Hat Making Classes / Millinery Workshops / Wayne Wichern Millinery

Learn the fine art of millinery. Create your own beautiful hats!

Beginning and Advanced workshops provide ideal opportunities to explore the world of millinery whether you're an aspiring milliner or simply interested in making hats for personal pleasure. Wayne is an experienced and skillful teacher who generously shares his knowledge. Two well-equipped studios, each with an extraordinary collection of vintage and contemporary hat blocks provide unique environments for your creativity to flourish.

Using traditional wood hat blocks, millinery felts and straw materials you will learn to block and shape hats, then create trims and embellishments to complete your wonderful hats. Small classes insure personal attention and regardless of your experience, Wayne will adapt instruction and class work to your individual needs and assist you in creating wonderful hats. Studio Locations: Burlingame, CA (near the San Francisco Airport) and Seattle, WA (Ballard/Fremont neighborhood).

Visit Judith Nowland Tricia Roush or Ulla Milbrath's blogs to read about their workshop experiences.

A Hat For All Seasons - Wayne Wichern - Ornament Magazine / Wayne Wichern - Hat Maker - TalkArt Interview With The Artist

Wayne Wichern - Portrait of a Milliner by Tracy Martin / San Francisco Chronicle - Milliner Wayne Wichern by Edward Guthmann

Burlingame, CA Studio: 1777 California Drive, Studio 3, Burlingame, CA Located across the courtyard from the Peninsula Museum of Art. Millbrae BART / Caltrain Station is a few blocks away. The studio is 10 minutes from the San Francisco Airport and near hotel accommodations and services.

Seattle, WA Studio: 1109 1/2 NW 52nd Street, Seattle, WA Ballard/Fremont Neighborhood

Please note: I will close my Burlingame Studio at the end of September. I share the building with 30 other artists and we have lost our lease. The building is slated for redevelopment.

I will teach the July and September workshops I have scheduled in the Burlingame Studio. I relocated to Seattle in 2015 and have continued to teach and work part-time in my Burlingame studio since then, but the time has come to consolidate my time and energy.

I will continue teaching on a monthly basis in my Seattle Studio.

June 20, 21 - Thursday & Friday

2-Day Workshop - Guest Milliner Tina Guintini

2-Piece Sinamay Pillbox & Sinamay Bows

Ballard Millinery Studio - Seattle, WA

Workshop Registration has filled - Email for Waitlist

June 2019 Workshops & Classes - Seattle, WA Studio

June 25, 26 - Tuesday & Wednesday

2-Day Workshop - Guest Milliner Tina Guintini

Freeform / Draped Felt Hat

Ballard Millinery Studio - Seattle, WA

Details & Registration

June 27 - Thursday

1-Day Workshop - Guest Milliner Tina Guintini

Bows Library

Ballard Millinery Studio - Seattle, WA

Workshop Registration has filled - Email for Waitlist

June 28 - Friday

1-Day Workshop - Guest Milliner Tina Guintini

Silk Pleated Beret / Pillbox

Ballard Millinery Studio - Seattle, WA

Workshop Details - 1 Space Remaining

June 29, 30 - Saturday & Sunday

2-Day Workshop - Guest Milliner Tina Guintini

Sinamay Windowpane Brim

with Wire Prongs Head Fitting

Ballard Millinery Studio - Seattle, WA

Workshop Registration has filled - Email for Waitlist

Elegant wide brimmed hat with cluster of delicate silk flowers

Silk Pleated Pillbox or Beret / 1-Day Workshop

Create the illusion of pleating and folding beautiful fabrics over your millinery bases. During this workshop we will cover the following methods: Learning the secret couture techniques to help maintain the shape of our foundation piece - Cutting, folding & stitching fabric to create pleats without the bulk.

You will leave with a pillbox (including the foundation), but may need to finish some detailed hand sewing work and lining in your own time.

June 28, Friday - 10:00-4:30

This workshop has filled. Please email to be added to the waitlist.

Sinamay Windowpane Brim with Wire Prongs Head Fitting - 2 Day Workshop

Expand your knowledge of Sinamay and take it to another level. During this workshop we will cover the following:

- Gain experience of working with and handling windowpane sinamay

- Block a light and airy brim on a ring block
- Measuring, cutting and sewing to achieve a seamless and beautiful finish
- Wiring and assembly

-Learn to make a wire prong head fitting for a disc hat

June 29 & 30 Saturday & Sunday - 10:00-4:30

This workshop has filled. Please email to be added to the waitlist.

Two Part Top Hat Blocking

During this Advanced Level Workshop Jennifer blocks a magenta felt over the brim block and the burgundy felt over the asymmetrical crown block, actually blocking two hats which will become one.

The magenta brim and burgundy crown will be paired together for an oversized Edwardian style hat. The magenta, gold and burgundy brocade fabric will be used to cover the outside of the brim and the top of the burgundy top hat crown as shown. Eventually the entire crown will be covered with the brocade. The felt brim and crown will be joined together to complete this dramatic hat.