Project #2, Summer 2012

Well, I'm nearly 2 weeks into my summer break and finally picking up where I left off.  It's unfortunate that I struggle with making the time to work on figuring this out, but I guess better late than never.  I've chosen 3 projects to attempt --2 blouses and a dress, so I hope all goes well.  Lord knows I'll be praying my way thru this for understanding.  I'm excited!

Trial and Error

It's been nearly a month since my last post and the reason is because I've been so busy. Work and family consumes nearly all my time and I struggle to keep up. So just as predicted the sewing has been placed on the backburner. Honestly, I don't know when I'll find the time to pick things back up where I left off. I'm still determined and I haven't given up b/c in the back of my mind I'm still searching various avenues.

Recently, I made a connection with a pattern maker b/c I feel I'm not learning the drafting techniques at a fast enough pace. We'll be meeting together here hopefully this week. Another avenue I'm attempting is draping. While watching a Project Runway repeat over the weekend I noticed the contestants using some sort of thin styling tape on their dressforms. I've been wondering for a year or so what it was but my internet searches always yeilded results on how to make a dress form using duct tape. Smh....Well today I decided to dig deeper with the search and found out the name -- graphing tape/crepe art tape. I found out where to purchase this very inexpensive product as well.

I was so excited after I purchased it today that I wanted to play with it. Well, I first had to repair my dress form. My 5 year old named her Chi-Chi and somehow broke it. My husband couldn't repair it, so I prayed and it was answered!! Hallejujah it's now Fixed! Chi-Chi is off limits to my daughter, lol! First I studied my sketch and then placed the tape. Things started to get a little confusing b/c I had to guess at how to tape the back of the dress form since I rarely sketch the back view of a garment. Maybe that'll be something I'll have to start dong. Here's the result of my taping:

I'm still not certain on how I'll go about constructing the sleeves. My intent was for them to be Kimono type sleeves, but the way I placed the tape made them more like set in sleeves. I absolutely cannot wait until I cut it out on muslin and attempt to construct it and sew. The next challenge will be grading the pieces if all goes well because my dressform is a size 8 and I will need to increase it quite a few sizes for my fit. We'll see how goes!! I think I'll see where this will be very helpful but will not exclude drafting altogether.

Fashion ads from Ebony Magazine, 1970 -

Fashion ads from Ebony Magazine, 1970 -

Oh so sleepy

I promised myself that I'd devote X number of hours per day (or week) towards research, design, pattern drafting, and/or construction but that's easier said than done. I had a productive day at work today, but good grief I'm so exhausted when I get home. Sunday I managed to do a little research on U.S. women's sizing charts, but weekdays after work I just wanna nap.

Anywho, here are the pictures of my first design. I like the top better with jeans instead of wearing it with the maxi skirt. Also, I prefer not to wear it belted. I've yet to wear it anywhere because I still need to make a slight adjustment to the top, but I'll do so soon. More busy workdays ahead, very busy weekend planned, ***sigh*** it's happening again. Backburner City.

Baby Steps

Rendered sketch with brief sewing instructions

Fabric to be used for Kimono Wrap Design

Basic Western Kimono Pattern Draft Pieces

1st Cut Test Fitting on Test Fabric

My day was off to kinda of a rough start due to going to bed late, waking up earlier than usual, vehicle in the repair shop (which set me back $358 bucks!), a 7 hour faculty meeting, and worst of all the HEAT! Nah-- I think having to spend the $358 in auto repairs may have been the worst. BUT a person has to look for the silver lining. I managed to do so by working on some ideas.

I've been thinking about a name for my designs and came up with a working title years ago, but I wanted to perfect the craft before securing it. I've realized for some time now that having label sewn into the clothing would be necessary. So I decided to sketch it out along with the logo I thought of today, and I actually liked it. Nothing too fancy. I tried designing it digitally with an online paint program, but I had no idea what I was doing. I'll have to search around for label manufacturers to help me out with that part I guess.

