieces: Millinery Techniques
Saturdays, March 6 – 20

A wire headpieces with red and yellow flowers on a form.
This class has ended

Using millinery and wrapping wires, students will learn to plan and execute a design for a headpiece or small hat. Using craft paper, you will learn to pattern and make a “map” of your design. You will shape the wire and trim the piece with beads, ribbons, flowers, or anything that your imagination can dream up. There will be three class meetings, and time at home to complete each step. Instructor will provide feedback in class.

Materials List: Available here

6-hour live Zoom instruction, three meetings

First Session to pattern, and demonstrate joining techniques. send off with homework. (2.5 hours)

Second Session: Students will work through any questions from the first session. Instructor will answer individual questions and the class will move on to How to add trim and decoration. (2.5hours)

Third Session to meet and show projects and resolve any last questions. (1 hour)

Saturdays: March 6 – 20, 2021 / 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm

  • Level: Suitable for all levels
  • Student Age Group: adults, older teens
  • Class size: Minimum 6 / Maximum 12
    Fees: Members $135 / Nonmembers $155

THIS IS AN ONLINE CLASS. A Zoom link will be delivered to you upon confirmation of registration. You must have Zoom installed on your computer or device to attend this workshop.

Please note, confirmation emails with detailed information may sometimes end up in your junk mail or spam folder.About the Instructor: Denise Wallace-Spriggs is the Costume Crafts Artisan at the Tony Award winning Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, and has served in this role for 30 years. Her duties include working with designers to bring their designs to the stage. She creates parts of costumes such as armor, belts, jewelry, leather work and body padding; but her specialty is millinery.
Denise has taught millinery, and fabric dyeing and modification in the Boston University School of Theatre for over 25 years. She regularly offers workshops at other colleges and craft schools in the area as well as privately in her studio in Stoughton, MA.

Wire Hats and Headpieces: Millinery TechniquesSaturdays, March 6 – 20

February 2021

Coming soon: Sunday Feb. 21 6pm EST, in the USA (Simultaneously at 10am in Melbourne Feb. 22)

Only $45 AUD/ which is $35 USD for this live event

Live Webinar: How to make a Wire Boater

An opportunity to to engage with two milliners from different points of view, Waltraud Reiner of The Hatmobile approaches the topic from the fashion millinery angle, while I come from theatrical millinery. In this Live webinar we will present techniques and procedures for making a frame of a wire boater hat. These techniques can be applied to many different styles and shapes, all you need is imagination.

Here is the link to register for the live event:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a_lFZSi9SD-RHGU4mXKrAQ

 If you are in a tricky timezone, register for the live event and a link will be sent to you.  This link will be active for 24 hours.

If you miss it live, not to worry, you can purchase access to the video afterward, and watch it over and over

Survey

This Survey is now closed.  Thank you for your interest.  If you’d like, you can email Denise anytime and let her know what you are interested in learning.

Survey Link Below:

unfortunately, we are still trying to figure out how to make this work on your mobile devices… for now, you can use a laptop or Desktop computer.

Would you like to take this survey? We here at DWS are working on some online class offerings and we would love your input. Click the link to take the survey

 

Workshops and Private Tutoring in Millinery, Dyeing, and Theatrical Crafts

Denise has over 30 years of teaching experience in the craft of millinery and is on the faculty at Boston University in the School of Theatre. She is also the Crafts Artisan at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston and does freelance work for designers on Broadway and around the country.

She publishes a calendar (on this page) of workshops to be given in her studio in Stoughton, MA.

Please contact her for private tutoring.

2020 Workshops , Classes, and Talks

Due to the outbreak of COVID 19, DWS Millinery will not be offering in person classes at this time.  Stay tuned while we try our best to work on some video tutorials!

Remember, Keep making things, Stay at home and Wash your HANDS!!!

Facebook live on Friday April 24, at 3pm

Live #2 pdf

Summer 2020

If all things are back to normal by August… I hope you can join me for what will be an amazing exploration of materials.

eliot school flyer jpg

Make a hat that’s the right shape and fit for you, blocking straw bodies (the type used by professional milliners) and working with straw millinery braid. Combine these techniques and materials with some familiar fabric sewing ideas to make new combinations and create lively summer hats. All levels welcome. Limit 8 students

https://eliotschool.org/classes/summer-straw-hats-1m20

MARCH 2020   CANCELLATION

Due to an abundance of caution and concern for our community, the Eliot School of Fine and Applied Arts has decided to suspend classes and workshops for the rest of the Winter Term.  I hope to offer this class in the future.  let me know what you think!

Stay healthy out there folks!

Eliot  March Turbans 2020-canceled.jpeg

Some ideas and samples for the Head wraps and Headbands class:

D038C802-A09E-4481-886A-C5B8AFEEA537.jpeg

Using draping techniques with fabrics, create a comfortable and stylish turban, head-wrap or headband. Prerequisite: Basic knowledge of a sewing machine. Limit 7 students

https://eliotschool.org/classes/millinery-techniques-draping-head-wraps-headbands-1w20

Past Classes and Workshops

2019 Workshops, Classes and Talks

to be announced

Please feel free to contact Denise to be put on the mailing list.

2018 Workshops, Classes and Talks

flyer- Summer workshops DWS full
Straw millinery workshop- for beginners promo copy

Visiting Workshops

Over the past year, she has taught workshops at UMass Boston,  UMass Amherst, BYU, Towson University, KCACTF Region 1 Festival, CCRI,  and workshops and Intensives at the Eliot School in Jamaica Plain.

Lectures and Talks

Saturday, March 10, 3:00 PM 2018

249 A St (5.95 mi)
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
unnamed
gallery 249 final

http://www.249astreetcoop.com/


The Eliot School of Fine & Applied Art:
Making Hats!
April 15 @ 3:00pm, 2018
Loring-Greenough House 12 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
RSVP:making-hats.eventbrite.com

making hats

 

Huntington Theatre costumier and Eliot School of Fine & Applied Arts millinery instructor Denise Wallace-Spriggs talks about making hats for theater and fashion, and shows examples of her charming craft. Afterward, walk together across the street to Salmagundi for a special visit to this premiere hat shop and their hidden hat-making workshop. Suggested Donation: $5 or more.

http://www.bostondesignweek.com/april15