Evaluation

Evaluation:

This unit has challenged me in all aspects of costume construction; it has developed my understanding of dancer wear costume construction. I have learnt a lot about my strengths and weaknesses which will enable me to improve my professional aspirations. It important to take extra time on certain areas, this would have improved the finished product.

I have found the workshops really useful; they have advanced my understanding of the technical side of dance wear construction. It has made me recognise why the construction techniques are changed and fundamental rules have broken to improve the flexibility in the dance wear. For example some of the seams are on the outside, and bodices not being lined.

I have enjoyed learning a completely new area of construction. I was apprehensive at first because I was throwing myself into the deep end. I am glad I took on this challenge as the new skills I have learnt will further my development in third year and provide me with an alternative way to flatter the movement of the body.

Good time management skills have really helped with this project. It has been really important to get each weeks workshop completed for following week’s workshop.

Sometimes I find myself setting “To do” lists and giving myself a few spare days in case of anything that may go wrong. This made me rush and sometimes make unnecessary mistakes. I need to trust my ability and not give myself such big le-ways. Extra organising and preparation will help my future progress, such as having one note book for each project. I have found myself jumping from one to another which has caused only problems and confusion on what is in which note book.
I find myself ploughing through my “To do” and not thinking about how steps may have side affects on my next construction. I.E I constructed and attached basic piping for hem and neck, but hadn’t been taught how this bodice was to be done for the client. As the costumes are going to be used next year, we are leaving the side seams for any future alterations. We needed to conceal the binding inside at the side seams.
In future I will make sure I know how the areas of the costume is needed to be constructed before I go ahead, and I ensure this doesn’t happen again by doing extra research from books, internet or tutor.

My research has broadened my knowledge of the various styles ballerina tutu and their origins and also history about classical ballet which will support my knowledge to achieve and further my professional aspirations.

I found the pleating hard to keep consistent, which is really important, I found as I was trying to put more of the net underneath the pleat it ended up looking as if the pleats where on top of each other looking gathered. I will practice on scrap net so I can fully grasp the technique for any future work in the professional environment.

I had patterns for the bodice provided for me so all bodices would be exactly the same, as it was for a client it was important. I had to show that I understood how I would have created a pattern; I really enjoyed drafting my bodice on the stand. Previous lessons had really helped me understand how to manipulate the fabric to my advantage-to get it as a “second skin.” I was really pleased with how my bodice patterns looked. I would have improved them by marking alternative markings in different colours to make it as clear as I could.

Working with a client and producing a group of costumes is difficult as it is so import to keep the costumes exactly the same. A group of 6 with alternative style of working and working in alternative areas, it was difficult to keep the costumes the same; it was important to have good communication skills.

My fitting went really well, I only had to change a few minor sections, for me, it was a conclusion that I had grasped the unit and understood the construction of a ballerina’s costume. I was pleased I adapted my patterns correctly.

I have really enjoyed this brief; it has been challenging and very rewarding. At times it was very difficult as it was an area I had never done before, but that’s to be expected. Working for a client was interesting, and showed what the profession would be like, and for that I have learnt a lot, design, shape, colours all have to be checked with the client. I have learnt a lot about how I work and the faults in what trips me up on creating a strong garment along the way. I will take everything I have learnt form this project into my final year and to help achieve my professional aspirations.

What would i change?

What Would I Change?

When i was trying to put the leg frill into the channel on the knickers i found it really hard to thread it through as i had sewn the leg frill on over the channel before i re-did it, there was stitching in the channel that prevented me from putting the elastic through; again this was due to my problem that i went on ahead and hadn't checked where to sew. i didn't know where to sew it i just thought i knew where it went.
To prevent this from happening i should have looked on the example that Dexter had provided us or spoke to someone that has done the ballet workshops before and knew where it went. I checked too late and then i was told that i had sewn partly over my channel.

To prevent bulk in the seam allowance in the piping i cut the bodices seam allowance down above the design line, on the CF and a SSF seam, i cut away the seam allowance too much and when i put the piping over the seams, it didn't reach to where i had cut it too, so therefore it looks messy, and I'm really not happy with it.
Next time to prevent this from happening again i will measure how much seam allowance i will have from my piping and i will cut to the length that i will be able to conceal it.

