Evaluation

This project is the first project I have had to design womenswear for the first time in 2 years so saying I struggled would be an understatement. First of all finding that inspiration to get you going was my first hurdle, but eventually I got it, the knots are something I would like to take and develop in another project for menswear. Then we came to designs, I did a load of designs and to be honest I really didn't like any of them but finally after a group meeting I came up with the final design, working with a group for this project was definitely something I found challenging, as I am very set in my ways in terms of design, colours and style, but it helped me and pushed me outside of my comfort zone, even though I didn't enjoys this project I can definitely see how it helped me grow within my creative practice.
Making the garment was something I put off for weeks, pattern cutting is no problem for me in fact after a few years getting to grips with it, it one of the areas I feel more confident in. My garment construction in the other hand has never been a strong point for me which is why I will do anything to avoid it. Sampling, toiling, and garment making are things I prolong doing until its vital, but for the first time in a very long time I made the dress. Not well by any means and to be quite honest it was pretty awfully made but it gave me the confidence to stop being so afraid of the sewing machine.
The final outcome was not ideal but due to my avoidance of the sewing machine and making the garment it left me no time to rectify what I had done. Following this project I have definitely identified areas I need to work on and throwing myself onto a machine is something I will be doing, another thing is time management, I know I have the capabilities to make brilliant work, it just making sure i do the work and put in the time.
With a new tutor this year it has definitely made me more time management aware and it is true if you don't put in the time you will get nowhere so that definitely what I will be living by from now on. Fashion is a full time career not part time, so I need to train my mindset to exactly that.
Overall this project for me was not successful and I will be now working double as hard to prove myself in other areas. It has been a big learning curve but its another part of a journey of learning that even with its ups and downs it continues to excite and help me grow as a designer.

Photoshop fun!

I put a couple of my sketches from my primary research into photoshop earlier and had a play around with making them into prints some of them I really loved and some not so much it was a little too busy looking. It's always good to have a little play around with things like this as you may end up liking it or something you thought would look brilliant, really may not work as well as you had once hoped.

Playing with pleating

I was trying to find a technique on fabric which could look almost like knotting yet was not as thick as a knot, smocking seemed to work very nicely although it is not something that I find visually interesting, I struggle with surface texture and I am trying to get more into it I do just prefer the things I design to be simple with a brilliant shape, anywho I'll let you know how it goes.

Sketches

Here are are a few sketches from my primary and secondary research for my project, they are all based on knots some close up and others of a general knot, I like to keep my sketches a little rough as I always prefer the look of something when it's not so polished. Hope you like it:)

Final design.

This is my final design for the frocks to rock fashion show for Jeremiah's journey charity auction. It has a low neck and back line with a chunky waistband and a layered organza skirt detail at the back. The whole outfit is black with black leather piping and the waistband is a deep green. The overall look is striking yet soft in a contrasting way, I am pleased with my final design and I can't wait too see it made. Pictures of the final dress will be in the next post.

Yellow too black?

After extensively browsing the Internet for different ways to dye polyester I eventually found something that could potentially be a life saver thanks to Google. I went onto yahoo answers and much to my delight someone has asked how you dye polyester. There were a few techniques so I though why not try them all!

Firstly, the beat result that was found by others requires soaking the fabric in alcohol to open up the fibres making the dye more intense and actually sticking to the fabric. Obviously I assumed this was going to work so I thought why not put all the fabric in. I then began regrettably the alcohol soaking, leaving the fabric in a whole bottle of vodka for about an hour made the fabric somewhat potent bringing me to the point of sickness. Popped it in the washing machine with the 'velvet black Dylon' on the hottest wash, like instructed, it was then just a case of waiting. An hour or so past, I ran up to the machine ripped open the door in anticipation only to be left sorely disappointed by what I found, a still lemon piece of fabric only this time with a hint of grey and the Oder of an alcoholic. Needless to say that was not successful.

Next it was just a case of still using the Dylon dye, as it has worked for me so many times previously. So I tried dying it in a hot was with no alcohol, no success on that front. Dying it in warm water, this time by hand in a bucket with a wooden spoon, stirring it every few hours over a period of about 2 days, with this method I had no such luck. So progressed onto a delicate wash with the dye and again still a dirty lemon colour, the only plus side to all these processes is that I finally got rid of the hideous smell that once tingled my nose.

Last but certainly not least I tried the same hand dying method as before over another 2 days but this time with very cold water, and much to my surprise it worked. I don't know whether it was this method particularly or the poor polyester just finally wanted to give in! Lucky for me I now have the fabric for the bottom half of my garment all ready and waiting to be fed into the sewing machine.

The dress....

I arrived In university this morning and was graced with a room full of bin bags each individually marked with students names, it was the day we got our dresses.

Each student was passed a bag opening them one at a time, no one was prepared for what was in them, the bright colours and polyester fabrics left concerning looks on everyone's face. I was the last to receive mine, as I opened up the bag I found myself pleasantly surprised, a still polyester but lemon basic dress greeted me. Much to my relief my main colour being black this dress would be easy to dye.

Naturally before and after pictures are needed so here are the before shots of my not so beautiful but easy to work with dress.