Facebook Email Pinterest Twitter Instagram Tiktok Icon YouTube Icon Headphones Icon Favorite Navigation Search Icon Forum Search Icon Main Search Icon Close Icon Video Play Icon Indicator Arrow Icon Close Icon Hamburger/Search Icon Plus Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon
Sewing with Threads Podcast

A Couture Embellishment Guide | Episode 22

Video: Threads magazine

Embellishment expert and teacher Ellen W. Miller talks about writing Creating Couture Embellishment (Laurence King, 2017), a reference for garment embellishing techniques, in Episode 22 of Sewing With Threads.

Her 400-page book is based on a couture details class she taught at Boston School of Fashion. She shares her painstaking process of photographing and writing step-by-step instructions for a whopping 174 embellishment techniques. It took her well beyond her initial time frame of two years.

“I wanted to show them in all of their glory,” she says of the embellishments. “That guided my exploration into it.”

Ellen explains three ways to complete each technique in the book, and she talks about the one she found mentally challenging. She also notes which embellishments she left out and discusses another book idea she is considering. Among the techniques featured in the book are grommets and lacing, and manipulated tucks.

 

Ellen has shared some of the techniques in her book through her classes, on It’s Sew Easy TV, and in “Soutache Revival,” an article in Threads #202, April/May 2019.

 

Ellen, who as worked as a theater costumer, lately has been sewing knit fabrics. She tackled a knit shirt sewing challenge with other members of the Association of Sewing and Design Professional New England Chapter in 2019.

For storing embellished garments like those she made for her book, she recommends using acid-free tissue paper. One supplier is Uline.

Listen now

 

This episode of Sewing with Threads is sponsored by Bernina.

Why not transform a thrift-store pair of jeans into a cute jumper, or a men’s shirt into a cool wrap dress? With a new Bernina 3 Series sewing machine, you’ll be saying, “D-I-Why not?” Both the B335 and B325 come standard with the Bernina legendary stitch quality we all love. And these machines are packed with innovative features, easily handle a variety of tough or tricky fabrics, and are an absolute cinch to use. New and seasoned stitchers alike love these machines.
Find a store near you at Bernina.com, and bring home your Bernina 3 Series machine today.

 


We have created a podcast survey to help guide our content. Please take a moment to answer a few questions.

Discuss

Threads Insider

Get instant access to hundreds of videos, tutorials, projects, and more.

Start Your Free Trial

Already an Insider? Log in

Discuss

  1. thevenot | | #1

    Excellent interview! Very informative, good teaching, good questions and wonderful to know that all of these techniques are gathered together in one book. This is the book I have been looking for and didn't know where to find.

  2. User avater
    MichealCoronado | | #2

    Thanks for this information.

  3. user-7287622 | | #3

    Thank you for your podcasts. It's evident Ellen is very creative and talented. It was very discouraging to hear how as an instructor she was never concerned about massive copyright violations until she became a published author.

Log in or create an account to post a comment.

More From Threads

Discussion Forum

Recent Posts and Replies

  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |
  • |

Threads Insider Exclusives

View All
View All

Highlights

Shop the Store

View All
View More