THTR 25B: FASHION & COSTUME CONSTRUCTION II
Foothill College Course Outline of Record
| Heading | Value |
|---|---|
| Effective Term: | Fall 2026 |
| Units: | 4 |
| Hours: | 3 lecture, 3 laboratory per week (72 total per quarter) |
| Prerequisite: | THTR 25. |
| Degree & Credit Status: | Degree-Applicable Credit Course |
| Foothill GE: | Non-GE |
| Transferable: | CSU/UC |
| Grade Type: | Letter Grade (Request for Pass/No Pass) |
| Repeatability: | Not Repeatable |
Student Learning Outcomes
- Classify and understand notions & fabric types for use in costume creation
- Demonstrate intermediate machine and hand sewing skills with a wide range of fabrics and equipment, including the overlock and blind hemming machines.
- Identify and produce intermediate sewing applications for costume creation including basic pattern drafting adjstments and use of specialty materials like boning, thermoplastics and buckram for millinery and craft techniques.
- Recognize and demonstrate the costume process for a theatrical production, including organizational, fitting and alteration skills
Description
Continuation of THTR 25 with an exploration into more complex sewing techniques and machinery use. Further practice in the fabrication of clothing and costumes for the theatre, including pattern adjustment and measuring, basic pattern making, sewing knits, advanced fitting and alteration techniques, and specialty machine usage.
Course Objectives
The student will be able to:
- Practice with the skills of costume construction for the stage using various techniques and machinery, including advanced clothing alterations.
- Continue exploration of fabric weaves, fibers, fabric names and uses, and their particular sewing properties.
- Further develop techniques of pattern adjustments of an existing pattern, including different sizing and changing its style details.
- Interpret sketches and renderings of costume designs for theatrical productions, and understand the techniques used to create costumes for various regions and in different cultures.
- Practice the organization elements in creating costumes for production.
- Research, classify, and identify clothing styles of different eras and cultures for the theatre and stage.
Course Content
- Practice body measuring, pulling costumes, fitting, garment measuring, garment alterations, show maintenance, and laundering theatrical costumes.
- Study a wide range of fabrics, distinguishing differences in fabric weaves and fibers. Identify fabric names and their sewing properties and practical usage.
- Practice techniques of cutting, sewing, craftmaking (including textiles and millinery), and building and finishing the costume design using sewing machines, overlock, blind hemmer, scissors, needles, threads, steaming and ironing equipment.
- Practice sewing knits.
- Research and analyze the use of line, texture, color, and form in costume design in world cultures.
- From a costume rendering, evaluate costs for a costume in the theatre.
Lab Content
- Supervised construction of related projects, including racking a show and pulling existing garments, creating new garments and accessories, and maintaining a show during its run.
- Advanced projects include millinery and thermoplastic fabrication, and advanced structuring such as tailoring and corsetry.
Special Facilities and/or Equipment
1. Studio facilities with access to sewing machines and tables, overlock, blind hemmer, industrial iron and table, steamer, and costume shop.
2. Space appropriate for storing class materials and projects.
3. Space appropriate for storing show costumes.
4. Adequate amperage for costume industry equipment.
5. Online portions of class require weekly student access to an internet enabled computer.
2. Space appropriate for storing class materials and projects.
3. Space appropriate for storing show costumes.
4. Adequate amperage for costume industry equipment.
5. Online portions of class require weekly student access to an internet enabled computer.
Method(s) of Evaluation
Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:
In-class projects
Assigned construction exercises
Project review
Final exam project/paper
Method(s) of Instruction
Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:
Lecture presentations and classroom discussion covering costume research, technology, and construction
Oral presentations of major projects followed by in-class discussion and evaluation
Instructor guided laboratory practice sessions
Instructor demonstrations of costume technology and techniques
Representative Text(s) and Other Materials
Ingham, Rosemary, and Liz Covey. Costume Technicians Handbook, 3rd ed.. 2003.
Although this text is older than the suggested "5 years or newer" standard, it remains the current school standard, and sewing techniques do not change much. The printed text was reissued in 2024.
Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments
- Reading assignments include chapters from the textbook, as well as research assignments that include verbal and visual research.
- Students complete a research paper and presentation on a clothing style from any world culture.
Discipline(s)
Stagecraft or Theater Arts