Where's the talent? It certainly seems to wax and wane. One week you see something that is amazing and the next hte same designer bombs. I can only imagine how stressful they are to execute in such short time frames and all the other pressures. But I also think some of the challenges are truly ridiculous, scraping the bottom of the idea barrel. All of these contestants obviously want to develop a career in the design field, and challenging their creative thought processes is a good idea, but the pressure-cooker atmosphere is not exactly conducive to creative thought or activity.

And I totally agree with some other posters about the judges comments. Constructive criticism that helps a designer move forward would be much better for the contestants and for us viewers. Maybe these judges should be taking a week in each cycle to MENTOR these contestants. Maybe they should be bringing people in to lecture and demonstrate on various facets. I went to Rhode Island Institute for Design DECADES ago and teaching and mentoring were critical parts of our learning. What good would that experience have been if they just kept throwing me in the fire?

I think America's Next Top Model is a pretty wacko show (I watch only the last 15 minutes so I can see the fabulous photos), but at least they seem to be trying to teach the girls some skills!

AnnieLaurie

I love every article I read in Threads, whether or not I'll ever use it. However, the back cover of Threads is always the first thing I read and study. I'm amazed, thrilled, overwhelmed, awed, inspired and, frankly, jealous of the skill that goes into every part of each garment shown. I even get out a magnifying glass sometimes to study the details. I'll never achieve such skill, but I'm an expert at enjoying them. AnnieLaurie

At first glance I thought it was a pleating foot, but it is quite different from the old pleaters I have (several different ones). The grooves on the bottom of the foot seem to be there to create tension to avoid the "fabric" from slipping. The wide slot in the front of the food appears to me a place to slide something through. And, the zigzag motion seems to be for zigzag sewing on a straight machine. So my best guess is that it is designed for applying trim, mostly likely ric-rac.

At first glance I thought it was a pleating foot, but it is quite different from the old pleaters I have (several different ones). The grooves on the bottom of the foot seem to be there to create tension to avoid the "fabric" from slipping. The wide slot in the front of the food appears to me a place to slide something through. And, the zigzag motion seems to be for zigzag sewing on a straight machine. So my best guess is that it is designed for applying trim, mostly likely ric-rac.

At first glance I thought it was a pleating foot, but it is quite different from the old pleaters I have (several different ones). The grooves on the bottom of the foot seem to be there to create tension to avoid the "fabric" from slipping. The wide slot in the front of the food appears to me a place to slide something through. And, the zigzag motion seems to be for zigzag sewing on a straight machine. So my best guess is that it is designed for applying trim, mostly likely ric-rac.