Testimonials
Here is a selection of personal testimonials from the fashion industry and workshop participants:
Thank you so much- this course (3 day Fashion Pattern Development) has given me inspiration to get my sewing machine back out –not to mention helping a lot with my career at the moment. Samara Kurta, Uniform Specialists, July 2011
I found the course (3 day Fashion Pattern Development) extremely informative and really absorbing! I loved the hands-on style of the course. Sharon Hebden, Long Bay College, Torbay.
Don is very generous with his knowledge. I have come away from a 2 day workshop inspired and ready to create. Sarah Dwyer, Diocesan School for Girls, July 2011
Wonderful workshop. Thank you both so very much. Looking forward to attending more in the future. Feeling a lot better about it all (pattern making etc) now. Lynne Stewardson, Bulls, July 2011
This (3 day workshop in Fashion Pattern Development) was brilliant, thoroughly enjoyed it. I learnt heaps. Tessa Paaymans, Hastings, July 2011
This has been an informative weekend. I have learnt a lot from a master. Raewyn McConnell, Christchurch, June 2011
Comment received from a client who received individual tuition:
I thought I would just get back to you to say how much I enjoyed our one on one lesson and to say that I have used the skills I learnt to make a new bodysuit for a 12 year old dancer and am putting together a new ballroom dance dress for her. I managed to make a block from her measurements and then a sample bodysuit out of scrap material and was amazed to find it fit perfectly! My whole understanding of pattern adjustment is much stronger now so I thank you for the lovely lesson. Christine Dowling, March 2011
Comments from those who attended a 3 day workshop in Fashion Pattern Development, hosted by Sateen Ltd in Wellington, August 2010:
Thoroughly enjoyed this course. learnt so many new things and had past knowledge reinforced. Well taught. Beverley Berryman, 29th August 2010.
Absolutely fantastic course. You’ve made this all seem very easy! I’m excited and will be usingthis often. Tania Wild, 29th August 2010
This has been a most fabulous course run by a wonderful couple. It was delivered in a real andunderstandable way. Hilda O’Neil, 29th August 2010
Thought this course was very interesting. Learnt alot and will be very beneficial to my future infashion design. Kate Crosswell, 29th August 2010
This course has been very interesting and helpful as I am very interested in studying fashion atuniversity. Amberlene Jessup, 29th August 2010
I really enjoyed this workshop and Don’s style of teaching- very informative. I can’t wait to get started. The Don and Anne team made the workshop run smoothly. Kathy Humphris, 29th August 2010
Fabulous-wish my friends had listened to me and come along too. Karen Johnston, 29th August 2010
Excellent course. Learnt a lot and all made sense. Thank you for clearly explaining all methods. Sarah Ayson, 29th August 2010
Fantastic course. Thank you. Karyn Henson, 29th August 2010.
Comments from those who attended a 3 day workshop in Fashion Pattern Development Workshop in January 2010.
This was a wonderful course, very intensive and thorough. I wish I had taken it years ago. Don’s knowledge and experience make it seem easy. I’m looking forward to using these skills with my students. Charlotte Hinchliff, Northcote College, January 2010.
Very goog, learned heaps, would like to keep in touch for more training/pattern development.Seema Singh, January 2010
Thanks, Don and Anne. The course was extremely helpful and clarified a lot for me. Thao Nguyen, January 2010
Comments from senior textile students from 5 schools who attended a 2 day workshop in Fashion Pattern Development, hosted by Woodford House in Havelock North, March 2009:
This course was very interesting and helpful. I will be using so much of what you have taught me! Very well taught too. No bad points for me!
I thought this course was amazing. I learnt lots of valuable things that i will definitely use. Thank you very much, I enjoyed it. All of it.
The course was fantastic. Perfect length of time- 2 days, not too short, not too long. I feel it has helped me a lot. It was also entertaining. Keep doing what you are doing. I don’t feel anything could have been done any better.
I was really excited about the course. I thought it was absolutely FANTASTIC! I really enjoyed it and learnt so much. I think it will really help me when I go on to further my studies at Massey University in Wellington with design. Thank you so much.
Comments from senior textile students from 5 schools who attended a 2 day workshop in Fashion Pattern Development, hosted by Woodford House in Havelock North, March 2008:
The last two days have been filled to the brim with information. I look forward to using what I have learned to create my own garments.
