Tip Top Sinamay Crowns

Have you every struggled to block a crown in sinamay? Steamed and pulled for an hour and still had wrinkles along the bottom?!? That's because not every shape can be successfully blocked-in-one. Sinamay is a flat woven millinery material with limitations as to how much three dimensionality can be achieved.

In this two day class, students will learn how to block and complete a two piece (tip + sideband) crown in sinamay straw. This technique results in a beautiful, smooth finish - no need to hide wrinkles with a wide ribbon band! Students will leave with a classic or contemporary hat in a brimless style (pillbox, beret, toque, tilt) and the knowledge needed to apply these skills in the future when creating similar or brimmed styles like the top hat (tip + sideband + brim).

Friday, September 26 & Saturday, September 27

Class will meet from 10 am - 5 pm each day, with a 1 hour break for lunch.

Tuition is $425. Supply list provided upon registration. Students are responsible for purchasing supplies in advance and bringing to class on the 18th.

Previous hand sewing skills highly recommended.

Instructor Bio

Laura Del Villaggio earned a Certificate in Millinery from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in 1999 and her award-winning business, Milli Starr, was established in Austin in 2004. Milli Starr is known for exquisite craftsmanship, sophisticated details, and a vintage-inspired elegance that complements a modern wardrobe. Original hats have been spotted in print and digital publications, on the runway, stage, and screen, and at horse races around the world.

Laura possesses over 30 years experience in fashion history, design, and construction and has worked as a clothing and textile curator and conservator, vintage dealer, fiber arts instructor, retail manager, and theater costume designer, all prior to diving into millinery full-time in 2012. She enjoys creating hats for clients, as well as teaching both group and private classes. Many of her former students now own millinery businesses and/or hat shops.

Laura is an active member of the Milliners Guild and is currently serving as Treasurer. In 2022, she co-curated the Hats: Humor & High Design exhibition at NorthPark Center, a collaborative project of the Texas Fashion Collection and the Guild featuring 28 hats created by contemporary and historic milliners. In 2024, Laura was one of six instructors at Millinery Meetup, a biennial conference in East Tennessee that is regarded as North America's foremost millinery educational and social event.