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Beginners Millinery course: Starts September 26 - June 27
September 2026 to June 2027, 10am/10.00 hours - 4pm/16.00 hours.
A complete millinery course for beginners. 10am/10.00 hours - 4pm/16.00 hours.
Class fees
£895.00 180 hours over 10 months inclusive (6 hours per week over 30 weeks = £29.00 per day)
This is an extremely successful class being run by using the combined teaching of face-to-face and online Zoom. Class sizes are small to ensure you receive the personal support you need.
We pride ourselves on giving you the skills to create your own designs. You will be taught fundamental principles of designing different hats and receive support to help you make your own stylish creations. You can expect to make, decorate and finish six hats of your own design by the end of this course. You will not be copying other milliners' designs.
Comprising 180 hours teaching time and approximately 30 hours of independent learning (homework that will be finished between classes), this course is essential for all budding new milliners.
See product info for exact dates and course content.
Supplies are not included. Contacts for where students can purchase supplies will be given at the first class.Students can expect to pay between £ 25 - £ 45 per hat made. On completion of the course and for a certificate to be awarded, students will be expected to finish 3 hats. 1 for each module.
This is a certificated course, details will be announced after November.
Dates and subjects covered
Class Dates: Running order and information:
4th Sept 2026: Online introduction.
7th Sept: Face-to-face. Introduction, tools and supplies explained. Straw blocking. Denise will demonstrate how to block a straw.
28th Sept: Video. Blocking for straw blocking. A concise video of the beginner’s guide to blocking a straw.
5th Oct: Face-to-face. Blocking straws. Head fittings and wires and stiffening. Tips, tricks and techniques.
12th Oct: Video. Straw hoods blocked and free-style.
19th Oct: Video. Finishing straws
Half-term
2nd Nov: Face-to-face. More straw. Using straw fabrics. Design your own straw hat.
9th Nov: Face-to-face. Finishing straw fabrics. Using head fittings and headband wires.
16th Nov: Video. Finishing your hats. Learning edge techniques and tips.
23rd Nov: Video. Trimmings for your hats. Including bows, triangles and petershams.
30th Nov: Online Demo. Trims and headbands.
7th Dec: Face-to-face. Workshop day.
14th Dec: Face-to-face. Workshop day.
2027
4th Jan: Face-to-face. Blocking for patterned and covered hats. Felts and straws.
11th Jan: Video. Blocking foss shape/buckrum (tip and sideband)
18th Jan: Video: Tips and tricks to make the base soft or flat, interfacing for covering the base.
25th Jan: (Face-to-face class at St Helens). Finishing first fabric hat.
1st Feb: (Face-to-face class at St Helens). Finishing first fabric hat.
8th Feb: (Face-to-face class at St Helens). Finishing first fabric hat.
15th Feb: Video: Alternative ways of covering a hat. Tricks for covering a hat when you need speed.
Half term
1st Mar: (Face-to-face class at St Helens): Fabric hat workshop.
8th Mar: Video. Blocking a felt hood: making a felt hat with a hood.
15th Mar: Video. Blocking felt fabric freestyle: making a hat using flat millinery felt.
22nd Mar: (Face-to-face class at St Helens) Felt finishes stiffening, Petersham, rolled and folded over wire.
Easter
5th Apr: Video, Felt finishes: various finishes used with felt blocking.
12th Apr : (Face-to-face class at St Helens) Felt workshop: Tips and tricks for felt blocking.
19th Apr: (Face-to-face class at St Helens) Felt workshop: Tips and tricks for felt blocking.
26th Apr: (Face-to-face class at St Helens) Felt Workshop: Tips and tricks for felt blocking.
May Holiday:
10th May: (Face-to-face class at St Helens) Workshop; finishing hats for presentation.
17th May: (Face-to-face class at St Helens) Workshop; finishing hats for presentation.
24th May: (Face-to-face class at St Helens) Workshop; finishing hats for presentation.
Half Term
7th & 8th June: Folder submitted
Terms and Conditions
September 2026 to June 2027, 10am/10.00 hours - 4pm/16.00 hours.
A complete millinery course for beginners. 10am/10.00 hours - 4pm/16.00 hours.
Class fees
£895.00 180 hours over 10 months inclusive (6 hours per week over 30 weeks = £29.00 per day)
Class fees are non - refundable.
By booking a place on this course, you agree to the following rules of engagement.
- It is each student's responsibility to ensure that they arrive on time before the course starts.
- Students will be required to bring a packed lunch to the class.
- All course content remains the intellectual property of The British School of Millinery or any of the visiting teachers, lecturing at the school. Students do not have permission to share any information from the courses with any other person in person, online or offline. To do so would be in breach of copyright and intellectual property laws. Many of the classes have already been either published or protected by these laws.
- All course content remains the intellectual property of The British School of Millinery. Students do not have permission to share any information from the course with any other person either online or offline. The reproduction of printed or verbal information is strictly prohibited.
- · Students do not have permission to video record this course. Participants have not signed a data protection agreement and have not given permission for the class to be recorded. To do so would be a breach of data protection laws.
- Any personal information shared between the students and the tutor during the course must considered confidential and not shared without the consent of the relevant individual.
Course content and who it is aimed for.
Who is this course aimed at:
This class will be taught in group face-to-face classes and via Zoom practical videos (students can rewatch). Step-by-step handouts will be provided to guide the skills. Teaching will be supported by examples and demonstrations. Peer consultation, observation and discussions with tutor and peers will support the tuition. Visits to exhibitions and museums will be encouraged. Using the trade suppliers for materials and equipment. This class is taught in English.