I learnt a lot of skills I would never have learnt in school technology. I’ll use them alot in the future.
I thought the course was really worthwhile. It gave us a good base of knowledge of what pattern making involves. Found block patterns a good place to start every time. Great organisation made it flow quickly.
This course has been great and has given me the basic introduction into a trade which could be a possibility for my future. It has covered a good range of topics/designs and I hope to practise these in the future.
Farmers Trading Company, Vera Tukuleva, Quality Assurance, October 2009. The 2 day course has been thorough and easy to follow.
Apparel House, Catherine Casey, Managing Director, September 2007. “Pattern Architects provide a tailored solution which is very unique. Both Don and Anne are the shoes that fit-as well as being very experienced in their field technically, they are very good listeners and ultimately solutionists who add value to your systems, increase employee confidence which has a spin on to customer confidence and most of all fit within your financial affordability.”
Knitting Establishment Ltd. Simone Maddren, Marketing & Design Manager, August 2007 “Thank you very much for your outstanding pattern making tuition. We have really enjoyed having you train Tammy and are very pleased with the way you tailored her tuition to suit our industry. Our company has benefited from your exceptional tutoring and we would not hesitate to request your services in the future for any further training.”
Designer Textiles International, Toni Gahan, Patternmaker, August 2007 ”Thank you for tutoring me, I learnt so much. You have given me the confidence to use my skills at work every day and to think about patternmaking in a logical manner. It is great to have learnt all the basics so that I can apply it to other more complicated styles that come my way.”
Absolutely the best hands on course I have been on for years. I will go back to school to plan how we will use you and the skills I have learnt today. Thank you so much for such a brilliant day! Maya Foster, Rangitoto College 25th November, 2009
The course is fantastic. Well organised, concise and easy to follow and take in with excellent and valuable notes. Excellent and well worth doing despite your skill levels. Rachel Hunt, teacher in training, 15th July 2009
The workshop was extremely helpful. Don was very easy to understand. His method of teaching the information is effective for me. I enjoyed the food and hospitality. Ramari Paul, Step Ahead Training, Hamilton 13th June 2009
Fantastic. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge. Don, you are a great teacher. I am going home inspired. Catrin Hughes, Mt Roskill Grammar School 22nd April 2008
Yet another fantastic weekend of professional development. I am leaving armed with detailed information of exercises undertaken. A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED COURSE! Deirdre Malcolm, Central Hawkes Bay College, Waipukurau
Probably the most interesting, exciting, instructional course I have done for years. The skills learnt will be of huge benefit to myself and my students.” Margaret Coombes, Iona College, Havelock North.
“Thank you for the great workshops over the weekend. They were really beneficial and it not only reinforced my existing knowledge but taught me new methods for pattern manipulations and other possibilities for the delivery of my teaching. I really look forward to attending more workshops in 2008.” Stacey Cummings, Patternmaking &CAD Lecturer, Auckland University of Technology.
“I had no idea I would cover so much in 3 days. Many thanks for the great tuition, working environment, humour and food. I look forward to getting to my machine.”
Pam Knight, Woodford House, Havelock North
“Inspiring/ creative/ up to the minute”
Mags Crichton, Long Bay College, Torbay, Auckland
“Just know I will use these new techniques, collegiality/ knowledge/ atmosphere so supportive”
Lesley Pearce, Takapuna Grammar School, Auckland
“Invaluable professional development to help students implement their designs. Enjoyable day- it didn’t feel like work!”
Marie Martin, Diocesan School, Epsom, Auckland
“Great environment, relevant level of learning, very competent, talented and modern methods tutor. This place is great and definitely needed in industry and I’m glad I have been a part of it.”
Tina Lumsden, School of Fashion and Design, Northland Polytechnic, Whangarei.
“Fantastic workshop! Very clear instructions. I have learned lots of new techniques that I can use in pattern making.”
Annette Gebbie, School of Fashion and Design, Auckland University of Technology.
“Everything is invaluable. Loved the anecdotal stories and the way this has been presented. Wonderful!”
Raewyn Grey, Thames High School.
“This was the best workshop I have attended for sometime to help expand my programmes. I am returning home with numerous, applicable techniques and ideas which I know the students will be able to use and will lift their practice in technology. I have also found it an excellent way to update my knowledge on what is going on in New Zealand Fashion both in industry and training.”
Wendy Webb, Gisborne Girls’ High School.