Experienced costume designer launches sewing course in Glossop

A costume designer from Old Glossop with more than 40 years of experience will be passing on her skills and expertise when she launches a new sewing course. 

Helen Plaumer was part of the costume team that worked on the Oscar-winning Guillermo Del Torro's production of Pinocchio during lockdown, and has also worked on magical productions such as Noddy, Wind in the Willows and Postman Pat. 

She is starting the creative and sustainable 'Make New and Mend' course at Bradbury Community House in Glossop in May. 

Helen's first step into costume making and designing was working in a community theatre in Wolverhampton after leaving university. Whilst she was there, she discovered Cosgrove Hall Films in Chorlton-cum-Hardy and fell in love with it when visiting on an open day, staying around 10 years and becoming Costume Department Head and Designer. 

Helen also had an arts studio for around a decade and a children's wear company called Funni Clothes for two years. She also carried out freelance work for Alberon Dolls and making prototypes for Sindy dolls, and then working with community groups to make costumes and sculptures on a bigger scale for the Manchester Day parade. 

'Vivienne was an absolute star'

When it comes to clothes, one of Helen's inspirations was Tintwistle-born fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, who sadly passed away recently. 

Dame Vivienne Westwood, pictured in 2008. Image: Wikipedia/Creative Commons.

"Vivienne was an absolute star and had a great attitude towards clothing - that whole 'buy well and keep it forever' mantra," she said. "I'm a big fan of that kind of attitude, which is part of why I want to set this course up because hopefully people can keep and reinvent their garments they've already got. 

"I want people to make good use of what's actually in their wardrobe and have the autonomy and the skills to be able to redesign garments that already exist, or just make them work for them again. 

"Everybody has things in their wardrobe that don't fit or need a new patch or a new zip or buttons changing but don't necessarily know how to do it. People have become very used to going out and buying new when in actual fact maybe they can do something absolutely fabulous with what they've already got." 

'Mending is very satisfying' 

Helen wants to resurrect the skill of mending, which she feels isn't passed down the generations as much nowadays. 

"People want to be more sustainable, particularly in the cost of living crisis," she told us. "There's lots of reasons why I think this course fits at this particular time. 

"It's also an absolute joy to be able to get that little black dress that you've had in the cupboard for 10 years that's never quite fitted on the shoulders or has always been a bit of a funny shape at the bottom on the hem and make it fit and work for me.

"It's very satisfying and you don't necessarily have to have loads of skills to be able to do it. I'd like to be able to guide and help people, even if it's quite small things like putting a patch on your jeans or stitching a button on properly so that it won't come off." 

Helen busy at work sewing from her home in Old Glossop 

Helen is encouraging anyone interested to give it a go. 

"Just come along and try it out," she said. "It will be a sociable atmosphere and quite a small group. We can all learn from each other because people will bring different things along." 

The course begins on Wednesday 3 May with two time slots available - 9.30am to 11.30am or 12.30pm to 2.30pm. No prior experience is necessary. There are five sessions in the first instance, at a cost of £10 per session. 

To book a place or find out more information, you can contact Helen by emailing plaumerhelen@aol.com 

You can listen to our interview with Helen below...