I overlocked my bodice and facing in black overlock, i thought the tones worked better than the white, i hadnt thought that the drill was white and it would look better. Also the facing would be better in white so it didn't show through the net. If i could i would overlock it in white as it would look better.
I also used grey thread on my piping as i thought it would work better than white, as the white stood out too much, the black was too dark so i went in the middle with the grey. I would do it in the gold that i have been sewing my fastenings on with and use a consistent thread colour throughout to improve my finishing standard.

Blog Tutorial 2

Blog Tutorial 2

My second tutorial was to reflect on my blog so far. I am pleased with my feedback. Graham and i discussed how my reflection pieces are looking; he was pleased with how i evaluate my errors and how i find solutions, this is a good point that i will focus on trying to keep up with as it is a mature reflection on my work.
I will include my bibliography when i have published all my posts and put in all of my information.
I will select some of the key points in my reflection posts to include in my evaluation, and further them more. Go more in depth with the solutions, as that is a key point to focus on.

Week 6

Workshop 5:
Discuss what needs to be handed in;
Armhole binding
CB's
Attaching bodice to basque
Finishing of the net, plate and bodice

This week is preparing us for hand in, making sure all the little bits are put together to finish the costume.
We have dicussed that we dont have to have the decoration done for the hand in date, it can be done after, which is a big relife. It was 12m + to be done that would have taken up alot of time. I am glad to be focusing on the standard of the finished cosutme rather than the decoration.
We decided as a group concealed binding would look better on the armhole than piping.

CB-The placket on the left side is used from the seam allowance that we cut when we cut the bodice. Unfortunately when i overlocked the seams i cut off a little more than i should. So i had to add additional fabric on the CB so i could make the placket an efficient time.
When i cut another bodice i will always leave the CB until i have finished them, i didnt need to overlock them at all. The Bars had to put put 1/2" down fromt he top and botom, and one on the waist. Then the rest to be distributed evenly, this is so where there is the most pessure there is a fastening. Waist most important as this is where most of the pressure is going to be.

We are concealing he net and the plate seam allowance with bias binding attach to the basque. this is to create a higher level of finishing and strength.

To secure the plate we need to string the plate through the coloured net to the tutu, not right at the end, its just on the design line above the hem. Joined at each point, so theres 8 strings that will attach the plate.

The bodice will be attached to the basque by swing catches, i have learned that this is done so the bodice and the tutu will stay in line and the waist at the bodice will sit just underneath the waistband on the basque, this is so the hem and the tutu will sit right.

Consistancy within the group

As we have been working for a client, it has been much more noticeable that we have to have such a strong consistency within the costumes. It has taught me that when producing a group of costumes it is so important to talk to each other at each process-mostly the design and the shaping. It has been testing as a few people prefer to work at home more than others, so the group is a bit separated.
Producing a group of costumes in the future would be best to make sure everyone is together and to communicate with each other.
This will help me in my future prospects as i will be aware of the mistakes i have made in within communication side throughout the group, and i will help to prevent this on happening to be able to produce to constant and strong costume that all look as one.

Re-Visited Work Load

After the fitting the group and Dexter spoke about how we felt about the work load we had facing us for the next week, we all had concerns and the amount of work we had. Dexter spoke to Adele and re visited the work load, and concluded we could leave the decoration till after hand in, and Dexter will be doing the decoration on the plates for us. I think this will really help, it has helped my frame of mind already, i feel like this is do-able with being able to continue with my blog, evaluations and construction.

Reflection

Reflection

As this unit is self directed i try and take my initiative, sometimes i need to just check before as i have found in a new area of construction i haven't known the "correct" method for ballet dance wear construction. I have found this hard to balance independent learning with taking a completely new skill on board. If i have been doing an area i had done before and knew the steps rather than the alternative techniques that needs to be taken, i think i would be able to make more decisions on my on behalf, and get it right-more than i have.

Through out construction i have noticed a big problem that causes me unnecessary issues. I am trying so hard to get everything done i go through my "To do" list and sometimes i assume that simple techniques will be the same.
I.E Piping on the bodice. I thought that the hem and neck line would be straight forward. As we are producing this for a client and the costume is being used next year, we are taking precautions if the bodice needs to be taken in/out. So extra piping had to be concealed in at the seam in case it was to be taken out. Then re-started at the side seam to the CB and finished normally.
I had seen piping and presumed that it was straight forward. I had to unpick the CB to the side seam and conceal some piping.

I have to stop plowing through the list without instruction to be a better maker. If i do not have instruction i need to do more research and find out from books or the Internet.