In my textiles course, we were assigned to create our own pattern, then create something in a form of textile arts. The purpose of this action project is to give life to the textile and the blueprint by building a type of textile arts that enhances the story of the pattern on your textile.
A dress made from scratch
Name: GN
Title of the piece: KARLA
Materials: Printed fabric, elastics, buttons two sets of colors, needles, threads, and sewing machine.
Size: Waist: 13 inches
Bust: 12 inches
Knee high
For my textile class, we are exploring different types of textile arts, to help us enhance our textile stories. We especially looked at textile sculpture, textile installations, and garments, and create a blueprint. The final product should focus on a form of textile arts, enhance our textile story, with a written explanation of how our chosen textile arts enhances our pattern stories. I decided to do a garment as my form of textile art, because the audience will be able to interact with the piece in any way they please.
I made this dress because, It is very quaint. This dress enhances my story because it is accustomed for women to wear dresses, and women in Africa love wearing dresses. I gave this dress a bit of a modern twist without altering its timeless qualities.
There are all types of dresses as we know, cocktail dresses, ball gowns, prom dresses, halter dresses, tube dresses, retro dresses and all sorts of combinations, with necklines, waistlines, and hemlines. I finally decided what kind of dress I wanted.
After, I took my measurements; bust, waist, and hips. When I measured my bust, I made sure I measure around the widest part and did not make it too tight, otherwise It will not fit in my dress. The waist is the smallest part of your waist, and the hips are the widest part around your rear. I made sure to keep the tape measure straight for an accurate measurement.
I Laid out the fabric according to their directions and laid the pattern tracings out on the fabric according to the directions. I pin the fabric tracing paper onto the fabric and cut out the shapes very carefully. Then, after putting the original safe stitches in, I slip it on and pin it to where it will fit better so I can alter it.
Finally, I sewed all the pieces together, and let the dress hang for 24 hours so the pleats/fabric will get a natural shape. Afterwards, I needed to sew in the bottoms. first, I threaded the needle, and tied a knot at the end of the thread. Then, I positioned the buttons on the fabric, and pushed the threaded needle up through the fabric and through one hole in the button. Then push the needle down through the next hole and through the fabric. I repeated the sewing process enough times to make sure the button is securely in place. Make three or four back stitches to secure the thread and the cut off the excess. Depending on the yardage of your printed textile, you will have nothing left. I had 2.5 yards of fabric and had nothing left.
Afterwards, I spent the next day enjoying my dress.
WORK CITED
“How to Make a Dress With Detailed Directions.” WikiHow. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013.
Edited by Maria Thompson, Jack Herrick, Ben Rubenstein, Sondra C and 27 Others. “How to Sew a Button.” WikiHow. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2013.