Crazy apprenticeship goal? Advice please....

[Oswyn Fenecote]

      What I am seeking may be unconventional, but I want to try. Being self-taught, I am lacking certain training that I believe will take me to the next level of my craft. I am working on getting funding for a 6 month hiatus from my mundane office job, where I plan on devoting myself completely unpaid to a company or person who can teach me what  I need to know to move forward. I will be devoting my full time 40+ hours per week to this endeavor, so I am hoping for something intensive and active. I am willing to perform any task that is seen fit for this line of work. I have a lot of experience making things for personal use, but I need training in pattern drafting, draping and speed  etc.  and cannot afford a $50k+ degree.

      I am willing to travel to  another state or city if need be. Does this job exist? If so, I want it! any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated, as always.

[isabelladangelo]

Rather than taking 6 months off the job, why not just go to your community college?   There are several community colleges that teach fashion design and they are a lot cheaper than $50K a year (some are as low as $50 a credit!).  At the end, you could end up with an AA in fashion design - plus you can take your time and still have a full time job. 

[Rowan MacD]

^^what she said^^.
   Sounds like you are wanting to learn the technical stuff, and that's where you would learn the bare bones 'How To' part.  Once you have that down, you can look for someone to mentor you.
   You have plenty of talent and imagination to take it from there.

[isabelladangelo]

These look like they are near you:

http://www.elcentrocollege.edu/programs/fashion-design

http://www.tccd.edu/Courses_and_Programs/Program_Offerings/Fashion_Merchandising.html

It might be a bit of a drive and take a while but it's better to stay fully employed and just take night/weekend courses than take 6 months off.  You need to think realistically about emergencies and how you'll pay for them without  a job.  Sure, you can save up for rent, utilities, and food, but what about when that whack job next to you decides they don't need no freakin' turn signal and just change lanes without informing you...and they don't see you either?  Stay at work, go to school, and, maybe, get an AA in the processes. 

[Oswyn Fenecote]

Thanks for the input ladies!

I agree, it could potentially be a giant  burden if anything were to happen. I think I have just hit a wall with where I am,and where I WANT to be as far as my costuming is concerned, and I've become frustrated. I work from 730a-6p m-fri, so it doesn't leave me much time do do anything once I'm out of there. The classes are a good idea, and I will likely go that route. It's just such a slooooww  process, and I've been trying to make this happen for several years now. There is nothing more frustrating than having MOST of the ability, and being so close to awesome, but faling short at the finishin touches etc. I guess I am just trying to get this show on the road a little quicker than it has been, and I suppose that may not be an option. This cat is ready for a life change!

Thanks so much for the links- I am actually calling them right now for more info.

[Meagan]

I did an unpaid apprenticeship for a lady who made clothing for Civil War reenacting. I can honestly tell you I didn't learn a blessed thing from her. I spent two months sewing day and night, manning the tent by myself while she wandered around the events, babysitting her kids and watching her run the business into the ground.  I didn't know enough at the time to figure out how to find someone with sound business sense willing to take me under their wing and teach their trade.

I did, however, learn about the business. Sewing is actually a quite saturated market. Many people can sew and you have to have something spectacular to stand out. Even then, you don't actually make that much money for how much time you put into it. It is definitely a labor of love. It can actually be hard to find a direct apprenticeship with a reputable person/company because they may hesitate to train their competition. I am not saying you can't. I just don't know how to go about it. 

After two months with the above lady, I quit and went back to college. Through a college program you will also be able to make contacts to get internships and experience. Texas Woman's University (which is a public university, thee are plenty of men on campus) in Denton has a wonderful fashion program. If nothing else, a degree will also give you some business courses. Sewing is the easy part. Coming up with a business plan and selling your wares is much more difficult. I wish you luck with your endeavors.   

Maybe in the meantime you could open an etsy shop?

[CenturiesSewing]

Oswyn what area do you really want to get into? Drafting and draping are general skills but they differ somewhat depending on what field you are wanting to go into. Women's wear vs Men's Tailoring vs swimwear or athletics wear vs industrial made goods vs Costumes for theater and the list goes on.

I have a few links and suggestions but I need more information.

