I need more hours in my day!

There just aren't enough hours in the day to do everything.  I started another City and Guilds course in June a Level 3 in Fashion Wear.  I had hoped to have time to chart my progress, but here we are 14 weeks into the course and I've written about nothing.

So far I have been doing a lot of pattern drafting. Making pattern blocks which is the first stage, once they are OK  I have developed my own patterns.  I bought this wonderful Helen Joseph Armstrong book on Pattern Making for Fashion Design and it's brilliant.  The first block I drafted fitted me so well.  I am now totally hooked on her method of pattern making.

I drew out the pattern and with a couple of alterations did a toile and it was great a good fit.   The trousers I then made from the pattern I did were good too, I just need to add another picture of the completed trousers now. But you can see the toile is a nice fit.

I have done a blouse block and pattern and a jacket block and pattern.   I want to make a cardigan jacket and will be starting that very soon.  Because now I have done the blocks and patterns its time to start to sew my garments and I will soon have something to show you, because paper patterns are not much fun to write or read about!!

I was so pleased with the way the trousers turned out, I did the slacks block and a pattern from the book too, there is work in progress toiling it at the moment.  As things have gone so well, now I have decided to have a go at doing some jeans.

I am now going to trial the pattern for the jeans straight on to denim, the toile was a good fit, just a few adjustments on the block as the notes on the photo below show. With them done, I drew out the pattern and won't toile it again, but make myself a pair of jeans straight away. Who knows I could be wearing them this time next week!!

I have decided to use a cotton fabric for the pocket linings, the inside fly and the inside of the waistband  With the pattern on the fabrics all pinned on ready to go.

Next job is to cut out and I can start to stitch tomorrow.  I can't wait to get sewing.