Moody Blues and Parallel Lines

I needed a theme for my design brief for the clothes I was making to submit for assessment of my City and Guilds work that I've just spent this year doing. I love the colour blue so that was the inspiration for Moody Blues. The walk I took around the city of Birmingham looking at the lines in the architecture gave me another idea for the Parallel Lines part of my theme.



 

I had to make a jacket and waistcoat and then either a pair of trousers or a skirt. The waistcoat came first. I used a patchwork method to piece together segments of the waistcoat.  The fabric came from The African Fabric Shop who sell hand-dyed, hand printed, fabrics, they have a wonderful selection on their web site www.africanfabrics.co.uk  Once the waistcoat was tested out in calico, I drew on the calico where I wanted to add the patchwork panels; made a new pattern and then cut out the fabric. It was a challenge getting it all on!! I used four different fabrics in the design.

I wanted to do some top stitching, bound buttonholes and cover buttons in the design to give it a unique finish. I hope it will pass the test.

 

 

 

My jacket came next, the criteria for the City and Guilds states a jacket with a two piece sleeve and a revere collar, my pattern cutting skills are OK, but not up to a jacket yet. I found it difficult to find a modern pattern, that would fit this criteria so I ended up using an old pattern that I'd had for a while, the peplum is back in fashion, so this could be a hit.

 

 

 

I used Linton Tweed for this jacket, (www.lintondirect.co.uk) it's beautiful fabric but not easy to work with,  it can be a challenge.  Linton have a wonderful range of colours and textures I can't resist buying from them at the sewing shows.  I found  matching all of the lines made my eyes dance when I was working on it, but I am very pleased with the end result.  I even managed to get my theme into the lining, can you see the lines?

And finally the trousers, these I made using a Wool fabric with elastine they fit perfectly. I had made the pattern myself and have already made some trousers this year using this pattern.  Because I needed to perfect it before making these. I did want to add turn-ups, but the fabric was a bit narrow and it was difficult to get the trousers out of the length I had bought.  I had to compromise here, never mind they look and feel great, so I'm not too upset. 



I'm just pleased now that it's all done.