Haute Couture Beading & Embellishment for Beginners Course

What you'll learn

Learn haute couture beading and embellishment with our textile & fashion courses in Sydney!

Discover the intricate artistry of haute couture beading and embellishment and explore techniques traditionally associated with couture fashion and specialist textile work. Over 2 immersive days, you'll develop practical skills in both tambour beading and detailed hand embellishment while creating your own beautifully worked samples.

Guided by an expert tutor, you'll begin with the foundations of tambour beading on silk organza, working with specialist tools, threads, beads and sequins to develop essential techniques. You'll learn how to create chain stitch and vermicelli patterns before expanding your skills with ribbon work, 3D beadwork and delicate floral embellishments.

Throughout the course, you'll gain an understanding of the materials, tools and techniques used in couture beadwork while developing the precision and control needed to create intricate decorative finishes.

Whether you're a designer, sewist, costume maker or simply passionate about fine handcraft, this course offers an opportunity to develop specialist techniques that can be applied to fashion, costume and textile projects.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this Haute Couture Beading course, participants will have developed practical skills and knowledge in areas such as:

Applying foundation techniques in couture beading using specialist tools and materials
Identifying different types and qualities of beads and sequins used in couture work
Selecting appropriate tools, threads and materials for different fabrics and techniques
Preparing silk organza on a rotating frame for tambour beading
Using a tambour hook to create decorative beadwork
Creating a vermicelli (cornelli) pattern using the Ari technique
Working with ribbon, sequins and 3D beadwork techniques
Combining different embellishment techniques to create a finished sample
Applying couture embellishment techniques to fashion, costume and textile projects

Course content

What will be covered in this Haute Couture Beading & Embellishment course?

During the course, participants will be guided through key concepts, techniques and approaches that typically include:

Day 1 – Tambour beading foundations

Understanding specialist couture beading supplies, including different varieties and qualities of beads and sequins
Learning about fil à gant thread and how it is made in France
Preparing silk organza on a rotating frame ready for beading
Setting up and using a tambour hook correctly on silk organza
Securing starting and finishing knots and changing direction
Creating chain stitch using tambour techniques
Working with seed beads, cut beads and bugle beads using different threads

Day 2 – Beading and embellishment techniques

Expanding tambour beading skills using flat and cup sequins
Creating a vermicelli pattern using the Ari technique
Exploring contemporary couture embellishment using a beading needle
Working with ribbon techniques
Creating dimensional effects with 3D beadwork
Exploring floral embellishment techniques
Combining techniques to create a completed mini sample

Content may vary slightly depending on class pace, participant interests, and instructor approach.

Intended audience

Who is this Haute Couture Beading course for?

This course is suitable for absolute beginners through to experienced makers who would like to explore specialist couture beading and embellishment techniques.

It is ideal for:

Anyone curious about haute couture beading and embellishment
Sewing and craft enthusiasts looking to expand their skills
Students who have completed a sewing essentials or fashion illustration course
Designers developing a fashion label
Costume designers looking to expand their embellishment techniques
Sewists and tailors wanting to develop specialist handcraft skills
Learners interested in fashion, costume or textile craftsmanship

No previous beading experience is required.

Looking for a shorter introduction to beadwork techniques? You might also like our Contemporary Beadwork & Appliqué Workshop — a one-day creative session focused on surface embellishment and appliqué design.

Course venue

Rozelle Campus

2A Gordon Street, Rozelle NSW 2039 (corner of Gordon St & Victoria Rd on the grounds of St. Joseph's Church)

Course materials

What to bring to class

A basic sewing kit.

What we provide

Couture beading thread
Silk organza
Beads
Sequins
Ribbons
Bugle beads
Seed and cut beads
Access to a tambour hook, needle, slate frame and specialist thread for use during the course

Optional equipment purchase

A tambour hook, needle, slate frame and specialist thread are available to use during the course. If you would like to take this specialist equipment home, it can be purchased directly from your tutor for $170.

Course testimonials

Holly said: Charlotte was a kind and patient teacher with amazing skills.
Hamama said: It was a great learning experience
Nelia said: Charlotte was amazing, patient and inspiring. Very informative, techniques clearly demonstrated, great for beginners. Post course support and techniques video very useful and appreciated.
Estienne said: Great class, very supportive, and I learned more than I thought I would, exceeded my expectations.
Rhonda said: I really enjoyed the class, Charlotte was a very patient teacher and would explain and demonstrate the skill without hesitation . I didn't realise how hard it was but I can appreciate the You Tube episodes are done by people with a very high skill level - in other words " it's not as easy as it looks ! " I will be practicing what I have learnt and try and put it to good use. Thank you to your helpful staff and especially to Charlotte.

Course tutors

Couture Bead Masters

Couture Bead Masters is a collective of highly skilled textile artists, couture beaders, and embellishment specialists dedicated to preserving and sharing the traditional art of couture handcraft....

View Couture Bead Masters's profile

Classes Online Courses

Haute Couture Beading & Embellishment for Beginners Course

Sat 7 Nov 2026 - Sun 8 Nov 2026

2 sessions, 12 hours total

9:30am - 3:30pm (UTC+11:00) (first session)

2A Gordon St, Rozelle

Couture Bead Masters

When	Time	Where	Session Notes
Sat 7 Nov 2026	9:30am - 3:30pm	C1-1: Training Room - 2A Gordon St, Rozelle
Sun 8 Nov 2026	9:30am - 3:30pm	C1-1: Training Room - 2A Gordon St, Rozelle

If there isn't a class to suit you, please join our waitlist and we will notify you when we have places available. Join waitlist for Haute Couture Beading & Embellishment for Beginners Course