By Frankie Shorey
Staff Writer

Students looking to develop their costuming and sewing skills can take part in a three-part costume class offered Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. on campus next school year.

TA-121 to TA-123, designed to be taken in order starting in the fall, is open to students of all skill levels. Though, those with basic sewing and costuming knowledge may join any term without having completed the previous section.

Led by instructor August Hemlock, the class focuses primarily on personal projects, allowing students to explore individual interests while gaining hands-on experience.
“It is mostly personal projects,” Riven Dederian said. “We’ve got a great social environment. It’s like a club—you can chill for a minute.”

Riven Dederian alters gloves for “Patience”, a show he is in. Photo by Frankie Shorey

Throughout the course, students work on a wide range of techniques including sewing buttons, using fabric dyes and stamps, painting, learning individual stitches, and learning how to use commercial patterns.

“It’s definitely a great skill to have to be able to sew on a button, tailor pants you found at the thrift store, or even just to make something for yourself—for Ren Faire or for cosplay,” Dederian said.

In addition to personal work, students may also help costume school productions, such as the one-act plays and main-stage productions, including Silent Sky, CCC’s winter play. This involves hands-on experience sorting through the theater department’s costume storage and assembling looks for performers.

“We do stuff for the one acts, like going down into the basement and in the big closet where we pull stuff for people,” said student Addison Markwart.

Addison Marwart makes a corset top from a commercial pattern. Photo by Frankie Shorey

Hemlock noted the importance of self-motivated learning in the class: “I find that people are more likely to continue working on something when they’ve built something that they can keep and they get to work on something for themselves.”

The costume class not only builds practical sewing and design skills but also fosters a sense of creativity and community that keeps students coming back.