G . O: Jacquards

Getting On : 

Jacquards 

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

G . O: Jacquards

Textile View

I had an article which my work was involved in!

I have held off on writing about this article in Textile View because I wanted to see the response to my work. Which I have welcomed and really enjoyed seeing my blog and work being viewed more. It's been exciting to see.
Though I didn't know when it would be published I wasn't prepared to receive much attention, and I certainly didn't keep it. At the time it was published I wasn't posting as much as I should have been.

I know my work wasn't in the spotlight, only part of a larger inspirations piece. I am really proud of my work. I love that the writers found my work displayed in my university's little booklet of degree work and sought me out. It's not a lot but I am really pleased.

I also have read the article and enjoyed looking at all the other work. It is a really good piece of writing and a good showcase for so many peoples work.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Textile View

C.W : Princess Bubblegum

My work space, whilst working - not as big I thought.

I took four to six days worth of my time for a friend. This was to make a dress for a costume party. She asked for princess bubble from adventure time. She really wanted to do this character, she looked at costumes to buy bit at silly prices for a basic dress. The crown alone was £20+ easy. Costumes adult or child are difficult to find. Even any cosplay versions are easily £40+.

After researching the character design, to see want I would make, even though we were sure of the basic dress she often wears was what we wanted - as bubblegum does have a collection of costumes - I took the friend shopping for the fabric. She picked the colours that she thought best for her ideas of the princess bubblegum. She wanted a shine light pink and a strong bold purple. We ended up also shopping for glitter and make up. Neither of use went for pale makeup despite our characters being very pale. The entire process wasn't photographed in full, so apologies to anyone interested in seeing that. I only have photos of the work space and the nearly finished dress and the completed dress.

I started with a pattern with the length wanted - in the bodice and skirt. however this was a fitted dress with panels, and a yoke with/without sleeves. So, I adapted the sleeve pattern and bodice pattern to be how I want it to be shaped. Partially based on the sequined dress in the photo above, which had a higher neckline, but wasn't right up to the neck - this was a night out costume party, meaning it could be very warm. Though the bodice pattern took time to make it, it also came together quickly. The waist was just right but the bust was a little large but again with this being for a night out it was preferable to be slightly loose.

For the skirt and sleeves we wanted extra material to gather so I used the size 16 from the pattern rather than the size 10, but when these pieces were compared to the size 10 this creates the amount I need to gather. The bodice pattern I made had the size 10 and dress measurements to base the sizing of the bodice on.
I also edited the sleeve pattern for more height in the arch to allow for more material to gather and also allow for more height in the gathering if needed for the space to create a puffy princess sleeve. On top of the size 16 pattern piece I also extended the sleeve as normal for a gathered sleeve.

I put together the bodice and skirts first, which allowed me work out sizing and measurements against the dress and my friend with the paper patterns. These seemed about right and allowed me to return the dress - as I had written down the measurements, to refer to later.

The next job was the sleeves and collar. Planning the zip placement - which I changed to the back of the dress. The waist band was final piece to be planned. I had a zip, elastic and interfacing, so my friend didn't have to worry about these pieces when we were shopping.

The bodice and skirt were the first pieces to be sewn, this includes a front bodice lining to avoid the light pink showing anything worn underneath. I also stitched to the point where the zip's length would end on the edges of the skirt. Once the skirt and bodice were sewing together. I next gathered, sewn the edge, hemmed the edge of the sleeve, sewn in the elastic and added the sleeves to the bodice.
The zip's placement had to be planned, before I could continue. However I had to back off from sewing it till I had the waist band ready - pattern piece cut, stitched, turned out, added interfacing and stitched the interfacing into position. Then it was ready to sew onto the dress, then I could add the zip, and finish that area of the bodice and skirt.
Finally the last piece was made, interfaced and added - the collar. This was quite fiddly due to the stitching and ironing, and repeated the process so it sat the right way - you must do the interfacing, then the whole collar the wrong way, then the right way and then add to the dress the wrong way before finally doing it the right way so it sits the right way, and neatly on the dress. Confusing but anyone out there having trouble there are YouTube videos out there - this wasn't meant as a tutorial on making a dress, else I would have explained the processes more clearly.

