Update!

Here's an update on my mini project!

So I've taken my drawings and placed them into GIMP (gimp is a free and legal version of photoshop) where I was able to experiment.

Today I've experimented with my drawing 'Garfield' and what I've done in these images is highlighting the lines with the lasso tool and copying them on to a new document. Copying and pasting with the lasso tool doesn't allow you to see what you have copied till you have filled in the areas with colour. (This usually happens when you are copying from an image and not from a digital drawing)

By doing this you're able to see the outline as a digital piece.

Digital VS Original     

(click to enlarge)    

You can't really see much detail of the bodice of the drawing in the digital image but with the lasso tool it does pick up the shading and allows you to have white areas in the image.

WHAT DID I DO AFTER???

So what I've decided to do with this is to duplicate it a numerous amount of times to view it as a pattern that could be used as a print. To make sure that they were all aligned and straight in their columns I pulled down the top grid to create a ruler which would be used as a guideline. Once I had a row I pulled another ruler but this time from the left hand side, this again would be used as a guide but down the left hand side. I then copied and paste a few more times to have a repetitive pattern.

(click to enlarge)

The outcome of this was very impressive which then gave me a thought of how this would be used on a t-shirt. Well, it could be used a centre piece of the top or it could be a repetitive pattern all over, using dyes.

Looking at the outcome of this then gave me another idea for another pattern.

Using the same method with the lasso tool, I decided to paste on to a black background and fill with a different colour. I went for a mustard yellow, I was going to opt for a brighter yellow but this seemed more suited and easy on the eyes. It seems blurry and fuzzy but that may be due to it being copied from a drawing.

WHAT DID I DO AFTER???

Just like the other pattern I used the grid and rulers as a guide but this time rather than having the full image on show, why not make a continuous pattern going across.

I made one row and copied below a few more times. 

The out come was indescribable and change the perspective of the drawing completely.

(click to enlarge)

Again this could be used as an overall pattern or as a centre piece. But what we could do here is change the centre piece, narrow it down to maybe just one or two rows long the chest.

(click to enlarge)

The difference between the first and the second print is clearly noted, although there are a pair of eyes in the drawing. Joining them together has made 'Garfield' have large eyes and becomes more alienated than the original drawing.

There is more to do! What I need to do now is create a flat  of a t-shirt and place this pattern on to the flat, thus giving the idea for my very first t-shirt.

Embroidery styles

 

So today I went out in attempt to buy some beads but instead I came across these small flowers.

At first I thought they were cute but after buying them I started to think that maybe they will look tacky once they were added to my embroidery design.

 

Placing them onto the design they tied all of the colours together making them join to one another. Also grouping them together made the design complete, filling in gapped areas.

Last Week - Pattern Cutting (click to enlarge images)

 

Last week I started making my pattern pieces and my twarl.
For my pattern pieces I ended up separating my play-suit into two separate pieces. Making a bodice and then the pants, adjusting the bodice to fit the pants.

My design originally had darts on the back and the front of the bodice, instead I changed the bodice into panels. This would create a clean line from one side to the other connecting the lines to the pocket shape and the darts at the back of the pants.

I also changed the block pattern pieces for the pants into a bootcut to elongate the leg.

I then drew out a waist band that would fit in between the bodice and the pants.

Sampling denim - Threading styles and experimenting

click on the images to enlarge ^^^^  >>>

So we finished our last project and started sampling with some denim. I first started with some top stitching, edge stitching and quarter stitch as well as decorative stitch. I then moved on to making a placket as displayed ^^ as well as doing a zip sample.

After covering the basics again like I had done when starting the construction of the shirt, and experimenting with denim. I then moved on to experimenting with what I used as my theme, experimenting with floral embroidery and using different techniques.

I started off with embroidery thread, going from dark to light and then coming out with a method on how I could create a flower for my garment. I experimented with creating it from free hand to drawing it out using tailors chalk. In the end I thought that drawing the flowers and mapping it out using tailors chalk was better than free hand, I also experimented with creating a full flower as well as an outline. I then realised that it took me one hour to do a small full flour when it could take me the same amount of time to do an outline of three flowers. So maybe when it comes to the garment construction that I would use the outline of my chosen flower (pink carnation) rather than a full flower. With the outline I was also able to create smaller and larger flowers in that space of time.

With my embroidery placement  I decided to do a small sample of a pocket with a full flower (which took me an hour to do), I thought the out come for that was okay but it could have been way better then again it is a sample and not the official thing.

Next week is pattern cutting... should be interesting.

Further Development

 For the final design I've decided to go for a sleeveless play suit. Here I've experimented with the placement of the embroidery. I've also experimented on another page with different fastenings, deciding whether to use all buttons, button and a zip or a zip. In the end I decided to use buttons and a zip to separate the bottom form the top.

The next image displays the final design as a flat as well as a close up of the design of the flowers for the embroidery that I will be using, which will be done by a machine for a better effect.

The denim I'm going for will be a dark navy blue, but doesn't need to be stretchy for the adjustment that will be placed at the back.

Design Development for final idea

My final design is a play suit.

Here I've experimented with adding sleeves, collars, bootcuts and darts. With the development I then moved on to designing an adjustment tot he back for flexibility, because it is made out of denim it may be hard to move around in. If I wanted to to make a design evolving sleeves than an adjust to the back would be need.

The adjustments I've designs are both elastic, one being obvious and the other being hidden underneath more denim, giving a cleaner look.
Either of the two would be useful to the garment.

Final pt 2

To view on larger scale, click on image ^^^^

With this final, just like the other one i used my own drawing and used the same tool but this time i used the pen tool to outline her body, i also scanned my drawing into the computer. To make her body symmetrical i completed one side of her body, copied and paste the image drawn and reflected to the other side. 

Again i made this image slightly sketchy but still making her shape visible in the drawing.

This illustration came out well and goes well with what i had done with the first illustration. I did however draw another one that i was going to use but the out come didn't pair well with my other drawing, it was messy and quite child like so i decided against it.

I should be posting more or make time for posting, been jammed packed with work so hopefully i should be back to my one/ two posts per week. 

My first shirt (There will be an update on this post later on) Remember you can click on the images to make them bigger, making it easier for you to see them