Swiss Straw Course

Master the skill of working with Swiss braids to create contemporary or vintage millinery styles including pillbox, cloche, Dior and Boater Hats. The variety of texture and colour the braids offer will give a unique style to your newest headwear collection.

Your tutor, Elaine Mergard developed a passion for these braids during her training in 1964. Throughout this Course Elaine shares all her tips and techniques so you will grasp an affinity for weaving these exquisite straws into headwear, exhibiting elegant femininity. Recommended by Tressa Swiss Straws

With over 50 years of hat making experience and decades of teaching millinery, Elaine Mergard’s mission is to help create the next generation of milliners by teaching techniques enabling each student to develop their unique creativity.

At the 2017 Hats Off to Adelaide Millinery Conference, Elaine was honoured by her peers and was inducted into the Millinery Association of Australia ‘Hall of Fame’ for her contribution to millinery in Australia and beyond.


WHAT YOU GET • 3 creative online video lessons• Unlimited lesson access on any modern device• Learn to make complete hats and trims• 5+ hours of comprehensive video tuition Included with Studio＋ LESSON PLAN SWISS STRAW FUNDAMENTALS Using Swiss braids to create headwear whether contemporary or vintage styled is a much loved technique from a bygone era and is taught in detail in this lesson. Master the weaving technique to give a smooth surface with a rosette finish and complete a classic pillbox.Lesson Modules: • Swiss Braid Basics • Weaving Pill Box • Weaving Crown• Stiffening Braid SWISS STRAW CLASSIC STYLING Start with a cocktail hat where you learn to wire and line after stiffening. Your tutor explains in detail how to taper the braid to weave perfectly flat. Learn to make a picture hat brim, boater hat with low crown and a Dior brim completed with a buckram crown.Lesson Modules:• Cocktail hat On Base • Wide Brim • Dior and Boater Hats SWISS STRAW CONTEMPORARY DESIGNS We create exciting Hatinators, Fascinator plus Boater and Cloche styles in this lesson. By sculpturing and adding extra components to our Swiss braid creations we give our designs contemporary styling.Lesson Modules:• Sculpting A Hatinator • Rosette On Crown Top• Straw Cloche • Checkered Pill Box VARIETY OF INSTRUCTION Be inspired by millinery tuition that covers practical technical skills, creative techniques and industry knowledge. UNLIMITED LESSON ACCESS You have unlimited access to all your lessons so you can return to modules and recap on specific skills. LESSON ASSISTANCE Access online contact with your tutor for three months to ask lesson specific questions and feedback. Included with Studio＋ RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES Millinery Product Kit - Discounted material kit for this course Hat Blocks - Quality hat blocks with free shipping worldwide. To purchase single course only. RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES Millinery Product KitDiscounted material kit for this course Hat Blocks Quality hat blocks with free shipping worldwide. To purchase single course only.