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From: amazing46
Date: 11-26-2005, 11:49 PM (1 of 5)
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Hello everyone, This is my first post here and I am looking forward to learning a thing or two. As a mixed media artist, among many things I have done collage. So the idea of "collage-ing" my clothing is quite fun! However, the thing is, I don't know a whole lot about sewing other than hand sewing, or putting whatever under the needle on the machine and go......... . Don't laugh, please. (grin)  Anyway, has anyone heard of the company called Blue Fish ? I like their clothes. So freestylish and I want to be able to make my own patterns but it looks so loosey-goosey, ya know ? How could I do this ? Any suggestions ? Also, I have been Trying...(eeek!) to alter some of my own clothing to make it look different...and well, I am going in blind, sort of. Any tips as to what I should consider first in changing "pieces" of apparell....ripping to re-sew, cutting to re-sew. I have gained some weight and was trying to enlarge a pretty str8 skirt made of twill (??). It basically has a front and back, like a pair of jeans, so I cut out each part..and want to add to it from each side with an alternate fabric. How can I do this or what should I keep in mind while attempting this ? Thank you everyone ahead of time !!! Hope u all had a great Turkey day! Amazing46 |
User: amazing46
Member since: 11-26-2005 Total posts: 6 |
From: DorothyL
Date: 11-27-2005, 08:15 AM (2 of 5)
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If you are fairly new to sewing you might want to look at traditional patterns and see if you can put some of your ideas to work on them rather than trying to start from scratch. If the regular pattern books in the fabric store don't give you ideas, check out some of the smaller independent pattern sites. For ideas you could start with this site. http://www.purrfection.com/pawprints/index.htm Or someone must still have that address for the Bernina fashion show. Maybe there is a link from berninausa.com site. But the Blue Fish line looks to be more knits and sport clothes so you might be moving ideas from one texture to another. It's easy enough to do but like anything else you have to learn about the medium to know what you can do and how to work with it. Quilting sites and books with wearable art is another source. You probably have a lot of ideas. What you need to learn is how to put them not on paper but on fabric. That might take more practice than you think. Dorothy |
User: DorothyL
Member since: 12-09-2002 Total posts: 3883 |
From: bridesmom
Date: 11-28-2005, 04:16 AM (3 of 5)
Hi and welcome! Personally I haven't done much enlarging of stuff, I have found it to be way more difficult than I have the time for. Making things smaller is much easier, but that doesn't help you at the moment. I'd have to agree with Dorothy, that it would be easier to start with some basic patterns and go from there, there are some nice simple easy ones to start with. If you are going to deconstruct a ready to wear item I'd advise against ripping out, unless you are going for a ripped look!! It helps to see how they have constructed it for when you are going to put it back together, kind of like putting a car engine back together, all the pieces need to be back in the right place  Get a good pair of small pointed embroidery scissors or snips to take your garment apart too.
Laura
Tickled pink with my Innovis 4000D |
User: bridesmom
Member since: 01-21-2004 Total posts: 2026 |
From: paroper
Date: 11-28-2005, 10:56 AM (4 of 5)
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You would be amazed at how easy it is to change a pattern, add a new piece of fabric in an odd place, whatever. All you do is slash your pattern where ever you want the "change" or line and add seam allowances on both sides of the pattern. That is so much easier than working with nothing. Since you are in college and may need a couple of electives to graduate, may I recommend a basic sewing class (should be a 3 hour class with a 2-3 hour lab..some of these meet lab 2 days a week) and a flat pattern/design class. They are usually 3 credit hours each. This will teach you some of the basics of sewing including some fabric basics (there are additional classes avail if you want a lot of information on fabrics). They are usually loosely run and a good teacher will be happy to answer your questions as you "reach out" to your interests and potential. After completing the basic clothing class, take the flat pattern and design class. The credit hours and lab set up should be the same. You put in a lot of hours of time for only a few credits but consider that most of your homework is done in the labs and it isn't so bad. My minor was music so with all the different labs in home ec (cooking and clothing) and required sciences, the manditory practice hours in music just about did me in. I also took 18 hours a semester. Good luck in your venture! The sky is the limit on what you could do. If you take the classes and learn some sewing and fabric basics along with the design class, there is no telling what may happen! pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: chyra
Date: 11-29-2005, 11:09 AM (5 of 5)
| As a fashion design student I can give you some info that I have learned from one of my teachers. The first thing is that you should use a material that has the same characteristics as the twill fabric. Go to the library and pick up some books on fabric and textiles. I can give you some interesting info on how cirtain fabrics act and will give you a good idea of what material you should use with it. I recommend learning how to sew on a machine. I was a hand sewer but after learning how to work on a machine i never want to go back. You can practice basic sewing and also some techniques you might want to try by buying patterns when they are on sale and using muslin to test the pattern out first. This is a trick we were taught in class. It cheaper to learn by mistake on a cheap fabric as opposed to a one of a kind material. If you want to extend the skirt you can take some paper and mark an inch outside of the garment to add a size. I recomend checking out Sewing 101, and some books by Sandra Betzina. If you like I can also email you some fabric tips I learned in my textiles class that can help you alter a garment without sewing. Good Luck. |
User: chyra
Member since: 11-21-2005 Total posts: 1 |
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