An Introduction to Millinery with Susan Widlake
Join milliner Susan Widlake for a day of steaming, sewing, and shaping to create your very own headpiece—just in time for the races and wedding season.
In this workshop, you will:
Use a template to create your own base shape in sinamay. By twisting and pleating it, you’ll create a foundation for your trim.
Learn how to manipulate sinamay to make simple trims.
Find out about millinery etiquette and see whether you want to apply it.
Have an optional walkthrough of the David Parr House.
Enjoy refreshments, tea, coffee, and biscuits.
Go home with your own unique creation.
You will need to be able to sew by hand to participate in this workshop.
All materials will be provided.
More about Susan
Susan is based in Saffron Walden and creates her headwear from her home studio in a converted mill, hence the name Mill House Millinery. She has always loved wearing hats, and a ‘taster day’ in fascinator making at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2009 started her on the journey of making them for herself.
Susan was working in IT at the time and travelled the world with her job, taking a lunchbox of sewing materials wherever she went. Her creations were inspired by her travels. A hat named ‘Barcelona’ is full of the colour of the vibrant city and is made from a silk remnant from Sudbury in Suffolk.
Susan became a full-time milliner in 2019. She is driven by a simple desire to make people smile. As well as making, talking, and teaching about hats, she is the only dedicated hat repairer in Repair Cafés locally and can regularly be found at both Bury St Edmunds and Radwinter, bringing much-loved hats back to life.
All workshop proceeds go towards maintaining David Parr House – thank you for your support.
Please see our Terms and Conditions before making a booking. Bookings are non-refundable and may not be exchanged or transferred.
