skirts, Skirts, Skirts!

I arrived at Tafe early to begin sewing my third skirt. This is my favourite skirt because i love the design. This skirt was quiet easy to sew and i was surprised as it had a lot more pieces involved however it did take longer! When i had sewn all the pieces together i then went to fit the skirt to the mannequin when i realised i hadn't put a centre back seam in! I didn't panic though as it was pretty simple to fix, i just cut down the centre back and re traced my centre back pattern so i had two pieces for the back. I was immediately impressed when i saw it on the mannequin! I couldn't believe that all my toiles had turned out so well so far that i really didn't want to jinx myself!

I began pattern making the next skirt which had a lot of panels that incorporated the smocking that appeared underneath the wings of the skirt. I had to ask for some help with this one especially with the side seams because the smocking is in the Georgette which attaches to a firmer fabric and I'm very worried that it might pull and tear. I was pattern making this skirt for the rest of the day which i completed so it was ready to cut out my toiling tomorrow. Hopefully i haven't jinxed myself!

Skirts, Skirts, Skirts!

I felt behind today and i really wanted to get this second skirt finished! I cut the skirt pieces out and started sewing them all together, which i found to be quiet easy. Then i completely forgot to cut out the backing for the waist band which didn't take that long and once it was sewn on i began to fit it to the model. I was very surprised how this skirt fit the model because the angles were going the other way compared to the first skirt so i instantly thought i would have trouble with it. To my surprise i didn't and the second skirt turned out just as brilliant as the first!

I was on a high after completing the second skirt because it turned out so well! I began pattern making the third skirt and because i had talked with my lecturers about how to construct each skirt it was easy for me as i knew what i was doing. It was pretty simple pattern making the third skirt which came to my surprise because it looked harder than the other skirts. I completed my pattern making and went on to pin and cut out the pattern pieces. However, i ran out of time so i wasn't able to sew the skirt together. I was very impressed with myself for getting almost three skirts finished, i would have liked to have sewn it together but ill just have to wait for Monday! Hopefully the third skirt turns out just as amazing as the other two!

Skirts, Skirts, Skirts!

After the first skirt turned out so well i was desperately hoping that all the others would turn out looking equally as brilliant! The second skirt was a bit difficult because i couldn't get my head around how it would be constructed as the angles were going on a slant and coming out, and i wasn't sure how it would stay up and out. I asked for some help just so i could fully understand how to construct each skirt so i didn't have to hassle my lecturers anymore! I continued pattern making the second skirt which took me a little longer because i had to draw a few more pieces as the skirt needed lining. As this skirt was a little more complicated than the first it did take me a while to complete the pattern making for it which was annoying because i really wanted to be ahead at the end of the week.

Good news!

I continued to trace the rest of my bodices off which i completed just before lunch. After lunch i cut out the first pattern of the bodices and toiled it up. I found that the shape of the bodice had changed shape because i had sewn it in a different fabric. I thought i shouldn't continue with toiling my bodices in that fabric because the fabric i am using is so different in stretch and weight. I questioned my lecturers about what i should do and they advised me that i shouldn't toile in that fabric because it will change the shape of my patterns which i do not want. My first toile,which i had sewn in the stretch tulle was perfect so my lecturers suggested i put 2cm of seam allowance just to be safe.

As i didn't have to toile up the rest of my bodices i began pattern making my skirts. I had already started pattern making the first skirt but i needed a little help on how i would sew it together. After talking to my lecturers about the construction of the skirt i found it very easy to pattern make and sew the skirt. It didn't take me long to sew the skirt together and i was very impressed with the outcome! I noticed i didn't put in a centre back seam so i cut one to get it onto the model. I started pinning the hem and the centre back seam to see how the skirt fit on the model. I was very excited as the skirt turned out so well! The fit was perfect and the shape of the skirt was fabulous just what i wanted it to look like. The only thing i had to change on the pattern was to put in the centre back seam allowance.

Bodice Patterns and a Surprise!

I arrived at Tafe early so i could get a head start on my pattern making because i felt as though i was a bit behind. I continued marking each bodice style onto my master which i completed just before i went to lunch. I did have to draw on my toile to get the right "look". After lunch i began to trace off each style of bodice. I wanted to get all of the styles traced off but i ran out of time! I was exhausted when i left Tafe and i had to catch the train home which i really didn't want to do because i just wanted to get home and have nap before i went to work. It doesn't take that long to get home but today it felt like forever! I eventually got home and when i walked through the door there was a little surprise waiting for me!

My dog passed last year in December and my family and i had been talking about getting a puppy for last month. We almost bought a Kelpie cross Shepard but decided not to because we really want another Labrador. When i arrived home that day i saw my dad putting out my dogs beds and then my eyes caught this little brown puppy trotting across the courtyard! I instantly dropped all my bags and screamed with excitement! I couldn't believe we had a new puppy dog! It was the best surprise i could ever come home to besides winning the lottery :P

Now it's going to be impossible to leave and go into Tafe!

And it begins!

My first day at Tafe was very enjoyable. It was exciting to see everyone again and claiming our sewing machines to make sure that we picked a good one! I couldn't wait to get started on my work again as a felt as though i didn't do enough work during the holidays. I began with pinning the toile of my bodice to my mannequin so i could check the seams, fit and the length. The first change i had to make was to redraw some of the seams because they had pulled forward. I then transferred the markings from the bodice onto paper. I decided to use a different coloured marker for each of the 6 styles of bodices in my range. By having 6 different colours marked on the bodice "master" i can just trace off each pattern. I thought this would be a good idea because i want each bodice to fit the same but to have something unique, and that unique twist is having different necklines and hems.

My first day went so quickly that when i looked at the clock it was 3:00 and i had to start packing up to leave for my train home. I was very happy with what i had accomplished in my first day and i had already planned what i needed to get done for the next day.

The new campus!

I was able to see the new campus before we all went back to Tafe, which meant i got to claim an exciting new spot. I chose a fabulous spot in the new room we are in, right next to the window! Yipee!!! I immediately warmed to our new campus which i thought wouldn't happen because we were told so many negative things about the place. I got my mother to drop me in the first day because all of the stuff I had to carry in. Then i caught the train home which was very exciting but I'm sure the novelty will wear off after i have to catch it every single day! Our room is on the first level which, has huge windows that provides more than enough natural light to work with. Being in third year gives us the priority to stay in our room during morning tea and lunch where as first and second years do not have this privilege. The only bad thing is that we have to pack up at 3:20pm to be out by 3:30 but i think they are reassessing this decision for third years so we have more time during the day as some of us have a huge work load to complete.

My work space

My Inspiration Board

Hong Kong!

I finished the toile for the bodice in the stretch tulle which i what i wanted to get done before i went away to Hong Kong! Now i'm back and i'm ready to get into it all...i think!!! When i was in Hong Kong we went to Sham Shui Po which is known for the fabrics and accessories. I decided i didn't want to get my fabric over there because i am getting it through a friend back home, and i didn't like the silks that i saw over in Hong Kong. However, i did get a lot and i mean A LOT of Swarovski crystal beads to embellish my range with. I'm ordering my fabric in the next week, it's taken me a bit more time that i would have wanted but i want to get the right fabric otherwise i don't think it will look perfect!

One more week of holidays and then we're back at our new campus which i am very excited to see because it's apparently amazing! For the rest of the time that i have off i will be pattern making like crazy! I just hope i do it all right so i don't get behind my time plan!