Updates

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This post is to catch up on the blog posts that I missed from the last week, and to give general updates on my progress so far.

I posted my Week 1 goals as:
Buy all clothes/fabric needed
Finish sketching out and finalizing designs
Confirm models
Start pattern drafting/cutting/sewing first pieces

Summary of what I accomplished in the first week:

Bought all needed clothes/fabric

Finalized two out of three designs/look ideas

Confirmed all models—got measurements from 2

Made a mock up of a pair of high-waist shorts

Made pattern for top

Some things in the first week definitely took longer than I expected them to. The primary example for this would have to be making the pattern for the first top. I’ve never made anything with a sweetheart neckline before, and I didn’t really know how to go about making this. I found this really awesome website that helps you make custom sized patterns. This is the one I used: http://www.burdastyle.com/techniques/draft-a-bodice-with-sweetheart-neckline. The only issue I had is that their instructions include using a regular bodice draft, which I didn’t have, so I had to draft one just to cut it up and use about a quarter of it. 

This process, which I expected to take about 30 minutes, ended up taking about 3 hours.

Goals for Week 2:

Finish top and shorts for first look

Get more than halfway finished with dress for second look

Get third model’s measurements

Finalize third design

Current progress:

Right now I have started work on the dress for the second look and I did a fitting with my model for the first look, so I’m hoping to try to finish that one up today. I also finalized my design for the third look.

Sketch for first look:

Sketch for second look:

Sketch for third look:

Progress on top:

Front:

Back:

Day 2

Goals for day 2:
Do more research on construction of specific pieces
Get measurements from confirmed models
Find third model


Before I started the project, I had originally planned to take today for going to more thrift stores, but after yesterday's success, it didn't seem necessary. After looking at all of the clothes that I bought, I think that I have enough fabric. If I end up needing more, I will make a plan to go to other thrift stores later in the week. I might also go to the Goodwill on Haight St. tomorrow, but I haven't decided yet. Last night, I decided to make today more focused on figuring out what designs I'm planning on choosing and how I'm going to construct the pieces.


I got measurements from one of my models, but I'm still waiting on the other. This is okay though because I can start on the first piece with the measurements that I have while I am waiting. After sketching for a while more today, I have decided for sure on two looks that I'm planning to make, and I still have to sketch a little bit more and figure out the third look. I also did some concentrated research on how to construct a few of the things I'm planning on making to give me a guide of where to start for making a pattern.


I have not yet figured out my third model, but I'm hoping to get that finalized tomorrow.


Goals for day 3:
Figure out third model
Go to Goodwill on Haight (maybe)
Start drafting pattern and making a mock up for shorts
Take and post 'before' photos of the clothes I bought
Post current sketches

Day 1

I had written this out Monday night, but I guess I had forgotten to post it!


Goals for the first week:
Buy all clothes/fabric needed
Finish sketching out and finalizing designs
Confirm models
Start pattern drafting/cutting/sewing first pieces

Goals for day 1:
Go to 3 thrift stores around the city
Start sketching
Confirm first model

My first day went really well. I ended up getting more done than I originally set off to do. It was my goal to make it to three thrift stores, and I ended up going to four. In the morning I went to The Salvation Army on 4th Ave and Geary and Goodwill on Clement and 10th Ave. At The Salvation Army, I bought a lot of clothes, most of which were button down shirts. Button down shirts, both mens and womens, are really helpful for projects like this because they have a lot of fabric on the back that is uninterrupted by any seems, so it is easier to cut pattern pieces out of it. I was also really tempted by the few antique sewing machines they had, but that has to wait for a later time. I was less successful at Goodwill on Clement, and I only found one item there that I liked after searching through the whole store. Everything else wasn't quite right.

In the afternoon, I went to Out of the Closet on Polk and California and Goodwill on Filmore and Post. These two trips were both successful. I bought a lot of smaller things at Out of the Closet, and I also bought a long dress with a lot of usable fabric. The store itself is pleasant, and a few other people there had their dogs with them, so shopping was combined with making sure I wasn't going to step on any tails! My second trip to a Goodwill was much more successful than the first. I bought three items there, including another long dress.

I couldn't get any good pictures of the clothes I bought yet, so I will do that later this week and post them. I also took pictures of each of the store fronts, but I had a small technical difficulty with getting them off of my iPod, so those might come later.

After going to Goodwill, my time was interrupted by soccer practice. When I got home in the evening, I tried to round out the 7 hours by sketching out a few outfit design ideas. I also was able to confirm two models, Kate and Tali.

Summary of what I accomplished on Day 1:
Went to 4 thrift stores
Did a little bit of sketching
Confirmed 2 models, but don't have measurements yet

Goals for Day 2:
Do more research on construction of specific pieces
Get measurements from confirmed models
Find third model

Update 1

I haven't had a lot of time to think about my senior project this week, but this is where I am right now.

I might have a few people I can try to contact about trying to get an internship, but I'm not sure this is what I want to do.
For my project I really do want to sew and design clothes, and I feel that I already have a time pressure with senior project being only three weeks. I feel that doing an internship would only limit my time further and prevent me from getting any of my own design work completed.
I also don't know who could be an outside supervisor, and don't really know how to look for someone to do this.