Sample Boards

With the developments of my samples I have placed them on boards to display them in the final show so many people are able to see my development and understand where I got my inspiration from. I do feel that my FMP has been mainly of me exploring different ways to exaggerate the silhouette and that is the reason why I have many sample boards. I wanted to show all my samples and how I was able to crate my garments. I do feel the samples are the most important aspect of making as you are able to try your theory out and see if the technique would work which then helps you decide if you can carry that technique out in the final collection. 

In my sample board collection, I have picked the samples that link to final collection that ones that I have used to further generate my final collection. Those few samples are the ones that inspired me to create my garments like the way they are. 

In my opinion I have enjoyed picking the ones that I like the most and the ones that I feel represent my garments the most it was hard as I wanted to put all my samples on the board but I picked the ones that are very eye-catching and inspirational. 

Using the Wacom tablet/Pen

It was my first time using a Wacom tablet and pen, it was very hard to use it first I had to get a feel of how to navigate myself around the screen. However, I found it more useful then when I had used the mouse, with the pen I am able to draw the detail more freely just like if I was using an actual pencil. Whereas the mouse I am more restricted.

the garment silhouette and texture where I can easily replicate with the use of the Wacom tablet as I can create fluent brush strokes but also make smooth curved lines. With more practice I do feel I will be more confident with the Wacom tablet and use it for all my illustrations. My aim is to continue using the Wacom tablet to become more confident with it and able to freely use it for every design aspect of my work.

↑ (Final Illustration)

As it was the first time using the Wacom tablet and pen I only created a simple final illustration of my final pieces I used the sketch I created photocopied them and used them as guide lines when creating my digital drawing on illustrator.

Knot Samples

Knots 

It was something that I have never done, it was a new experience for me even though it is a very simple technique, easy to do and it did not take long. What I liked about it was the very simple look it has also how you can play around with it. It can be placed anywhere on a garment which I love. I was pleased with the outcome. I started off with the first fabric I got which was cotton muslin fabric I got a ¼ meter of it as it was the first try and I did not want to waste much fabric, the fabric itself is very light weight, it holds its structure which was a key thing however, when I created few knots I realised the fabric was unable to crate very big knots as it was very thin cotton muslin I did try knotting twice, over lapping the knots they just did not come as oversized as I wanted. Moving on, I then tired with a thick jersey fabric, with the thickness of this fabric it helped creating big knots I was pleased with the outcome also the fabric was not fraying whereas the muslin fabric was fraying a lot causing it to have a very messy look. It would have caused me a problem if I use knots in my garments as I would have had to over-lock all the edges of each strip before I create knots with it and you would have been able to see the seams.

 

 

The reason for getting the idea of creating knots is because they linked to me concept very well, the idea of creating coral rocks if I had more time I would have liked to replicate the coral reef using knots in using other fabrics colours, also applying other sample work with it such as some bead work so I have a mixed material sample, this would have given me more ideas that I could have used in my designing. I do feel that I could have done more samples relating to this technique maybe add other embellishments with the knots see how that works or use a thick fabric to create very oversized Knots.

 

Beads and Sequins Sample

When doing my designer research, looking at the designer garments picking out small sections of the surface design I was able to create range of bead and sequin samples that relate to my concept, another place for inspiration was Pinterest I found a range of bead work that catches my eye and was interested to replicate. I found it very useful to do as many samples as I can even if they looked similar it was for me to see the little changes I have done and how the outcome came out. The sample were very helpful the design development stage as I have something to refer back to get a visual image of how they would fit on the garment but also I am able to show what the small details on my sketches look 3D. Furthermore, with creating the samples I was able to place them in different positions on a mannequin I was enable to see how they would look on a figure also see where they look best placed another thing it helped me be inspired when designing as I can visual the samples and add them on the garment knowing it will work well.

At the stage of creating my samples I experimented with different colours to get an understanding of what colours I could include in my designing, it enabled for me to see what colours worked well with each other and how I could use the colours to my better understanding to fully showcase the range of colours in coral reef in my work.  It was another way for me to use as a guide in my designing as I always have problems picking colours as I have a hard time imagining how the colours will work together and by these samples I am able to see if they work or not, this way it makes it easier getting all the final materials for the final garments.

Sketchbook Initial Responses

Continuing to create responses I started to experiment with straws this helped create the rippled and coral effect how they are overlapping and in different heights. The colours that I used were mainly blue red and pink. After doing this response I do feel I need to go back to this page to improve as I can add more details and mediums this way I can further develop the response so I can have inspirational responses that I can use in my designing stages.

Source of material and fabric

When it was time for me to start making, the best place more me was First for fabric. The had a wide range of fabric in different colour it took me a while to decide what fabric would be best for my garments. As I knew from doing the main Sketchbook the colours that I would pick it was easy to find the colours it was more of the choice of fabric I should be using I had to keep in mind that it has to with stand the weight of the surface decoration and still drape well on the wears figure.  I have collected all the recite for every place I went to get all the material I needed.

I have been to John Lewis as I needed more jersey fabric and the Grangier market had ran out of them. I was not pleased with the price of the fabric as it cost a lot in john Lewis. it was £6 half a meter and I got 1 meter for £5 at the Grangier market.

Here are the ones that I have collected the first one is the amount I spent at 1st for fabric I was pleased with the amount I got how low the price was had I gone to John Lewis I would be spending the same amount for one single fabric. The next recite is from John Lewis when I had brought the muslin fabric for the samples it was a good price. Last one is when I went in to Grangier market and got beads and sequins.

