Expert High-End Couture Draper, Patternmaker & Seamstress

Hilary P.

Hilary is the rarest of gems

Hilary is able to break down a lesson into clear, digestible, concise steps for me to execute, practice and move forward. Her ability to envision a project from multiple angles, foresee possible hindrances, creatively troubleshoot, field all my questions with patience, straightforwardness and enthusiasm- makes her a dream to work with. From pattern making to production, a lesson with Hilary is like having a variety of masterful specialists all in the same room, working in tandem - to help me learn whatever it is I wish/ need. Thoughtfully catering to my very specific goals and taking into consideration my established skillset ( which she was careful to assess from our initial consultation), this is the height of superior, customized education. Hilary’s style of communication displays exceptional character, wit, approachability and humor-devoid of any personality ills like pretension, posturing or condescension ( the triad of time waste i encounter all too often amongst industry “professionals”). In addition to all the above, it is implied that Hilary has confidence in my ability to learn and succeed by means of NOT discouraging any of my endeavors/ideas or suggesting I set aim lower. This really sets Hilary apart, for where most others see difficulties, limitations , or even impossibilities- Hilary recognizes intriguing challenges. I leave each lesson feeling on top of my own little world, believing in myself again. Books can only take me so far, the internet is a black hole of excess- and fashion school is not for me on so many levels. I am beyond thrilled and feel very privileged to learn from Hilary, for as long she offers her tutoring.

Laura, 4 lessons with Hilary

Tutor responded:

Thank you so much, Laura! Your ability to persevere and push your designs into reality sets you apart from other designers I have worked with. There are too many in this business who are willing to take advantage of creative people like yourself. I am so sorry that you have met all of them apparently lol. Those days are over! You have more than enough talent to do this. All you need is a little guidance and some tricks of the trade. That is what I am here for! <3

Amazing and very patient instructor!

Hilary is an amazing instructor! She is very patient and explains everything clearly, even when my English is not perfect. I really like her teaching style because it is very efficient and easy to follow. I learned a lot in just one session and already feel more confident. I also appreciate that she records the lessons so I can review them later—it really helps. I will definitely continue taking lessons with her. Highly recommend!

Yali, 1 lesson with Hilary

Tutor responded:

Thank you so much, Jennie (Yali)! You picked up on everything so fast, I was impressed! Keep practicing your draping, and it will allow you to bring into the real world the designs that are only in your head now :)

Expert in her field, patient and understanding

Hilary knew right off what my issue was and gave me excellent guidance. She showed me the patten I needed to proceed with my project and I am even working on it tonight after our lesson. I am so excited to have found a valuable resource in Hilary, would definitely recommend.

Lisa, 1 lesson with Hilary

Tutor responded:

Thank you so much, Lisa! You picked up on the concept VERY quickly, and I am sure all of your future box corners will be flawless. Just yell when you are ready to start making patterns from your existing wardrobe!

Informative, patient and efficient!

Hilary promptly started the patternmaking lesson with measurement checking, and we promptly moved straight to the lesson! Not only did she accommodate my math disability, but she also re-wrote my professor's instruction pdf so that I could understand the lesson more deeply. I cannot recommend enough for those struggling in draping/ patternmaking! :)

Ava, 2 lessons with Hilary

Tutor responded:

Thank you, Ava! The original assignment pdf was very difficult to navigate, so it was no surprise you were having trouble with the instructions from your teacher. Once you understood what the pdf was TRYING to say, though, you blazed thru pretty much on your own! Good luck with the rest of your schooling at F.I.T., and just yell if you ever need any help again :)

Hilary 👍🏼 GREAT TUTOR

I was really happy to connect with Hilary as a tutor. After one 60 minute session, I was operating one of the most advanced Brothers sewing machine because of her ability to teach and navigate new sewing technologoes.

Ryan, 2 lessons with Hilary

Tutor responded:

Thank you, Ryan! You picked up on everything VERY quickly. If you practice every day, you will be sewing and embroidering your own clothes like a PRO in no time!

The best

Hilary is the perfect tutor. She takes her time, shows incredible knowledge and patience . My son is applying to FIT and she gave him so much guidence I cannot ever thank her enough. One of a kind!

Beth , 4 lessons with Hilary

Tutor responded:

Thank you, Beth! Your son is very talented AND easy to teach. His obvious intelligence and creativity will take him far in his endeavors :)

The best tutor in crochet, whether you are learning basic techniques or need consultation

Hilary is definitely an expert in Crochet and a great tutor! Completely a newbie, I learned so much about crochet and made such progress in just 1 class. She can get your question right away and explain it in such simple intuitive language. She's very patient. There's one stitch I couldn't follow and she did it 3 times slowly. When I got the idea, both of us were so happy! She's very encouraging. Her "give it a try and you will find something amazing" attitude makes me want to explore more. We also talked about some designs, resources to use etc. She knows it all. I feel blessed that I can take lessons from such an expert. Definitely want more lessons. Strongly recommend her, either as to learn crochet or get in-depth consultation!

Rui, 2 lessons with Hilary

Tutor responded:

Thank you, Rui! Luckily, you are a talented budding artist so this process will be fun for you. You learn VERY quickly so your journey in this craft will be very fulfilling. You are already seeing the millions of possibilities as a designer!

Seriously? Virtual Sewing Class

I was sooooo skeptical and then Hillary made it happen, with my 11 year old. She started teaching her concepts in draping and pattern making that she broke down so well, I started seeing direction and headway being made on a project that was dormant for months. I am now a believer.

Avalon, 4 lessons with Hilary

Tutor responded:

Thank you so much for this kind review! Your daughter is very talented and really just needs some general guidance. Once these draping techniques become more intuitive for her (with practice) she can tackle even more complex projects down the road. I am very excited to watch her growth over the summer break!

Amazing guide to your own process

I feel like so many creative blocks opened up after one lesson with Hilary. She's an expert at not only the technical aspects of the process but all the crazy ways I get in my own way. Super grateful for your encouragement and excited to continue this process. Thanks Hilary!!

Daye, 2 lessons with Hilary

Tutor responded:

You will have SO MUCH FUN! Trust yourself and always remember "Pins are not permanent" lol

The Literal Best!!

Hilary is truly the absolute best. From start to finish of anything you are working on she is the ultimate teacher. Her skill level is incredible! She’s patient, very kind, meticulous, encouraging and you can always tell she cares about her students. She will go above and beyond to make sure you have the the knowledge and tools to complete and perfect whatever you are working on. It could be a personal project or full collection, Hilary had you covered. She has truly made my fashion dreams a reality & I don’t know what I’d do without her. She is worth every penny and then some. I can’t begin to thank her enough!!

Kiera, 31 lessons with Hilary

Tutor responded:

Thank you so much Kiera! Your natural talent is what is helping you the most here <3