WEEK 23 - SKIRT 2

Skirt 2 - Making



We're into the fifth week of the module and this week is the making of skirt 2, our group worked with a cotton dog tooth fabric,  I used the basic skirt block as my base with the idea of making a tight pencil skirt, as i began to cut the fabric the edges came apart really easily this inspired me to change my original idea and work with the fabric as opposed to against it.

 I then had the idea of cutting and changing the original block at either side and using strips of the frayed fabric in the gaps (see pics).

As i cut the shapes onto the bias of the material it started to fray even more, i sat and frayed all the outside edges, afer experimenting i felt as though the idea of using the strips didnt work as well as i thought, as it looked too much.

As i was hunting through my wardrobe for old clothes to cut up for my fabric file, i came across a coat with interesting military style details.

Curved shape cut from original block

I cut the shoulder details off and styled them onto my skirt.     

First idea of using frayed strips draped into inserts

Sewing on coat detail

Improvement/What went wrong

1. As i was cutting the pattern on the double i managed to snip the corner of the centre back where i was to put my zip in, take more time over pattern cutting!

2. I'm not sure what happened here but having sewed all the seams together i put it back on the mannequin to pin in my zip the skirt had gone really big at the top and didnt close at the bottom this accident worked to my advantage as it gave me the idea of inserting a draped panel into the back, to give a bussle effect.

Centre Back gone wrong

First attempt at drape insert

3. The biggest problem was seam allowance, i feel i vastly improved on my seams as a whole because this is my first garment i manage to sew all my seams on the inside! However, this time i didnt understand why my skirt had shrunk so much until someone pointed out to me on the morning of the show i had gone majorly over on my 1cm seam allowance on one of my seams.  For further improvements, i need to always check my seams once sewn.

4.Finally i feel i have majorly improved on my zip as this week i attempted an invisible one, which turned out well i double over the fabric and used the zip foot to get close to the edge, on the outside the fabric is close enough to the zip to practically conceal it.

Other Findings;

How well did it work as a garment?

This is my most successful garment to date, i think this is because the more pieces i make the more confident i become, although i am frustrated with the overall group effort, as we agree on a material and plan to buy in advance to give ourselves the weekend to research and work on it but the group doesnt stick to whats agreed. I feel this is affecting my overall make as i dont have the time i want to try more technical or challenging details.

We had agreed on jersey for this skirt, i spent the weekend researching what works and what doesnt, to come in on monday to find a different fabric had been purchased with no consulatation.

Is it fashion?

Yes i feel it is fashion as the back has a dimmed hem and from my research i can see this re-occuring, short at the front and long at the back.

What was the fabric?

dogtooth cotton

How much did you use

1 metre

How much did it cost?

£7.50pm

where was it sourced?

?

FINISHED GARMENT