Another challenge I've yet to deal with is grading. I'm still unsure of how to increase and decrease pattern sizes. I have a concept but have yet to actually apply it. Either way once I learn to do so, I'll graciously need the help of select friends and family to assist as fit models. I'd like to have an idea of how their own ready to wear clothing sizes compares to the ones I design.

And FINALLY after an exhausting and mind boggling day, I needed a release and decided to sew. I needed something to take my mind off of things, and sewing really does the trick. I'm still not ready to start on the Tracy Reese pattern whether or not I had the fabric in possession, but I wanted to instead work on the kimono. I'm in the early stages and so far so good. I just drafted the basic kimono and sewed it together. I pray my steps will be ordered and that I'm doing things right when I add the other design details. Even though the sewing provided a nice outlet, I need to not sew when tired. I was making a few mistakes that I knew that was due to being sleepy. I thought I learned my lesson earlier this summer when I sewed the machine needle right through my index finger.

It's late and I need to be in bed, but I just want to enjoy this moment where everyone's asleep. So I'll make a bowl of cereal and catch up on this week's Project Runway that I missed the other day. I'm too unfocused to continue sewing.

Keep Pressing

Tracy Reese Vogue Pattern # V1126

Claire Shaeffer's Vogue Pattern #V7881

I have no clue how I intend to keep at this now that I'm back at work, but I'm determined. My first day back on the job was less than stellar. I overslept, I struggled to get the children up and out, my husband left his wallet at home and I had to track him down to give it him, and my classroom was in complete dissaray. ****sigh**** It was NOT productive to say the least. Today was different. I rested well and tackled the day. We experienced record high temperatures so I started the day out strong, but by the end I was whipped. I still have so much to do prior to the first day of school and that's where my I've placed my primary focus, BUT I managed to sneak to the fabric store while on my lunch break and got lucky.

The store didn't have the Issey Miyake pattern in my size that I picked online, so I opted for the advanced level Tracy Reese Vogue Pattern #V1126. I was trying to shoot to include slacks b/c I need the practice, but I couldn't find an advanced ensemble pattern I really liked. So I opted for the Claire Shaeffer's Custom Couture Collection pattern # V7881. I ended up lucky b/c the patterns rang up $32.00, but there was a $3.99 Vogue sale sign accidently posted on the pattern filing cabinet so the store had to honor that price. I ended up paying only $8 bucks for both patterns altogether.

I didn't end up so lucky in the fabric shopping department though. I struggled trying to find a suitable fabric for the Tracy Reese and stumbled upon a beautiful tomato colored lightweight wool. I liked the sienna colored one too. What I didn't like was the price at $9.99 per yard. I'll need roughly 4 yards in addition to notions, interfacing, and lining. So I really wasn't up for paying that price per yard. Coupons needed asap please!

I'll look over the pattern directions for the suit an will see how to further go about constructing the other blouse I sketched. ***pause*** Good grief I just looked over the directions. There's 108 sewing steps plus deciphering the sewing terms. Lord please help me thru this!! Baby steps.

Found Treasure!

Well I don't know about it so much to be a coveted treasure, but I managed to finally clean my garage and found my newly dubbed Vision Portfolio! It's no Franklin Covey planner and it's not in the colorful coral, lavendar, or mint colored binder I had intended to purchase, but it is ideal plus it hold's 8x11 sheets. Most of all, I won't have to spend any money.

Cleaning out the pages was a reminder of where I was just a few years ago. I had unexpectedly accepted a job at the historic Little Rock Central High as the principal's assistant. It was during the 50th Anniversary marking the date when the 9 African-American students integrated the school. so it was non-stop news reports, visitors, documentaries, etc revolving on and off the premises. It was a very interesting (and stressful) chapter in my life. I thought I'd be eager to throw away all the notes I took when training and learning all my responsiblities, but couldn't bring myself to do so. It's not that I would necessarily want to go back to working in that capacity, but the hoarder in me wanted to hold on to it so I placed it in the yearbook given to me by the school's principal (who is amazing and the most organized person I've ever met). Gotta say I'm glad I cleaned out that garage.