Course Review - De Montfort Univserity contour short courses

So I got back from these courses a few weeks a go and should have done this sooner as promised... better late than never right? I took two courses: the Advanced Bra Making and the Bra Pattern Cutting, Grading and Sewing.

The Advanced Bra Making was only a two day course but it was very hands on and the group size was small - 6 students and 2 tutors. We made two bras which used different techniques and a range of DMU's impressive industrial machines. One was a fairly simple balcony bra without padding and the second was a padded Wonderbra style plunge with removable padded fillets. All in the obligatory lovely white fabrics that you wouldn't be seen dead in!

The Bra Pattern Cutting, Grading and Sewing course was also great. Again the group size was small - 5 of us and one tutor. This course was much more theoretical. We spent three days mastering the ideas of bra pattern cutting for various styles in a standard size and learned techniques to change the style or shape of the bra. I found out to my cost that one tiny error can put out the measurments of a whole pattern entirely! At least there was a tutor on hand to help me out. On the fourth day we drafted our own pattern for a bra (based on a certain wire and a 3-piece cup) and then spent the afternoon actually making it. This might not seem like a big thing but it is an amazing feeling knowing you have made a whole bra yourself from scratch... again in lovely white synthetic fabrics. We spent the final day learning how to grade a bra pattern - which is surprisingly easy when you know how! Overall a tiring but fun and informative week!

Being at the university in general was very impressive. The staff were great, the machine room was very impressive, the other  students on the course were all very interesting and diverse and there was so much amazing underwear everywhere. I have to say I very nearly decided to take the contour degree at the end of it!

Overall I would say that I'm definitely glad I took these courses, but it was a hell of a lot of money to pay out for 7 days tuition. If you are serious about going into this industry then you would be stupid not to - especially the pattern cutting and grading aspects. If you are not and have a few thousand pounds lying around then maybe but I am glad I did it, despite owning my parents money for the foreseeable future.

Any questions, don't hesitate to ask.