W/c Sunday 28th March

Sunday 28th March:

After booking in for my printing at the university printer, I realised that due to the date I was able to book for meant that I had 9days to make the whole collection due to the fact there is only one day a week available and on those days there is only 8meters available to be printed. And due to the fact that this is the only printer of this nature available to all studeents in the university, I began to look to outsource.

The only issue with outsourcing is that the cost increases greatly but the outcome and time factors prove that this is the best decision.

Today I worked on laying out my print for sending off tomorrow. I initially put together a layout on an A4 sheet and then I multiplied this and laid it into a half drop pattern on the size document I need to send direct the the printers which I intend to do tomorrow.






I also worked on the line up for the collection, including the extra two outfits today.

W/c Sunday 21st March

Very long and productive week this week.

Monday 22nd March:

I spent the day discussing with the tutors the final design features of the collection. I worked on the collar and the hood on outfit 3.

The collar shape is very simple and through measuring the neck line I was able to draft the initial shape and after testing this toile, I added on the v-shape to ensure that it would attach properly to the v-neckline on the shirt. I redrafted this accordingly and make the collar, ready to insert it.

I then began drafting the hood. I chose to only attach the collar around the back, upto the side seams as it would have become too bulky around the neckline with the hood and the collar if a full hood. The inital hood I made, was too shallow so I added on extra depth and redrafting. From this I shaped the hood to fit with the design lines. I then inserted the hood, then the collar then the facing to add a neatness to the finished garment.

After this I spent some time working with my tutor to figure out the best way to insert my panel in the back of the playsuit on outfit 2.

Tuesday 23rd & Wesnesday 24th March:

Working towards getting all my toiles at a complete point so that I could take them to my tutorial to get approval for the next steps.

Wednesday 24th March:

I spent time working with the knit technician today to work out the number of rows and needles needed to make the cuffs for the trousers on outfit 3.




I arranged a tutorial to ensure that all my toiles where up to scratch before my final toile critique on Monday.

There were simply a few minor adjustments which needed making, including facings and not using a waist band on my trousers.

Thursday 25th March:

I worked on all the amendments as specificed by my tutors to get everything ready for Monday's toile critique. I managed to get all the amendments made.

Friday 26th March:

I worked to ensure that all my patterns and draft patterns are ready to lay plan and ultimately to cut out the pieces ready for manufacture. I also completed the patterns for the extra two outfits and made toiles for the coat for outfit 5 and the shorts for outft 6 to ensure the patterns worked correctly.

Saturday 27th March:

I spent all day planning my patterns ready for my real fabric. I also worked out how much of each real fabric I require.

Saturday 20th March

Today I made a couple of decisions with regard to my designs.

Outfit 3 -

Shirt: I decided that I would remove the back insert on the shirt as I think it will be too fussy and bulky with respect to the hood and collar. As a result I retraced my draft and remade the shirt, complete with facing to test the fit and in preparation for working on the collar and hood next week.

Trousers: Through adding in the pleats for a more aesthetically pleasing front I have formed a problem with regard to the pocket as this will now not work in the place I initially chose. I am still debating whether to simply move the pocket or to make it into more of a swag style pocket, in line with the other garments. This is something I will need to consider and possibly discuss with my tutor. Also from my first toile and previous issues, I have lengthened the leg to ensure enough length for the models.

Outfit 4 - T-shirt: following careful consideration I have realised that a t-shirt does not fit in very well with the collection as it seems a bit random and not really in line the intended product. Therefore I have decided that a fairly standard and simple, collarless white shirt with printed sleeves woule be more appropriate. So I toiled this today.

I worked on my shirt bodices and sleeves today so that they are ready to work on them early next week to get everything ready for final toile critique.















Following this I worked on my trousers which is when I made the decision to add inserts, rather than the pocket.

Thursday 18th March

This evening was the second toile critique so I spent a bit of time this morning getting all my files in order, checking what needed to be done on each garment and generally organising my self.

Following this I was working on my shirt dress of outfit one, ensuring that the collar was up to scratch. during this I made a couple of mistakes but luckily they were easy to rectify.

one issues I had was the the back section of the collar was a little too large compared to the collar stand but I worked this in and changed it on my draft to ensure that next time I made it it would be more accurate.

I also discovered that the front two sections of the collar were too long and therefore I was unable to attach the bodice to the facing. I removed the excess and re-sewed the collar back together followed by sewing in the lining.

I then updated all my drafts.

I also worked on the leggings for outfit one. Following manufacturing the garment I made the decision to remove the side seam of the leggings because this will reduce the chance of mis-matching through the print.

Following removing this side seam, I re-made the garment and added a waist band. During the fit for this, I decided that they did not need to be at the waist so took them down to the hips and they were also too long so I reduced the length. Due to a lack of knowledge I made the waistband incorrectly so this is first job for next week.

The toile critique went well, with positive feedback from my tutor and a deadline set for me to attempt to complete all my toiles by the end of next week, which through careful planning, should be feesible.

Today I met my first year helper. Each third year is assigned a first year student to assist with any work they desire. I met my assistant and briefed her on whatI want her to do. Her roles included working drawings and production sketches, created on Illustrator and a personal design project based around bags.

Monday 15th March

Today I completed the Alternative Fashion Week outfit.

The fabric choices where made for us and I am not happy with the result as due to the nature of the fabric, manufacture was very difficult as the fabric moves a lot, even when pinned properly in place. However, my tutors are happy with the result and it will be on the catwalk in London next month. It will be accessorised with grey knee socks and white pumps.

Thursday 10th March

I focused on making that AFW garments today and managed to get about three quarters of the way through both of them.

I also recieved a selection of graffiti illustrations from my artist to pick from so I sifted through those and requested he send me fine linered outlines for me to manipulate and test colours with.

Due to having changed my stirruped trousers to leggings I have begun considering how to go about matching colour printed with transfer printing and digital printing so have a meeting on Monday to discuss with this with the print technician.

Tuesday 9th March

My first job this evening was to correct the skirt 'swag' pattern. Which I did by adding on the 2cm it was out by the first time around. The second toile was successful.

This evening I also cut out all my fabric for the Alternative Fashion Week garments.