Thursday 27 January 2011

Current Unit: Surface Pattern

Karen Nicol

Fred Butler

Antoni Gaudi

Elsa Schiaparelli

Alison Willoughby

Fleur Schell




So our current unit is focusing on surface pattern and the decorating of an object for aesthetic value. So far I have researched into a variety of artists such as Fred Butler, Alison Willoughby, and Elsa Schiaparelli, I have thought about surface pattern around me and taken pictures of what I believe to be surface patterns, I have done observational drawings from primary sources using a variety of media and techniques, taken workshops and began my designs for an accessory that will be created incorporating a YKK zip.


This brief has got me thinking, what would life be like if we never had such thing as surface pattern, and adding a feature/detail to something to make it look nice. Would fashion or art even exist? I have never really taken into consideration the importance and how influential surface pattern truly is.

Friday 21 January 2011

Broken promises.




Well I don't know about anybody else, and I understand that this doesn't really relate to Fashion, but isn't David Cameron a let down?
They have broken their Pre-Election promise, that there were "no plans" to scrap EMA, which a lot of students depend on, and many other promises that were made. Okay, so their not exactly promises, but they are as good as.

Below is a youtube link of David Cameron before the election, saying that he supports EMA:

I don't like the fact that the decisions that effect us and our future, are in the hands of a Government based on Broken Promises. 

Tuesday 18 January 2011

My Finished Toile/Skirt!

Finally! I have finished my skirt for the last brief! It took me a lot longer than I had imagined it would, but at least it is complete.


Front

Side

Back


Above are a few images of my Toile. It doesn't look exactly like my chosen design, I had a fair few difficulties. 
I know what your thinking, it's not exactly fashionable, well, it's not supposed to be, I was focused more on the idea of anti-fashion, breaking all the rules, and my original concept for this design, which is rebelling, anger and chaos. 
I began by ripping up scrap fabric, to represent shattered glass, as though thrown in anger. Ripping up fabric in itself  produces a very powerful feeling.I haven't used any over locking, and the rough sewing is shown at the seams as another way of showing rebellion in my design.

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Box Pleat and Inverted Pleat.


Above is a picture of a front skirt with inverted pleats that I made during a Pattern Cutting lesson at College. I found it difficult to sew a straight stitch, so it isn't exactly perfect, but I have given it a go, and now know how to sew inverted pleats, with practise I am sure I can improve.








Above is a picture of a Front skit with a Box pleat that I made during a Pattern Cutting lesson at College. I sewed one of the darts in the wrong place so I had to unpick it and try it again, However I feel that it turned out alright for my first attempt.

Pattern cutting lesson Last week.

The first day back in college, it was a Wednesday so we had Pattern cutting;





These are images of a skirt I made in College, as you can see in the pictures there is a waist facing, an interfacing and a retainer row.

Retainer row: The stitching you can see just below the seam. Stops the facing from rolling up at the seam.

Waist facing: The fabric inside the garment that encloses the raw edge of the fabric.

Interfacing: Light, Medium or Heavy, it is sewn to the facing to stiffen an area of garment. It is often used to stiffen collars, cuffs, and waist facings, etc. The heavy weight interfacing is used to help hold the structure of a garment and keep it's bold shape.

I think I should have sewn the retainer row closer to the seam than I did, however I feel my poor sewing skills are gradually improving with practise. :)

Monday 10 January 2011

How to shorten a zip. :)

I have learnt how to shorten a zip through a pattern cutting lesson. It is very simple and useful to know, so I have broken it down to three easy steps for you.




Step one: Decide on the desired length of your zip and mark it on lightly.

Step two: With a needle and thread, sew a few tight loops around the zipper -over the teeth- where you have lightly marked, to act as a stopper.

Step three: When you are satisfied with your new stopper, you can cut the part of the zip that you no longer need off.