For some time,  I’ve wanted to learn how to make a tie for my husband, Robert. “How hard could this be?,” I thought. I’d easily master this simple piece of my husband’s wardrobe. Then, the next time we were in NYC, he could pick out whatever fabric that he wanted, and I could make him the tie of his dreams. It’s just a wide line of fabric with a point at the end. Right?

Well, I soon learned that I was very,very wrong. I found out that there are a lot of steps in making this little piece of clothing, and I realized that I needed an expert to help me out.

So who better to hire to give me a lesson then Capital Reperatory Theater’s wardrobe manager and costume designer, Tirza Chappelle?  My daughter, Sarah, and I had already taken a sewing course with her at the Arts Center in Troy, NY, and we really loved it. You could tell from the start that Tirza was very knowledgeable about her craft, but, even better, she knew how to teach you the basics and she was very patient.

Where to meet? At the Wardrobe Department of Capital Rep in downtown Albany. Tirza showed me around, and I saw that she and her assistants were in the process of making hats for Capital Rep’s new production “Crowns.”

Some, as  shown above in my top photo, were bright and colorful, while others, as shown below, needed to be more drab.