Making dress toile..eeekk (and review)

I was a bit nervous about making the toile at first but at the same time excited to make my first design. I decided to make a dress, the bottom half like an A line skirt and top bit in panels with flower like material over two panels. I had to work out the best way to create the panels and what patterns to use as i was using stretch mesh fabric. In the end i used the jersey Pattern. After a confusing start i managed to work out what i needed to do and created the pattern and started to put the dress together. I realised id have to make some changes like.. i couldn't use a button as the mush is too delicate for a button whole. So ill have to change the back of my dress. This was the outcome of the review. The teachers seemed happy with the design but i have to redo my toile with another mesh which is less stretchy and change the back pattern and use a hook and eye instead! Although i would prefer not to have to do it again.. im happy as it was my first toile and it also means I will hopefully think a bit more about it before i start the next one so i don't make the same mistake!

Illustrator Jersey T Shirt

This is my working drawing I created for my jersey tshirt on illustrator. I found it a little challenging.. but once i knew what I was doing I could get on with it and complete it. I'm happy with it..going from knowing nothing about the programme to being able to create a professional (hopefully) working drawing. I think I just need to practise on the programme quite a bit more to get used to it and remember what all the buttons are!

Lectra & Jersey Workshop

After printing off our pattern pieces we created using Lectra, we only had to lightly pull the sides as they were already partially cut by the machine/printer..was so easy we didn't even need scissors! We then started to make our jersey t shirts. It was so much quicker than i expected and easier than other fabrics and clothes we'd made. We only had to use the overlocker as its a stretch fabric which made it quick. I enjoyed using Jersey so will be looking to use it again soonnn!

More Lectra.. T Shirt Jersey Pattern

We learnt how to mirror the pattern pieces we'd digitised in to make a full pattern pieces. We also added seam allowances and grain lines. The cuff and rib pattern was quite easy to create using measurements, the rectangles appeared. We tried experimenting making a vest pattern and using Modaris and reshape, to lower the neck line and making a 'V' shape as well as lowering the arm holes and back neck line. Getting it perfect could get frustrating but i enjoyed transforming it into my own little vest shape how id like it n design it.

Creative Design and Promotion

I first chose to do my project on nature as i feel this is what inspires me most in designing. After a tutorial I was told this was too broad and to narrow it down to one particular aspect of nature. I chose to look at shells as there are many different kinds, shapes and shades of colours of them. I think I get most inspired by texture and shapes and how the shells swirl and twist, are patterned, striped, etc. It give me lots of ideas with shaping, pleating and folding. It intrigues me that something so natural and non man made can be so detailed and exquisite so i decided to look into it further and to be base of my project..

Start of Lectra

To be honest I was dreading the Lectra lessons. Pattern cutting on computers....?! Pure dread..

After our first lesson though i realised it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be. In fact a lot easier than manual pattern cutting. All we had to do was to put the pattern piece on the electronic board (digitiser), and using a mouse control click the numbers or letter which meant either corner, intermediate point, curve, notch etc.. then it appeared the the computer screen as a pattern piece. It was a relief :)

Week 13.. First Buying and Merchandising Lecture

I'm really interested in the whole buying and merchandising part of the fashion industry so I was looking forward to learning about it in these lectures. I enjoyed the introduction to this and found John Maynard easy to listen to, as he's already done it al and explained it easily- he was also clearly passionate about it. I learnt that although its fun and rewarding, its also very tough and one wrong move, choice or decision could be disastrous for you in this career. I find the buying aspect quite exciting and something id like to perhaps work toward as a future career.

Shirt Pattern Cutting and Construstion.. By Ourselves!

In the first or the lesson's we had to work out how to make the shirt pattern by ourselves with just the book and knowledge of what we've learnt so far. I found it quite challenging to remember everything, i think id of been alot slower and confused without talking to some of the girls, so i'm glad they were there! :) We then had to put it all together which was a little stressfull!.. I put the first sleeve on inside out and only realised when I was half way through the other one! So the unpicker came out and i had to do them again. When I was aware of what to do i found it ok, it was just the confusion and panic that makes me go wrong. I was pleased with the finished shirt as it was the first time id done it.. but i think i could defiantly improve if i was going to do it again and with practice..

Skirt and Shorts Construcion

I found making the skirt and shorts.. challenging! We move from step to step quite fast so have to keep up as getting behind i've found is hard. I feel like i'm perhaps getting more used to it now and starting to get the hang of things. I feel I could do them better if i did them again as I have more of an idea what to do now. At the end it's rewarding when you can see your finished garments and what you've made and thats what makes it all worth while :)

Melting Pot Project.. Grecian stylee!

For my Melting Pot Project, i decided to choose Ancient Greek/ Grecian Style to look at. I looked at the history of Greece and what they used to wear and why and how its now been revamped and developed into a modern fashionable style. I really enjoyed finding out about this style as many items are made out of beautiful elegant chiffons and white materials, folded twisted, tied and cut in different interesting ways to make flowing beautiful dresses which i love! I also liked the quirky shorter styles which are more edgy. I liked this project as it inspires me to want to make and design my interpretation and modern inspired version of the Ancient Grecian Style.

