New knitting course for sewing college

Press, 4 February 1986, Page 17

New knitting course for sewing college

The Christchurch College of Dressmaking, Tailoring and Design is widening its syllabus this year to include knitting classes.

Enrolments are being accepted now for the new course.

The knitting class came about because of intense interest in hand-knitted garments from the public. Another major factor to introducing a new knitting course was an approach to the college by the New Zealand Wool Board at the college’s 1985 Fashion Expo in September, “Unfortunately, we won’t be able to run a night class because our present premises are not big enough,” said Mrs

Cathy Baker, the owner and director of the college. Currently, there are 150 students enrolled with the college on a part-time basis. All students are treated as individuals, making whatever they wish, within the limits of their present capabilities. According to Mrs Baker, college staff try to teach students the best they can. All the tutors are highly qualified with either teaching diplomas in home economics, or have worked for many years within the clothes and textile industry. “If we don’t give the best we can then we’ll lose the college, and that’s

the best incentive for getting high-quality teaching,” Mrs Baker said. The talent of many of her students has always been a major source of amazement for Mrs Baker.

“It’s very encouraging to see students extending themselves, achieving results they never thought were possible,” she said.

For too long now, home-sewn clothing was considered the “poor relation” of manufactured clothes. Why has this been such a predominant attitude? “I think it’s because of the ‘home-made’ look caused by lack of attention to detail, the crooked hem-line, the puckered

seam, all those sorts of things," said Mrs Baker. “It’s these points that we teach our students to avoid.

“You can have a very professional finish in garments if you only learn the little tricks to it,” Mrs Baker said.

The money saved by sewing can be used to buy expensive but very necessary extras such as silk scarves, different coloured jewellery, and handbags that go together to complete the over-all effect of a fashion garment.

Four courses are available at the college; dressmaking and tailoring, smocking, design and pattern cutting, and knit-

ting. The college is still seeking a qualified knitting tutor for the new course.