Creating: Learn to Sew week 5

This week everyone brought in their patterns and the teacher helped everyone trace them and cut out the fabric pieces.  I couldn't believe that we actually were going to start a project.  I was still working on my Aline skirt  and trying to remember how to do sports seams.  We also  learned button holes and  how to sew a button- a very valuable skill that was more difficult than I thought it would be to learn.  For homework  we have to do three button holes and buttons and actually  close with one another.

Here is a picture of the french seam that I did in Organdy for homework  from last class.

I have so much to do now.  I have to get fabric for my final project, cut it and  get ready to sew it for next class!!  Plus all my homework for fashion design class.

Creating: Fashion Design Class Broward College week 2

Ok  NOW I know why  Ms.Davidson  said  we would want to call her at 3am!! Week two assignments  are alot of homework and  I peeked at week 3 assignments  and that is alot too. By peeking..I mean all the assignments  are online, I just looked at the future weeks work..  Ms. Davidson did an awesome job organizing the course and you know exactly what is expected from you. If  I don't do these assignments immediately after class there is no way  I could  make up the time to complete this all at once!!.  So if you take this course- dedicate time to it  otherwise the end  will not be fun.

Here is one of my croquis figures  from Week one's homework assignment:

First attempt, Ms. Davidson drew some correcting lines on this figure.

Second attempt,  I redrew the figure and taped the second version over the first croquis.

In class, Ms. Davidson asked to see our homework.  ONLY TWO people did it!  I was one of them.  She gave me feedback on my Croquis figures and helped me to see my mistakes in analysis and  I told her I would redo some  and I did and I drew  some more too.  Well, for the  in class assignment you needed...you guess it, the croquis figure  to do the classwork.  I was glad I was set, being prepared  makes the class easier and the feedback from the teacher gives you the opportunity to see how you need to improve.

The homework assignment  is actually several assignments.  Including a 4 page inspiration collage and 10 fashion sketches  using the croquis figures.

Creating: Learn to Sew week 4

So  it is week four  of learn to sew and this week was strange to say the least.  We were locked out of our class for an hour because security  didn't open the door.  Another teacher stole our classroom in the rudest  way possible..And two student  from another class came to our session and took most of the teacher's energy.

I finally learned how to do a French seam on the upside..

Step one to a french seam- sew a seam with the wrong side facing together and the right sides of the fabric facing outward.

Miami Dade non credit courses seem disorganized.  I dropped one class  I was going to take.  I called and they said it was under enrolled... and I am hoping to take one more course that Starts on Sunday, I am hoping that the teacher has assignments  in which we produce something right away.

Creating: Fashion Design Class Broward College

Last night was my first fashion design class.  I was so excited.  I met Kristii first, she is a nineteen year old musician that has a talent for drawing and would like to attend SCAD. She shared her sketches and they are amazing.  Ms. Davidson, the teacher pointed me out and asked Melina? I had been emailing her via facebook to make sure I was ready for class.  It upsets me when people come to class late and don't have a pencil, which happened last night - it is disrespectful. I strive to be prepared and on time.

 Ms. Davidson announced that we were going to hit the ground running and she was not kidding.  With only seven classes left there is so much to do  already, but this is what I signed up for. She said that the purpose of the class was to prepare people for the fashion design world, meaning if you are curious about what the grueling fashion industry is like, this class will give you that fast paced taste.  The class actually is part of the Fast Track continuing education courses for Broward College.  And so it is exactly that fast.

When Ms. Davidson spoke about students cutting themselves, I blurted out, "What does it mean when the teacher mentions blood on the first class?!" Then she kept saying, not to panic.... And something about having the need to call her at 3 am!  I was thinking WHAT?! So I asked her,  "why would I be calling you at 3 am?"  Because  I am thinking, there is no way  I am going to ever be up at 3 am working on homework...then I remembered I used to do homework at 3am in university over 20 plus years ago.  Am I there again?   Oh no, I signed up for this!

So our first assignment was to draw the proportion of the head and to draw a static croquis figure.  I have practiced this before  but not the way she taught it, so  I was like ok here we go.... For homework 20 head drawings and three croquis figures  two of which are action with figure analysis.  I will be posting that once I do it.

So  I realized that Saturday to Saturday is 7 days and Wednesday to Wednesday seems like two days with all that stuff I have to do in between.  This is going to be a busy summer and I plan on blogging the whole experience.

Here is the class kit and book

regular price $80, this term it was free.

I love this book.  This is actually my second copy.

Sample from my practicing heads homework.

Creating: Learn to Sew Class Week 3

June 8, 2013, class thinned out a little bit - less people showed up.  I really  don't blame them.  All we are doing is drill and kill assignments.  If are super new to sewing  I could see how this could be a turn off.  I thankfully know a little  something about sewing,  so these drill and kill assignments  are more like  tests  of my ability  to be accurate.  It tests my patience too, and I have re-named the class  "The Zen of Sewing."  The teacher Rucht  is getting more strict.  Even though it is a noncredit class, she checks the homework  and expects  that you give it your all.

Last week was about  sewing hems.  This week  I thought  was about  seams..  which is what I really  wanted to learn, but she changed it to pleats.  Yes, pleats!!! So  we did  one inch side pleats  and box pleats..  and the homework is  to practice.  I just might rebel  and show up with my first  made from scratch skirt instead, because that is really  what I want to do this week.

one inch side pleats

half inch side pleats

box pleat

Creating: sewing zipper pouch

I have been wanting to create a zipper pouch for awhile.  So I found a tutorial online and I am super happy with the results.