PPRD

How much do I already know about fashion?.. I think as there are so many different areas of fashion I obviously don't know everything..im not sure anyone does! Because of the fact it's always changing.. always new styles coming in and new trends there's always new thing to learn. I think i know more about some areas than others and so have to research and learn more about other parts which i shall do.
I think sometimes the clothes we wear can say how we're feeling.. happy or sad dues to colours we pick.. what kind of things we're inerested in.. music.. hobbies.. fashion itself , etc..
I don't think the clothes we wear define us.. whereas it could say alot about us.. on the other hand a tramp may wear rags and dirty old clothes but it won't say who they are personally...what their dreams are or if they are a nice person etc.
I think designers, and individual peoples styles and ideas dictate fashion.
I reckon it starts from the designers ideas, like.. inspired by the street, natural surroundings..etc.. is then produced in clothing/style form and becomes popular and fashionable. Its then passed down, the ideas, to the high street where they can make cheaper versions so more people can afford them.. until a knew trend comes in.. maybe an updated version and the pervious goes out as its not so current anymore..it usually comes back round to be revamped and back in fashion in perhaps a decade or two!

Start of November :)

So last week we went to London which i loved :) Some of the Fabric shops were amazing and had really attractive fabrics id love to be able to use one day. My favourites were the beaded sparkly ones that grabbed my eye and some thin translucent fabrics that had been folded/shaped & sewn to create patterns and rose like shapes.

At end of the week we carried on with construction and finishing the bodice. I like learning the proper way the industry makes clothes.. it helps me feel a step closer to having a career in it :) I was quite happy i got to finish it and pleased with the end result although im worried i overlocked the back a bit too far in and cut too much of the back bits off :S.

(Ohh and the picture of the part of a dress is what i ended up making in the Black and White Sculpture project)

Monday Black and White Sculpture Project.

Had our last day on this project yesterday and finished the part of my dress off and talked a bit about it. Everyones pieces were really good and different and liked seeing what people came up with. Im not really sure what inspired me to be honest - a bit of everything and each designer i looked at i loved. Maybe a bit of Bridget Riley..? I think it'll help me have a bit of an idea what to expect for our next project.. which i'm looking forward to be going to London to find fabrics for next week :) This is my favourite part of the course.. designing and making :)

'Communicating Visions in Black and White'.. sculpture

Yesterday we looked at different types of sculpture/ sculptured inspired.. objects/ buildings/ clothing..etc. I really enjoyed yesterday as it was a chance to design and make what i wanted to based on research and what i was inspired by. I looked at Issey Mikaye's work and his use of shapes, colour, folds and pleats which seemed rather.. sculpturesque! We had to use just white and black.. and use them to their advantage as they are contrasting and striking against each other. I chose to use paper as its looks effective when you fold it and stands straight, I personally find it more sculptural than the material. I made part of a dress which at the top had small squares stuck on and as t got lower the squares got bigger. The squares at the top also started off white, gradually adding black until fully black squares at the bottom. I wanted the squares to flick up at the tops and not be suck down so it looked more effective. I also folded a straight line down the card/paper on the corner so it looked more sculptured and futuristic. I don't think its worked as well as i'd of hoped as the white squares don't show up well against each other but on the other hand it may be because it's just quarter of a dress..! I may make more on monday when we have time to finish it and hopefully will look better. We also have to do a presentation on it which i'm a bit nervous about because i'm sooo so so rubbish at that kind of thing.. ooh and i also enjoyed looking at what other people had made..everyones was so different but really interesting and everyones looked really good :)

Week 2..

During week 2 we made mood boards in class and on photoshop afterwards. I enjoyed choosing colours and pictures and organising where they went on my military mood board. I thought it was ok but could have been better and i could make it better by being more prepared and having more materials to decorate it. I liked doing the photoshop mood board aswell but i need to learn and get the hang of how to use all the techniques so i can use them properly!

We used illustrator on Weds.. I wasn't that great at it! I get muddled up between that and photoshop.. but guess i just have to get used to that too.

On Thursday we made bodices out of calico and used them to make paper patterns.. we ran out of time at the end of the day so was in a mad rush to get it done which made me go wrong.. I just have to finish it in my own time now so I found it a bit frustrating as im not totally sure what im doing yet but the booklet helped a bit.. just not totally done with it..

However i liked learning the proper way to put it all together and make it the professional way. I really like the design side of fashion and decoration.. so when it comes to the construction and putting things actually together i tend to.. rush/ not do it properly and things end up kinda breaking! So think its good for me to learn the importance of it and learning how to make sure it doesss NOT fall apart. ha.

F-F-F-Fresherssss..er...flu

Okayy.. so this week was the first proper week at uni.. although it feels like I’ve already been here months! We looked at our groups Holiday Projects on Monday.. I was worried about mine being on show as its quite personal.. and I didn’t exactly love it.. But it was ok in the end. Although I haven’t heard my feedback yet.. eek. It was cool to see how everyone works and how different some were to others.. Some were really good!
My favourite part so far has been last week when we watched the catwalk video where we saw what the people last year made in their collections. They were so good and that’s what I’m excited about doing.. I cant WAIT to be doing my own collection!.. yet at the moment kind of feels like I’m looking up at a MOUNTAIN of work.. and can feel quite stressful at times..
We had our first day of construction work today.. it was quite full on.. long day and very fast moving.. you defiantly have to keep up or you'll get left behind! I was feeling pretty ill too so found it a bit hard..FLU! I like actually doing proper work now though as last week we didn’t do much n feels like stuffs actually rolling now. I need to practise on the overlocker.. I was actually rubbish on some of my pieces! So wonky.. but I think I might blame that on me being ill ha. Makes me feel a little less hopeless! Definatly need to redo some of them..!