How to: Traditional Corset....

Today  I have learnt how to make a traditional corset. Although I have not finished the corset yet, I will show you a step by step on how I made the corset. Fabric that I used is called coutil, its very strong and stiff suitable for making corset. By the way this is a medium size corset just so you know.

• Cut out all patterns out.

• Sew a couple of stitches on all of the pieces so that you which is the top and which is the bottom.

• Sew the back piece to the back facing together right side to right side with 1cm seam allowance.

• Trim the seam so that you are left with roughly 3mm and then press the facing over.

• Topstitch close to the edge on both back pieces.

• On the back facing turn over half a centimetre and then press.

• Topstitch again as close to the edge as possible.

• Measure 1cm from the topstitch inwards for both sides to create a channel for the boning. Sew along those lines that you've drawn in, if you go off the line slightly the bone won't be able to fit.

• Sew the side back piece to the back piece together (wrong sides to wrong sides) with 1cm seam allowance. do the same on the other side.

• Trim the seams up to about 3mm then run your thumbs along the seam to press it open.

• With the leftover coutil fabric, cut 6x 2.5cm stips for the casing. Use a bias bind maker to make the casing. After you made the casing leave it for a few seconds so that it stiffen.

• Topstitch the casings that you made to the seam that you sewn earlier for the side back and back piece. Make sure that it's as close to the edge as possible.

Here is what I have made so far. I will continue making this corset next week.

Thanks for reading I'll update you again tomorrow!

Creating pattern for the Michiko coat.

So here is a step by step guide/process of how I would be creating the pattern for my michiko coat.

• I traced around the classic coat.
  (1st draft)

• I then extended the length of the coat pattern that I have traced.

(2nd Draft)

• I added in the design lines like button stand, darts on the front and back because the coat is fitted, I moved the darts of the front coat and placed a new dart at the back feature/detail .

(3rd Draft) Front

 Back

• I cut out the pattern and closed the old dart on the front coat and slash open the new dart. I figured out that I can't open the new dart at the back so I have made two panels instead of a dart.

(4th Draft

Back

 Back (two panels)

 

• I re-traced the pattern and added a 1.5cm seam allowance on both back panels and front pattern.

That is what I have done so far. Hopefully I could start toiling before Wednesday. Thanks for reading ^_^

Finally taking shape...

Yesterday I have started to pattern my first design which is the Michiko coat. I can finally see it taking shape. I'm so excited about this collection but at the same time I am also thinking about time management for each of them. Some of the features and detials are a lttle bit complicated so toiling and sampling might take a little time. I have also have to choose my final fabrics but I am still trying to collect as much samples as I can for the next few days. I will be logging the toiling and manufacturing process of my collection on this blog as part of my college brief.

London treck continued.....

About two weeks ago I had posted an entry about my trip in London.That week was the London Fashion Week so I was able to go and watch the fashion show from the courtyard. As it is the fashion week evryone that came really made an effort in what they were wearing. I found it quite bizzard that everyone was just taking pictures of people's outfit and different tv chanels interveiwing about their outfit of the day. I also took some of people's outfit that I found interesting, diverse and that could influence my college work.

Here are a few images that I took from the fashion week;

I think that her eaarings are the centre of attention from her whole outfit.



I like the bright coloured pants that she's wearing.

12 year old fashionistas (younger than my sister)

The bright colours from their outfit reminded me of my colour palette for my FMP.

I like the simplisity of her outfit.

She was wearing a really nice coat and I thought that it would influence me while designing for my collection.

The pop of colour red made her whole outfit stand out and look chic.

Her belt stook out to me the most, I thought that it looked so different from evrybody else.

 Well it's not only the Fashion week that I had intended to visit while I was in London, I also went to visit Brick Lane which was new to me because I haven't been on that side of London before. I found it quite intersting becasue of all the vintage shops, other little clothing shops, cozy cafes and the foods. There was this quite unique and interesting cafe/bar called Brick Lounge that I went to get something to eat from.When you walk in the first thing that I found interesting were the interior, it was nothing that I had seen before and to be honest the food was amazing as well. If you go to Brick Lane I suggest for you to go and try their food it's really goo and healthy as well. ^_^

Here's are some clips from the fashion week, people being interviewed about their outfits.

  So this was my second day trecking the city of London. I hope you liked it!! ^_^

Collection Name...

Today I have finally chosen my collection (it hasn't changed much from the once that I have chosen earlier). Not only that I have chosen my final collection I have also named them and started creating the pattern for my first design.

I have named each of my design based in my theme which is Asian culture and military. I thought that Asian culture might have influenced my collection more that military so I named ten after Asian emperors and Asian names that has meaning behind it.

My first design is a blue fitted coat that has a big shoulder detail, overlapped fastening inspired by Asian traditional clothing and frill on both side of the coat. I named this design after a Japanese empress called Michiko. The coat also has some trousers to go with is so I called it Chen which is a Chinese name.

My second design is a floor length red dress that I've named after a Jia li which means beautiful in Chinese.

My third design is a multi-coloured striped dress that I named after a Japanese princess called Aiko.

My fort and final design is a purple(ish) dress with a shoulder detail is named after a Chinese(king/prince) called Jin YouZhi.

I think that all of the names that I have chosen for my collection really suit them because of the meaning and how my designs just fits with it.


Thanks for reading ^_^ I will put up the images later so that you can see what I'm talking about.

Burberry Prorsum S/S 2012 collection

Recently as some of you might know the London Fashion Week was held on 17-22 February at the Somerset House in London.

I really liked the Burberry Prorsum S/S 2012 collection because it's a little similar to what my FMP collection is all about with the structure, shape and silhouette. 

Here's a video clip from the show.