An introductory fine embroidery class at the esteemed Ecole Lesage in Paris propelled Saskia ter Welle on a professional journey that led her to establish the Dutch Couture Academy in The Netherlands. Saskia shares her story and love of couture sewing and embellishment in Episode 78 of the Sewing With Threads podcast.

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She explains that though she had her own studio and sewed extensively before taking the initial course in Paris, she wanted “to get a taste of” couture embellishment techniques, and “I fell I love with it completely.”

Saskia returned home to Doesburg in the The Netherlands, began teaching, and finding more opportunities to pursue and share her work. Today, she specializes in couture embroidery techniques and Japanese pattern cutting techniques.

She has gained international recognition and has shown her own couture collections at Amsterdam Fashion Week, Thai Silk International Fashion Week (Bangkok), in Paris at Atelier Néerlandais and in London.

She teaches a range of unique embellishment and design techniques at her academy with a team of international guest lecturers. She also mentors an international group of students, apprentices and designers wishing to turn their creativity into a career.

Saskia will be leading a three-day workshop for travelers on an upcoming Threads tour to The Netherlands. Each day will focus on participants learning a different technique.

She welcomes those of all skill levels to the academy. Embroidery classes start “at  zero,” Saskia says. “For me, it doesn’t matter if someone is completely new to embroidery or a seasoned embroiderer. Both are welcome.”

Find out more about the Travel with Threads Netherlands Tour here.

 

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This episode’s sponsor:

We must tell everyone about the trip we are planning and inviting you, our Threads audience, to take with us October 5 through 14, 2024. We’ve put together an exclusive tour to the Netherlands to visit textile ateliers, museums, and fabric shops. As the main event, we’ve arranged a three-day workshop with Saskia ter Welle of the Dutch Couture Academy. She’ll give Threads travelers in-depth instruction in draping on a half-scale form, along with couture embellishment techniques. The trip is packed with activities that are sure to inspire you.
To find out more about the Travel with Threads Netherlands Tour, go to Tours.ThreadsMagazine.com. The group is limited to 20 participants so reserve your space now.