Creating: Learn to Sew Class Week 2

The homework  from last week also included  taking measurements. Again this week  the homework included taking measurements.  Nothing is being made in the class; it is just sewing straight lines so far.

The homework and classwork this week  included  working on creating hems.  Getting the stitches as close to the edge as possible.

 My goal is to try to the get the stitches as consistently spaced from the edge as possible.

Creating: Learn to Sew Class Week 1

I got into the Miami Dade College sewing class Learn to Sew Summer 2013.  The original teacher scheduled for the class decided  not to teach it and lucky for me  the new teacher Rucht D'Oleo decided to take the class.  When I found out she was the teacher I was excited!  She is a professional in the fashion industry.

The class supply list is as follows:

1. Pins and hand sewing needles with cushion
2. Dotted pattern paper (this one has been challenging to find a source, so I don't have any yet.)
3. Fabric scissors and paper scissors
4. Seam ripper
5. Threads
6. Thread clipper
7.  Curve and straight rulers
8. Tape measurement
9. Transparent tape
10. Mechanical pencil 07
11. Notcher ( still need to get this)
12. Tailor chalk
13.  5 yards of Muslin fabric
14. Tracing wheel (plan on getting a better one)

*Loop tuner

*Awl

*3 yards of your favorite fabric for the last project

* pattern hangers

*suggested but not required 

The homework is to practice measuring figures and  sewing straight lines on muslin.

Creating: fashion design

So  I tried this before and I am trying it again - to learn to sew.  I signed up for the fashion designing class at Broward College   called Fashion Designing.  If you click on that link you can sign up just  go to register and you will see a list of classes.   The teacher is Asanyah Davidson and I am looking forward to learning from her.  Classes start June 12.   I am also taking sewing classes  at Miami Dade College  starting in May.  I will be blogging more and sharing the experience.

sewing: zipper tutorial

Okay this is more like it. This is how you do a zipper.

No more sewing lessons (at least from this teacher)

I still have to take a picture of the nightmare zipper.  When I went to class I had pre-sewn  what I thought was right from the pattern instructions and it turned out to be incorrect, so I pulled it out and did it again.  When it came to do the zipper I was really trying to follow the instructions and the instructor insisted on doing it another way.. - the results are obvious. I didn't even know it so bad until I came home.  She was asking me to sign up for more classes at the end of class, but I declined.  I was so happy to show my husband my "not yet" pants when I came home. When I took out the basting stitches  there it was  - the step they I was trying to tell the teacher I saw - that she insisted otherwise not to do- was obvious missing. I feel blessed that  I didn't have any more hours that I pre-paid of sewing lessons left. I decided to go to YouTube U for sewing lessons instead.  Picture of the zipper coming tomorrow,

sewing: muslin

Today I am preparing my muslin fabric for washing.  I am going to sew my first muslin  in preparation to make a pair of gauchos.  I am using this fabric to practice and get the fit right  before I cut my "good" fabric.  Tomorrow I go to sewing class.

sewing: refashion shrug

This is me in my new shrug.  It doesn't have any closures though, so I don't know if it is technically a shrug.

So,  you have to imagine it the way I intended it to be worn.

For people who didn't read yesterday's post.  This white shrug is made from a white V neck tee, another white tee, and a white pillowcase. I technically don't know how to sew, I am just playing around with fabric and my machine and seeing where it takes me.

sewing: refashion long sleeved shirt

Here is my refashion of my Ali Edwards shirt. (before photo is in a previous post) I cut off the front to get rid of the "life artist" writing on the front and replaced it with the front and back of another tee shirt, gathering it at the top.  It is so comfortable, like wearing pj's. This photo also shows my haircut.  I cut it shorter than I had it before.

sewing and stuff: Today

Listening to the peaceful sounds of the birds and silence, sitting here drinking tea and composing this,  I am grateful.  This is simple, easy, wonderful to me.

I am looking over my shoulder at my shirt I still need to take a picture of, and I still have to go to the store to buy the matching thread...it's okay.  it'll get done when it gets done.

I have been reading about cloth and about fashion history.  I am looking for a fashion history book that is written like a magazine.  I love magazines and find the format so pleasing because I am a visual learner and love pictures.

sewing: refashion

The life artist shirt from the picture in the previous post  is now refashioned..  I just have to figured out one detail and I will post a picture. I kept the sleeves, the neck, and the back of the original shirt intact.

sewing: me and my dressform

This is my dressform.  I have an Ali Edwards shirt that I no longer wear. I am probably going to refashion it very soon.

sewing: stitching for the wash

I am preparing to sew more so I am stitching the ends of fabrics that might unravel.  Now  I am going to throw the yardage in the wash.

sewing: completed shirt

Here it is!  My completed shirt. The hems on the sleeves aren't sewn  I chose to leave them unfinished.  I forgot to get a picture of the back detail.  I wore the shirt yesterday and it was quite comfortable (it is made of knit fabric), just don't get close enough to see the stitches.

sewing: haul

First picture:  bag is about to burst
Second picture: patterns, patterns, patterns,
Third picture: flannel, cotton, and knits, plus scissors and a bias tape maker.