Clothing Making in Daily Life: 11/4, 11, 18, 25, 12/2 Echizen Shirt Online Course (5 Weekly Wednesday Morning Sessions)

Making Clothes in Daily Life | Echizen Shirt Online Course (5 Sessions Every Wednesday Morning)

Applications Open 8/1! Applications Close 10/28

Making clothes starts with using your hands in daily life.
In this online course, we will thoroughly teach you everything from taking measurements and drafting patterns to sewing.

Learn the wisdom and craftsmanship of ITOHIRO in your daily life, and
For those who wish, join the ITOHIRO in-person session.

For those who cannot attend the in-person course,
we have designed this program centered around a self-contained online course,
for interested participants, we also offer time at ITOHIRO to learn the origins of the Echizen Shirt,
and deepen your connections, called the 'ITOHIRO In-Person Session',
this is a two-tier course.

[5 Sessions Every Wednesday Morning: Take Your Time and Make One Properly]
― Complete from Taking Measurements to Finishing, Right at Home ―

Over 5 weekly Wednesday sessions (11/4, 11, 18, 25, 12/2), you will make one full Echizen Shirt.
This online course is for those who want to take their time during weekday morning hours,
to focus on their craft.

The 'Echizen Shirt' is workwear passed down at ITOHIRO.
Over 5 days, we will cover taking measurements, drafting patterns, cutting fabric, and sewing.

Even through a screen, we will carefully explain 'why we make it this way' and 'common points of mistakes',
with detailed instruction.

The Echizen Shirt has many small parts, so you will build it piece by piece, step by step.

Because there are many steps, this is a recommended project where you can sew steadily while checking in regularly with the group online.

It is also ideal for those who live far away and cannot visit ITOHIRO,
or those who cannot stay overnight due to childcare or work commitments.

For those who are interested, we will offer the ITOHIRO In-Person Session after the course concludes.
As a reward for completing the course, bring your finished Echizen Shirt,
and join us at ITOHIRO to learn about the origins of the Echizen Shirt.

◻︎ Schedule & Time

November 4, 11, 18, 25, and December 2, 2026 — all Wednesdays.
10:00–12:00 each day 

* In-Person Session Date & Time
Scheduled for early April 2027 (we will notify you once details are finalized)
For those who wish, you can stay overnight before or after the session for an additional fee.

◻︎ Participation Fee

32,500 JPY (tax included)

◻︎ What's Included in the Fee

• Course participation fee
• Digital version of *How to Make an Echizen Shirt* (we will send you a download link, so you can download it at home and print it as needed. Those who prefer a physical copy can purchase the paper version of *How to Make an Echizen Shirt* separately.)
• The in-person session participation fee is an additional 5,000 JPY. (We will ask for your preference when you place your order, but final registration for the in-person session will be handled after the online workshop. The fee will be collected at that time.)

◻︎ Course Content

• Day 1: Introduction / Explanation of Echizen Shirts / Taking Measurements / Drafting Patterns / Cutting Instructions
  (Homework: Cut fabric)
• Days 2–4: Sewing
• Day 5:Finishing Touches for Sewing / Q&A

◻︎ How to Participate

You can participate using either hand-sewing or a sewing machine.
Please note, however, that if you choose hand-sewing, you will have more homework assignments.

◻︎ Important Notes

Depending on your sewing skill level, you may not be able to complete the project.
In that case, we will continue to provide instruction to help you finish.

◻︎ Items You Will Need

• *How to Make an Echizen Shirt*
  *We will send the download link via email.*
• Sewing supplies (measuring tape, ruler, fabric chalk, thread snips,
  fabric shears, 20 straight pins, iron, ironing board, sewing needles,
  and a sewing machine if you plan to use one)
• Materials (fabric, sewing thread, 8 buttons sized 12mm–15mm, A3 copy paper or graph paper)
• A computer or smartphone (the course will be held via Google Meet.
  Please confirm that you will have a stable internet connection for the entire duration of the session.)
• A table or space where you can cut fabric and do sewing work

* Material Details

• Fabric
  If fabric is wider than 110cm: approximately 150cm in length
  (Requirements vary based on your body type, so we will confirm details via a pre-course survey.)
  For those who wish, you can purchase our pre-selected shirt fabric. It requires minimal preparation and is easy to sew. Please note that thread and buttons are not included except for linen white fabric. If you select the hand-sewing kit {fabric, hand-sewing thread, buttons}, you will not need to spend extra time on prep.
  