Finally the finishing was all that was left - this usually includes the hemming, the zip and so on.

I really enjoyed making this dress and would like to say its my full first dress - despite creating one in college, which I did do by myself. But it was a themed project and though wearable not designed with a wearer in mind - it was based on bacteria. I was really happy to have a project for a week and that a friend trusted me to make this and even more so to shop with her to select the fabrics.

Anyway thank you for reading x

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

C.W : Princess Bubblegum

G.O : My business cards!

They arrived - I'm so happy!



I've been waiting on these business cards for a while, and they arrived a while back though I didn't share this sooner - and though they are only mini cards I'm glad to see them here and ready to hand out. Though they missed my degree show and didn't go to the event New  Designers along with other work that was presented (Mine wasn't selected however, I was featured in the catalog alongside the rest of the class, with my contact details).

Yep they are from Moo! I like the options
they give you , but the problem is the same
with all printing places no matter how cheap
 they are - postage/delivery prices can be pretty
 hefty if you want things sooner than later.

This has had a big impact on this summer though. My blog has had a number of more views - over 500! Which makes me really proud of myself and the work I'm doing here online. It's only going to push me to be better and work harder.

However, as I am leaving university I do have a number of things to work around - packing, moving plans, projects and saying good bye. There's also sorting my old stuff and where the remaining stuff will go, there's also job searching and interviews, which also includes organising and traveling for each situation too. But its all going good and these business cards will help me continue with getting something textile related work-wise in the future. I love the little box I got them in and I also ordered a separate black box for them which will help me not lose them all in one go.

They came in three colours; red, pink and purple. With three variations of the textures which you can see. This isn't a  custom design like I had originally planned, I even tried sampling some photographs but they didn't work out. Not of the images represented my work well, and there was little to differentiate the weave structure and textures and there's just white and no colour to create a contrast. But I loved this texture piece and it really links in with my work - having the theme of textures. But the colours are also those in my blog and I think they are represented well here.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

G.O : My business cards!

Sorry I haven't been posting ..........................

Hey,


Sorry I have been updating or posting anything lately but not a lot is going on besides manning the degree show and job searches. I have picked up a little project I finished in two days but I just want to do the finishing touches before I share it on here and Facebook, and twitter, and now I have instagram too.


So, this list of links is going to get longer but I'm hoping it'll help me share my work and my designs more. I have done a massive update to my instagram to include old work - textiles and photography mostly, inspiring photos and drawing and some sweeter things to make me smile. This account will be more personal to me but nothing I'm unhappy to share. I think it will remain all my own work and photos for the majority and share only a little of what inspires me there. I think I should probably talk more about those posts on here really.


I have also done some business cards - I've opted for mini cards as they look really sweet and when they arrive I'll make sure to share some photos when they arrive, on here and anywhere else I can. I'm quite excited, maybe this will make me feel like I'm actually leaving university and studies. But I'll talk more about that later


My first job for Tuesday is to update those links for you lots and those interested, but I hope you guys are hearing from me on a more personal note soon on me leaving university - as I will try to keep the Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday update schedule.
Then a must is to find a new project! A big must!

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Sorry I haven't been posting ..........................

Degree show

All done!

Four years at university and I've completed my final hand in. A whole year went into developing this project and it's taken different turns over the semesters. I've explored lace, texture and many different areas in my work.

Here is all my boards set up and ready for the degree show and marking.

 ___________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

All done!

However I plan on to keep going on with this blog and you'll be hearing more from me and my little projects for now. First, though a nice break and job searching needs to be done.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Degree show

Warp done

Took longer that it should have - which is only my own fault. But it is now done, and ready to weave.

Now to get busy and just do that.

I have plenty of patterns ready and I really want to use that PVC for my first 

sample. I am thinking of creating 1 m long samples, which I am hoping will 

look great. First though I need to test some of these patterns I have drawn. 

I won;t be spending to long doing this but it's worth while to get  myself 

prepared and work out any mistakes and issues to sort in these patterns 

before I try weaving any samples.

