I have thoroughly enjoyed this project. I feel like I have
learnt new skills and processes that will help me in my future. I am also happy
I got to make these three garments and feel that this will benefit me in
industry. I really enjoyed making each
garment and learning how to make each one. I feel that although I got behind
when making the shirt that I now manage my time better. I know what I have to
do and how long I had to do it, which was shown by the fact that I finished the
breeches on time while also working on the shirt.
A major thing I have learned
is to think a few steps ahead; thinking about the next few steps would prevent any
mistakes I might make. Also taking the time to study an existing garment helped
in figuring out the process of the garments, especially when it came to the
breeches and the blouse as I had done it before. When it came to making the
blouse I had little help from my tutor but because of the things I had learned
enabled me to get on with it and make decisions on the way it is made. I had a
major hiccup on the shirt where I hadn’t starched the fabric before doing the
pleats but because I re did them properly I saw the difference and the reason
why it needs to be starched. So I learned
from this mistake and also the fact that it is worth re doing something to feel
happier about it so I can now look at the shirt and actually feel pleased about
it. Another important thing I learned
was quality control. I was always looking and checking my stitch lines and if
need be re do some, also when it came to the breeches and blouse I felt more
confident in checking my own work and figuring if something did need to be re
done instead of always asking my tutor. Also
checking if things lined up and matched for example the points on the collars
matched or the jiggers on the breeches I felt I could analyse them to get them
right. I think this will definitely help in any future costumes I make as I will
be able to analyse and be critical about my own practical work.
I felt glad to be a part of Breathe because it is such a
good project but, I didn’t really enjoy it. I felt like this because of how
much time we had on it. I didn’t feel like we had enough time to do lots of
samples as we spent a couple weeks on this and then got straight into creating
the costume. I know that I wanted to improve my textiles skills which is why I was
put into the elders group, but then when
it came to it I wasn’t sure of what I was doing or wanted to do. I think this
was also due to the fact that at the beginning of the week we working on the
costume store and then suddenly have to change to doing breathe and then back
to the costume store at the end of the week. These are two different projects
that are opposite and need different focuses. In the costume store I needed to
focus on being really precise and neat whereas in breathe it was totally
creative but suddenly changing to each project was hard.
I also felt that because I originally chose
the costume store that I wanted to put most of my energy and focus on that as I
wanted to improve on my sewing skills. I think this was also because of the
trousers I made for battle of the winds, they were very textured and I also had
to keep working into them which is why I wanted to carry on with the textiles. In
saying this when I started on the sleeves and layering the scraps of fabric on
top of each other I started to like what I was doing which led me to create the
knotted yarns and fabric. So once I opened up to it I created something I was
pleased with. Also working on breathe improved my people skills and working in
a team, as I usually prefer working on something by myself. But in a situation
like this is was good to bounce ideas of each other which allowed us to create
something better.
I feel privileged to have worked on both projects, but feel
like I have learned more from the costume store and at the end of the day I
feel happy about all my work.