Research; Main Sketchbook

In my main sketchbook I have used it for my colour pallets looking at the different colours based on the images I found. I would pick images that have different texture in them then base the colour swatches on the images I have placed on that page.  By doing this it has helped me to get a better understanding of what colours I can use further in my design development stage. The main sketchbook was there for me to crate different colour pallets which would lead me to know what colours I would be using in my final garment, also to further investigate in designer garments and see the type of texture they have on their collections. The main sketchbook also had all the samples that I created to show the process on how I father developed the samples from trying different colours or using different fabric, with this I am able to see physically what sample I can also use in my designs and final garment. With the wide range of samples, I am able to know what techniques I can further develop that could be by using different fabric or colour even by mixing up different samples together to get the coral effect that I am looking for.

In conclusion the main sketchbook was created for me to have a source that I can go back to when I am designing as it has all the texture images, designer research with close up also samples. I can then go back and look at the colours pallets but also see what texture I have replicated in my samples section to further decide if that can go well with my designs. I am happy the way the sketchbook has been developed I feel I have placed all my most important research in this sketchbook and pleased how well I have used this sketchbook in my design and making process.

 

Tapestry weaving

When I was investigating different samples that I could create that could relate to my concept I came upon hand weaving also called tapestry weaving I looked in to this further to find ways I can create this sample, By  watched this video of how to create your own tapestry however, in this video she uses a weaving frame I do not have one but I found an alternative video in that clip this lady uses a card board instead of a weaving frame she cuts out the each creating slits with 1/2 inch between each slit so the yarns are placed in them. I am interested in trying this technique out as it would be very exciting to see how this sample will come out and if it goes well I could use it in my final collection.

 

Research; initial sketchbook

Further in to my research I have done more initial responses that are helping me deiced on what features of the coral I like and what I find interesting to continue in my design developments section but also it is helping me experiment with different colours and textures.

I wanted to try something different, instead of creating 3D drawing or focusing on the texture I wanted to see how well I am at doing 2D detailed drawings, with that in mind I created a response of a close of up a coral creature using oil pastels I made sure I was very focused on the detail I wanted to show the shading where the light and dark is but also focus on the way the lines are to show the curves and how the object is not just flat but has dimension.
I really liked doing this drawing it did take a while to do but the end results where amazing, I do feel overall that I could have gone back into this drawing to add more shading this would have given it a more realistic feel to it. My aim is to continue doing detailed drawing as well as the more abstract as well, with more practice I can improve on my drawings and get them to a professional standard. I also think that I should also try doing a digital drawing maybe use the Wacom tablet this way I can say that I have widen my skills in the drawing section. Furthermore, I can take it a step forward and use Photoshop and change the colours show the different colours and use it as a colour pallet for when I am designing.

The next response I did is more of a mixed drawing it has a textile feel to it as-well as abstract I have carried the technique of the glue gun on this response but I have also added colour swatches to it the different shades of green. when I was looking at the images I collected, in my mind what struck me the most was how I could create the ruffles and creating these pom-poms it gave the affect I was aiming more I also created small finding that I also likes.

Overall I liked the affect I got but I think I could have improved on this page by creating more pom-poms and line them up together covering the page and giving it a fuller affect which have linked more strongly to the images I was referring to. If I had done that I might have been able to get an idea of it would have looked and maybe used it in my drawings also try with different colours to get an idea of how it would have looked in different colours.

 

Moreover, I continued with the detailed drawings and did a response of an octopus, I really like this drawing as I have fully used colour I was trying to blend in the colours as much as I can see what comes out, what the colours will be like also to show the movement of the octopus. The  reason for picking this image was because I was interested in the movements of octopus, how graceful they are plus I can use that quality in my work. Overall, I would like to have done more responses on this image as I do feel I could have Photoshop and used bold colours change the image add effects on the image to make it look more abstract this would have shown my digital skills.

The final response I have in my initial sketchbook is an acrylic painting of coral rocks, I used the similar colours in the image but also focused on the shape of the rocks as I wanted to show the fine details as my aim is to replicate the surface texture into my designs and final garments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research Sketchbook; Initial Responses

Continuing from the last two blog post of my progress of my initial sketchbook I have done more responses in my sketchbook that give me more ideas of what route I can take my FMP and what my overall concept board can be like.

While I was on Pinterest I fond images of coral like responses were the unknown person created using everyday objects found in the house with closer look you are able to see that they have used paper cupcake cases, with that in mind I wanted to try for myself and see what the outcome would be. It was a very fun process also it is very quick and easy to do that I would like to carry it out further maybe try different sizes also use other medium.

I do feel my strength lies within the more structural part of design I do like using different medium that I have not used before but it also gives me ideas of the shapes and patterns that I could crate in the making process how I can manipulate the fabric to link with the reposes I created in my sketchbook.

Furthermore, I also looked at jelly fishes as they are very eye-catching but more in the fashion thinking I found I came up with many ideas for design when looking at jelly fishes from there fluid movements to the shape of them that I could use in my designs. With that in mind I added them in my initial sketchbook. This way when I look back in the sketchbook I can get inspirational from all the coral sea life I researched about.

The next response I did was also a more 3D drawing it was with the thought of how it will feel, in this sketchbook most of my drawings are designed with the thought of how it will feel how I can apply these different mediums to create the different texture similar to the coral undersea.  In this response I have used oil pastel first to get colour then I used the glue gun to create the bumps similar to the image I found on Pinterest which inspired me to create this response. I really liked that outcome I got when I applied the glue on top it looks like the glue is another colour also with the use of tissue paper and watercolours. I will continue with this technique in further experiments that I create as it I s very quick simple but I also believe that I can further develop this technique over time and maybe use it in my designs.