          ____________________________________________________________________

2 WEEKS

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Warp done

Materials

I want to plan the samples for next week to keep myself very busy. However, for this blog post I really want to look at the materials I have used in the past and what I want to consider for the next lot of work. Something to add to this is that I have two viscose yarns to make up my warp. Neither are as shiny as I wanted but they are soft and its interesting to see the differences in the twist of the yarn too.



Materials:



PVC - 71% PVC & 23% Polyester & 6% Polyurethane
 I got a lengthen of white PVC tape yarn  of 0.8 Nm. I got this locally and was surprised by their selection of technical yarns available, and the amount of colours too. 

Lurex - This is also an item I got from Uppingham Yarns, the local shop I mentioned before. In fact got two cones; one is vinyl look and the other is opaque. Both are quite fine and fairly delicate - winding a bobbin for the boat shuttle can be a lengthy process

 Chenille - I haven't used chenille before this project but I've enjoyed using it a lot, however it ran out during my last warp. I haven't decided whether I should try getting more to work into this project with. Though if I do decide to source some more I will have to be quick doing so. This does not give me more opportunity to try some other materials in my work though.

Replacement -  I've been advised to bring more contrast into my Textel work, as the new Jacquard warp will be Black and White- like the first warp.
* show work from both warps to compare.

This development with more materials should be easier with the work I've been making on the Textel and Jacquard looms which have used darker grey and black yarns. Which will be more compatible compared the the first samples I made using any grey, which were soft tones. This made some interesting work but looks too soft against the Jacquards. So, I've hoping to use a harsher grey in my work, made of wool or a thicker yarn, to press this contrast in my work.
The chenille and mixed yarns have created tones in my other samples, the grey and lurex will make a stronger contrast.


 I also want to seriously consider my samples sizes and shaping. My new warp allows me to weave 60 cm, and its been wound on the mill to be 7 m in length. I could consider creating 1 m long samples as a norm, from now, which would be great to display, but limits how much I could create. Though with the time limit it could to my advantage.

           ____________________________________________________________________

3 WEEKS

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Materials

Jacquard Warp

New Jacquard Warp, hopefully ready for Tuesday 5th May.

It will be a  black and white warp, like the one I used at the beginning of the year to create my first few Jacquard samples. This means more contrast in my work and the need to use black and white in the warp, meaning it has to be used in my designs.

This could be a good thing for my woven pattern pieces - for other samples this might not be as advantageous. Especially for samples of just weave patterns in sections as the black will need to be incorporated. Though this could produce some really good ideas and designs.
But I'm going to be happy when I can start weaving again.


This will be my last push for samples and designs.

          ____________________________________________________________________

4 WEEKS

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Jacquard Warp

Board layout

Work space

TextilesSewingFashionStudio

These are the terms I searched for in Pinterest, for inspiration to development my ideas for my exhibition boards. Which is something I have thought about a lot for the past 2/3 months, I really want to present my work well and show it off . Which I can' t help but think of this as difficult due to the fact my work is white. But I'll share more on that later when I have some final ideas and/or samples to show off on this blog.

I've really focused on the theme of a fashion or textiles work-space and studio area. Though it's only been the last two days that I have put pen to paper to doodle the layout and ideas. Despite having looking at possible materials, supplies and equipment. I can't help it, I love shopping for nearly anything textiles/sewing related.

I've looked at starch, cork-board, chalks, tapes, tape measures, patterns, hangers and  rails. It's fun to plan, but I need to focus on creating the work and the layout that will compliment it best. Not do the shopping first which could limit what I can create for my exhibition.

I hope that I will have a finished idea soon to show you all. But for now here is some of the research for today. I've looked at a lot of patterns illustrations/photo and messy/in-use tables. This has helped create some more creative ideas that yesterdays doodles.
But these ideas may not be good in practice, e.g. using the idea of looking through a railing at a workshop, so more work will stand out against the back drop and hang on the railing nicely.

Or another example is using pattern pieces (or mock ones with patterns or pattern details) to use as a background for my work so to not use anything to bold or contrasting against my work. These ideas are interesting but focus too much on a backing and not enough on my work, so that I am not sure how to present them or what I might choose to present.

_______________________________________________________________________

My Pinterest Board for inspiration:

https://www.pinterest.com/lizzone/workshop/

______________________________________________________________________

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Board layout