Videos in the Series

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  Welcome to Couture Techniques Workshop: Basics | Video

  Claire B. Shaeffer demystifies the art of creating high-end garments.
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  Couture Sewing Tools | Video

  Claire B. Shaeffer discusses the tools she finds essential for high-quality sewing.
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  Basting for Couture Garments | Video

  Learn four key types of basting stitches for any sewing task.
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  Starting and Ending Seams | Video

  Claire B. Shaeffer demonstrates couture-worthy ways to begin and finish a seam, whether you're sewing by hand or machine.
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  Stitches for Couture Sewing | Video

  Learn nine hand stitches for constructing and finishing couture-level garments.
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  Slipstitches and Fell Stitches | Video

  Learn two invisible, but essential, hand stitches.
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  Thread Bars and Chains | Video

  Thread bars and chains are finishing touches often found on couture garments, but they are useful on many other pieces as well. Claire B. Shaeffer, a collector of couture clothes…
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  Hemming Stitches for Couture Sewing

  Learn five methods of hemming garments by hand.
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  Couture Methods for Marking Fabric

  Claire B. Shaeffer, a couture sewing expert and frequent contributor to Threads magazine, shares techniques for accurately transferring seamlines and pattern markings to fashion fabric in preparation for sewing. In…
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  Couture Pressing Techniques

  Find out the tools and techniques that elevate your sewn garments.
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  Shrinking and Stretching Fabric for Shape

  Claire B. Shaeffer shares couture methods for shrinking and stretching fabric to shape garments. These techniques are used frequently in haute couture but are rarely part of home sewing. Learn…
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  Machine Stitching for Couture Sewing

  Learn techniques for accurate, smooth seams, sewn by machine.
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  A Couture Method for Sewing Darts

  Claire B. Shaeffer, an expert in couture sewing techniques, shares her method for sewing darts. The key element for sewing flat, smooth darts is the addition of a balance strip…
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  Bias Sewing for Couture Garments | Video

  A couture sewing expert shares how to handle a fabric's bias grain when cutting and sewing garments, for designer-level results.
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  Stays for Couture Garments | Video

  Adding stays to key garment areas is a couture touch that ensures a secure, smooth fit, as well as comfort and longevity.
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  Encouragement from Couture Expert Claire B. Shaeffer | Video

  Claire B. Shaeffer encourages all to practice couture sewing techniques demonstrated in her video series, to produce couture-level sewing results that show great attention to detail.