PPRD Hand In...

Tomorrow is the deadline for the blog I have been updating throughout each term so far. I'm happy that the blog is up to date and gives a good representation of my views and opinions on each aspect of the course. I had never produced a blog before but managed to get on with the concept and technicalities of the website fairly well straight away. Unfortunately, for the last few weeks I have slightly struggled with the website however I have tried my best to not to let it effect me and the blog too much.
As an aside, I have been made aware that we needed to have included our CV within this unit. My CV contains all the relevant, current information although I would like to jazz it up a bit to help it stand out. For the hand in tomorrow I have printed out my CV as 'm not sure how to upload it to my blog but I may try again in the near future.

Easter Holidays...

The holidays are very nearly over now and we'll be going back to our last term of our first year! I've managed to get quite a lot done over easter. My blog is quite up to date for the hand-in on Tuesday, I altered the necessary parts of my pattern and I've added a bit to my sketch book. I still have plenty to do and when I go back I'll be working on my second toile before completing the real thing! I think we have two and a bit weeks so here's hoping that's enough!! I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of things pretty quick again.
I've also managed to buy my fabric during the holidays when I went up to London. I need to decide on which colours to use from te selection I have and I just hope they look and work really well with my dress design!

Toile Review!!

I found I was pretty nervous about this, mainly because I’ve never had a review like this before and it was all very new and unknown however it all went well and I’m pretty happy with the feedback I received! Thankfully the dress fit my model pretty well which was a good start. The tutors asked to see fabric samples in addition to my working drawing and design. I explained my ideas of how the final piece will work and be put together as well as some of my concerns which they were able to help me with. They complimented me on how the panels had been sewn in and mentioned it should be a strong piece once finished!! They also seemed to really like the fabric samples for the bottom panels I have produced.

From here my next step is to buy my fabric and adjust my pattern in places to even out the hem line and bring down the arm hole. I’m slightly tempted to put together a second toile before moving on to making the real thing, mainly for my peace of mind, but I may need to see how I go for time over the Easter hols.

Toile, Lectra Feedback and Hand-In’s...

Pretty busy again at the moment.

Yesterday I managed to hand-in my Buying and Merchandising assignment as well as my ‘Beales’ application. I’m really pleased I was able to hand them in as now I am free to concentrate on my toile and get ready for the toile review I have on Monday!

I’ve spent the whole day today working on my toile. First the whole thing needed a good press and then I sewed the front and back together at the side seams. I then spent a while focusing on the fit of the dress to the mannequin as my previous concerns about the fit of the dress had proved right and the dress was a wee bit too baggy for my liking. With some advice from my tutors I simply nipped in the seams at the side and on the darts which gave the dress a shape I was far more happy with. And thank goodness, these alterations didn’t alter the panel shapes and sizes much at all!

As well as this I got my mark for the Lectra unit which I am very very happy with so I did include all I needed too! Phew!

Toile and last Buying and Merchandising Lesson.

Today we had our last B & M lesson and the last lesson before we have to hand in our assignment. It was a good lesson in which all the aspects of Buying and Merchandising we have covered this term were summarised and brought together. I’ve really enjoyed this unit and it’s been a really good overview of the subject - I feel I’ve learnt a lot and am encouraged that this is an area I am very interested in.

Yesterday I sewed together the front and back parts of my dress toile including all the panels which insert into the main front and back pattern pieces. The curves within the panels were definitely challenging although I’m really pleased with the result and once pressed they should sit well. I learnt a few things along the way which should make the job a little easier next time...hopefully!

Developing my Toile.

My toile is really coming along now. I've had three timetabled lessons now but I've been working on the pattern at home - mainly concentrating on the measurements of the inserted panels. I want them to be equal or I feel the dress will look quite armature and not at all accurate. At this stage my pattern pieces are cut out in fabric and my next step is to sew the panels into the bodice and then sew it altogether. The shapes of the panels are quite circular so this could be slightly challenging but I will so my best to do a good job of it. My main concern at the moment is that the fit of the toile will not be quite as fitted as I’d like. This will mean I’ll have to take the dress in at the side seams or perhaps the darts and this will interfere with the measurements of the panels......And this will mean more alterations and measuring! It should all be worth it though and result in an accurate pattern.

As well as this I have been working on samples for the bottom panels. I am going to piece together my own fabric from many different colours of the same fabric to ensure the bottom panels a lively and vibrant!