[Oswyn Fenecote]

I reallly really love renaissance and elizabethan costuming, as well as costumes for theatre. I would be happy making this stuff for the rest of my life really. my favourite is court wear, both mens and womens. I am not very fashion minded, but I am art minded with clothing. I am patient enough for beading and embroidery, so that works to my advantage. My problem is that I am a very hands on learner, I ask tons of questions, and I like lots of info, so I have had a hard time with videos etc, especiallly since these costumes are so much different than the clothes people usually make.

Thanks for letting me bounce ideas around

[Lady Kathleen of Olmsted]

Here is a suggestion, perhaps your Local Community Theater is looking for people. Theaters are always calling me up asking me if I would work for FREE! I do this for a living and my time is not for Sale for nothing!

Having worked in the Costume industry for many years designing, making Costumes and Period Clothing for Rental and Contract for local Theaters and Re-Enactors, I was lucky not to have to be an Apprentice to anyone. Yet, I learned more skills as a  bonus to the years I have been sewing prior to that. Doing Alterations on Mundane Clothing since the early 1980's taught me a lot. I am still learning new things with more than 50 years of sewing under my belt.

But in your case, Owen, you are eager to learn more skills that will further your desire to sew. That is important. Learning the History of Clothing and how it was made is also priceless. The suggestions of a Community College courses  on Sewing and Fashion design will take you far. Many of the Instructors should  have FIlm and Theater experience. Be sure to add Period Clothing books to your library. Anything by Janet Arnold is a good place to start.

Good luck.

[CenturiesSewing]

Even with Theatrical Costume you end up specializing and have lots of cross over. But here is a basic book list to get you started. You may have some of these already and other may be available at your local library.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Costume-Technicians-Handbook-3/dp/0325004773/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1366293654&sr=8-2&keywords=costume+designers+handbook The Basics, shop set up, dyes, wigs a little bit of everything

http://www.amazon.com/Costume-Designers-Handbook-Complete-Professional/dp/0435086073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366293792&sr=8-1&keywords=costume+designers+handbook Breaking down scripts and so forth

http://www.amazon.com/Draping-Period-Costumes-Classical-Victorian/dp/0240821335/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366293813&sr=8-1&keywords=costume+draping I don't have this one yet as it is new, but I've heard good things about it. I think it covers men and women's costume.

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Patternmaking-Designers-Womens-Casual/dp/1563673223/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366293918&sr=8-1&keywords=jack+handford Written for people going into pattern making for manufacturing. Very very good book. Cover making blocks and adapting them to many different style, pockets, proper pattern notching, drill holes and so forth. The grading book he wrote is rare as hen's teeth, if you find it (it has an orange cover) snatch it up and share with me. 


http://www.amazon.com/Patterns-Fashion-Construction-Clothes-C-1560-1620/dp/0896760839/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366295224&sr=8-1&keywords=janet+arnold

http://www.amazon.com/Entrepreneurs-Guide-Sewn-Product-Manufacturing/dp/0966320840/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366295319&sr=8-1&keywords=guide+to+sewn+product+manufacturing Geared more toward setting up your own line, but still very useful.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Tudor-Tailor-Reconstructing-Sixteenth-Century/dp/0896762556/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366297320&sr=8-1&keywords=Tudor+Tailor

Blogs

http://atailormadeit.blogspot.com/

http://www.englishcut.com/

http://tuttofattoamano.blogspot.com/ Want to know what the inside of a high end brand looks like? This tailor has photos, very similar to doublets in some ways.

[gem]

To add to Centuries's blog links, Fashion Incubator is a great resource for tutorials on how things are done in the fashion/garment industry--which can differ a lot from how individual sewers tend to work. You will learn a ton here--and even if you don't learn so much about technique, you'll pick up a great knowledge base on other aspects of the craft and business.

Are you familiar with Pattern Review? It's a large (HUGE!) sewing message board similar to this one--but for all aspects of sewing. In addition to the forum (which probably has the largest population of highly knowledgeable people I know of, on any subject anywhere), there are online classes, plus a ton of articles, reviews, and other information.

I've also heard excellent things about the online courses offered at Craftsy. (From the folks at Pattern Review!)