If you'd like to hire me or take a class...

In addition to consulting, I offer classes in industrial pattern making, construction or whatever else you think you'd like to know. Of these, I feel that industrial pattern skills are the most important and that every designer should have solid competency in this area.

Read this carefully: being able to reduce production costs rarely —if ever— requires reduction in product quality. Using industrial production standards is the only proven method of lowering production costs at the outset. The basics covered are how to check a pattern, how to mark it so that it can be used by people who do not speak English or maybe cannot read at all. You will learn to transmit precise information through the use of schematics, notches, punches and color-coding. You will learn how to manage a pattern library through the use of a pattern number inventory system.

I do not hold any regularly scheduled classes or seminars but you are welcome to solicit an appointment from me. I prefer to conduct the classes at my location (Albuquerque NM) and in very small groups, no more than 3 people at a time. I feel the time needed to cover the material well (and get in some production sewing too) is a minimum of 3 days although it can be less depending on your particular needs (all classes are designed to your specific needs). My most popular seminar has been described as "manufacturing boot-camp" because it is hard work. You must have the physical stamina and personal discipline to focus on the task at hand. We'll eat lunch on site (I prepare a home-cooked vegetarian meal) and there is homework every night.

A note to designers; do not assume a pattern maker you have hired knows these things although they must. If they do not know, they need to learn them just like everybody else. Industrial pattern making is a prescribed set of skills that anyone can learn regardless of whether they have studied pattern making or not. Were a person to learn these skills well, these would qualify them to work as a pattern technician or assistant pattern maker but it does not involve pattern drafting per se. Industrial pattern skills are closer to a program of industry standards and procedures that are required for quality construction in manufacturing.

Fees:

On site: Roughly, the fee is $800 per day for classes at my location.

Off site: Roughly, the fee is $1,000 per day with a two or three day minimum, depending on your location. It is possible to negotiate a lower rate if you want to learn something I do well but have little or no experience in instructing the topic. Please feel free to propose your idea.

Accommodations:

I have specific expectations of students in my classes. You will need to dress appropriately, meaning close toed shoes, no dangling accessories, jewelry etc. Wear sturdy slacks or jeans. Don't wear anything you wouldn't want ruined. Please, no colognes or perfumes! Cell phones must be turned off unless you or a family member are on an organ donation list and awaiting news that an organ has become available. I will also permit you to keep yours on if you're waiting on a call back from the producers of Project Runway. Grin a little if you like, but both situations have come up in the past (one of my students will be on PR 2010).

If you have read this far and I haven’t managed to frighten you off and you’d still like to hire me, then great! I'd love to hear from you.