Exploring Design – Challenge VIII
I like the design challenge articles – Challenge VIII in this Issue 113. This was a tough one and one which I probably would have bailed on if I had been participating. The mix of all the different prints would have seemed insurmountable to me.
I think I’ll use these types of challenges for myself. I have loads of fabric… little bits of this… little bits of that… And I think if I challenge myself like you do your designers to come up with something wearable using only what I have, it may help me work through my stash a little better.
I’m also thinking of starting with the fabric I have and then selecting a pattern from my pattern stash based on the fabric – instead of looking at the pattern and deciding to go out to get more fabric. Might be fun to try.
Replies
I love the Challenges, too. I was fortunate enough to see this one, 'live and in person', at the Atlanta Expo. WOW. The workmanship on the pieces is astounding! I am sorry that the photos cannot be comprehensive enough to show all the details (like Peggy's halter with the zippers, the tiny seams on Pamela's jacket, and the reversible details on Sandy's pieces). Amazing stuff!
Shannon
These challenges are always eye-opening to me. It's very inspiring to see how the designers handle the odd mix of fabrics they receive; each time, I realize that my own choices are very much on the safe side when I sew. But you can see that it's quite possible to combine a bunch of assertive patterns and come out with a coherent outfit.
And as Shannon has said, the workmanship is amazing. The designers have coaxed some tricky fabrics into behaving perfectly even when asked to do very difficult things.
Carol
I am fascinated by the pieces that turn into other pieces w zippers, etc. But I wouldn't have a CLUE as to how to design one. Any possibility of an article on that?
Nancy
I also think "conversion" type projects/garments could be an interesting article. I just got a moment to briefly glance at the issue and saw reference to one of the designers making one of the items a halter that converted to purse/bag... thought I'd read about this elsewhere too, but I couldn't see that on the photos. Again I only got a moment to glance through but when I got to the challenge I was specifically looking for this. Did I miss it?
No, you didn't miss it. There was only a photo of the bag. If you'll look closely, you can see the zipper on the sides. The shape of the halter was overlapping scallops. The halter pieces unzipped, then were reattached to make the bag. It was, as my teenagers say, "way cool":)
Shannon
When I first looked at the Challenge, I thought, oh I would never put those fabrics together, but that really is the point , to think beyond the box and challenge ourselves creatively and they did an admirable job.
Nancy
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