• Thread
  Thread in a thickness and color that matches your fabric
• 8 buttons, 12–15mm

◻︎ Participation Process

• After you submit your application, we will send you a participation survey via Google Form within 2 weeks.
  We will send the survey to you via Google Form.
  (We will send this via email, so emails from ws@itoshiro.org will be sent to you, so please make sure to whitelist them so they don't go to spam.)
  Please make sure to set your email to whitelist messages from this address so they arrive in your inbox.)
• If you do not receive the survey within 2 weeks, please contact us at ws@itoshiro.org 
  or at 0575-86-3808 (10:00–17:00 on weekdays).
• We will hold the workshop based on the responses from the participation survey.
  Please prepare all required materials before joining.
• We will use Google Meet (online meeting) for the sessions,
  no need to download any apps.
  We will send you the joining link before the session starts, please access it to enter the meeting.
• If you are unable to attend, we will send you a recording, but the course is designed for participants to attend all sessions.
• After the first session, we will create a LINE group for you to ask questions and share updates, so please cooperate. (We will answer questions about your project for free for one month after the course concludes.)

◻︎ Preparations Before Starting

• Pre-wash your fabric: soak it in water, lightly spin it to remove excess moisture, then hang it to dry.
• Iron it on a low heat setting with a pressing cloth.
  *If you want to machine wash your finished shirt normally,
  place it in a laundry bag and use a gentle cycle.
  It will shrink, but pre-shrinking the fabric before sewing will prevent you from worrying about shrinkage later on.
  you won't have to worry about shrinkage after sewing.
• Press out any wrinkles with an iron.

◻︎ Recommended For

• Those who own a copy of *How to Make an Echizen Shirt* but have never made one before
• Those who cannot travel to ITOHIRO but want to try joining an online course
• Those who want to focus on making clothes as part of their daily life
• Those who feel nervous sewing alone but think they can make progress with others in an online group
  

◻︎ Workshop Instructor

Tayo Nishimura (ITOHIRO Western Goods Certified Instructor)

◻︎ For Those Who Complete the Online Course (Optional)

ITOHIRO In-Person Session ~ Beyond the Online Course ~

For those who wish, you can visit ITOHIRO to learn about the origins of the Echizen Shirt while
deepening connections with other online course participants.
Please join as a reward for yourself after completing the online course!

Session Overview

• Reunite with your online course friends at ITOHIRO
• Show off the shirts you made
• We will also provide advice on construction and customization
• hear stories about old clothing and tools, and take a tour of the local shrine

Date & Time:

Scheduled for early April 2027 (we will notify you once details are finalized)

Participation Fee:

5,000 JPY

Q&A for Participants

Sewing Skill Level

As a general guideline,
•You can do straight stitches by hand or with a sewing machine
• If sewing by hand, you can do running stitches and blind stitches
• You have made small items or clothing by hand or with a sewing machine before,

and you will be able to participate.
We will explain 'why this shape?' and 'why this sewing method?' as we go, so
this course is perfect for those who want to move beyond their own self-taught techniques.

Will I be able to learn properly online?

On the day, we will show you your work up close and explain each step and our thought process.

What happens if I miss a session?

If you have to miss a session for unavoidable reasons, we will send you a recording of the session later. We will make sure you can catch up on all future content.

Can I join mid-course?

We generally recommend joining from the first session. Since each step builds on the previous one, joining mid-course may make it difficult to follow along.

Capacity & Application Deadline

• Capacity: 8 people
• Application Deadline: October 28 (registrations will close early once capacity is reached)

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations between submission and 1 week before the course: 5% fee
• Cancellations between 6 and 3 days before the course: 50% fee
• Cancellations within 2 days before the course: 100% fee