Category: Independent Project

For my final project, I plan on making a dress/pinafore thing representing the lingering effects of grief. I wanted to capture botht he physical effects I have experienced, and the emotional. The above shows the emotional. It is not a traditional “mourning dress,” but the black pinafore is still there. Underneath it is a blouse made of a white fabric printed with moons and stars representing progress that I have made over time, even if it is not so obvious, clear, or colorful.

On the cuffs of the shirt, I plan on adding some subtle embroidery that represents the time that has past.

For the physical elements, I want to play around with quilting and a few other techniques to create wearable sculptures about lingering pain, that, when worn with the pinafore as an overlay, draws the dress firmly into art. One thing I plan on doing is using a black chiffon (chiffon is far too generous a term for it) and quilting it into a sort of spine.

Schedule:

Nov 25-27: Draw basic block and draft dress pattern

Nov 28-Dec 1: Mock up and patter finalize

Dec 2-4: Work on Spine Thing

Dec 4-8: Make Pinafore

Dec 8-10: Make Blouse and have stuff ready for pres

Dec 10-16: Finishing touches and such

I’m still unsure of what direction I want to head so I have two thought out ideas below.

The first being to crochet a sweater for myself. When I was little, my grandma used to make me sweater that I would never wear since I didn’t like the style – how ungrateful. I understand she put lots of time into making those for me and I would love to be able to make my own. My mom also used to make sweaters when she was younger so I think it would be a good and new final project. For the sweater, I would need about 5 large skeins of yarn – wool is expensive so I’m not sure what kind of yarn I should use. I learned how to crochet when I was younger and I prefer it much more over knitting.

Timeline : By Dec 3 – finish front and back panels, Dec 8 – finish sleeves, Dec 10 – finished project (I would probably need those extra two days to finish sewing everything together)

My second idea is to make a canvas tote bag with an embroidered design. I am hesitant towards doing this since I did lots of embroidery for the last project so I’m not sure if would like to accidentally stab myself with needles that much again. I would need to purchase canvas as well as any other thread colors that I’d want to use. We were given white sewing thread which is all i would technically need it terms of fabric. Also maybe a iron patch to seal all the threads.

Timeline: By Dec 1 – cut out all pieces of fabric and sew together what can be done, about halfway through with embroidering my design, Dec 3 – finish majority of embroidery, Dec 8 – completed tote bag

With my final project, I want to explore childhood fantasies through embroidery on a denim jacket. Video gaming was a source of escapism for me when I was young, and this one game, Okami, really made an impact on me. Okami is a game which combines Japanese folklore and mythology, and you play as a a wolf goddess running around the country while wielding your powers through a brush. In this game, your drawings literally come to life and your power levels come from people’s faith. I wanted to convey those concepts, artistic freedom and self-belief, through this project, and so I took the one of the final weapons of the game and designed it so it would fit on the back of a jacket.

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I’m planning on using an appliqued felt piece for the red circle (mostly since it would be very difficult to embroider something of that size and I’m running out of red thread), and embroidering the darker flames onto it. For the rest of the designs, I’m planning on using embroidery thread since I can create different textures and different thicknesses using those. Given that, I’m thinking of creating more elevated areas in the centers of the swirls.

Timeline

Week 1 (11/24-11/27): embroider red piece and applique it to jacket

Week 2 (11/27-12/4): embroider back of jacket

Week 3 (12/4 – due date): embroider sleeve

Create a proposal about the direction you are your project.  Include in your proposals the following: three developed sketches or collages of your idea, a paragraph that states the core concept, a paragraph that articulates your choice of materials, and a practical timeline for your project. Create a blog post for your proposal for Nov. 24 in category labeled Independent Project.

For my final project, I plan to make small stuffed animals for my friends. I have asked each of them what their favorite animal is and sketched out concept drawings for a cat, a bunny, and a penguin. Since we are nearing Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I want to show my appreciation for my friends by making these and giving the stuffed animals as gifts to them. Throughout this project, I will learn how to design patterns for 3D objects, continue improving my machine and hand sewing skills, and learn about some methods of applique.

For materials, I will be using a variety of fabrics that I have on hand. The cat will use red and orange fabric for the main head and body, the bunny will use the bleached muslin fabric, pink felt for the ear details, and white yarn for the pompom tail, the penguin will use bleached muslin and blue fabric for the body as well as orange for the beak/nose. The black felt will be used to make eyes and other face details as well as black embroidery floss. Not pictured, I will also use some of the quilt batting to make the ears for the bunny and the arms for the penguin because it will add some structure without fully stuffing those parts.

Timeline:
11/30 – Finish patterns
12/6 – Finish main bodies
12/8 – Finish final details
12/8-12-10 – Final presentations / critiques

By Remi Adeoti

Create a proposal about the direction you are your project.  Include in your proposals the following: three developed sketches or collages of your idea, a paragraph that states the core concept, a paragraph that articulates your choice of materials, and a practical timeline for your project. Create a blog post for your proposal for Nov. 24 in category labeled Independent Project.

The core concept of the project is to imitate adire patterns created with Yoruba traditional indigo dyeing. I want to dye about 9 patches with 4 patterns that will be repeated. The ninth patch will have a pattern but its main function will be to highlight the names of my family members. My last name means “The crown that never fades” so I wanted to incorporate that by taking an aspect of the same tradition that is not as celebrated and making sure it doesn’t not fade by trying to honor it. To incorporate the names I plan to embroider them using a back hand stitch (most likely).

For my choice of materials I will use muslin, cotton batting, embroidery floss, and an indigo dye kit. I will be using muslin, because I know I will need a goof amount of it and its easier to obtain. I expect the dye to come by next week, which will provide everything I’ll need to set up. The color of my embroidery floss will be a blue that is not as rich as the indigo dye however I want it to stand out without contrasting. I want the names and the patterns/dyeing to feel like they are working together rather than separate.

Timeline:

11/29- Dyeing Process will be complete

12/2- embroidered names will be complete

12/6- Quilting of each piece will be done

12/8 – Pieces will be stitched together

12/10- Final Presentations

This is something I made after the weaving unit, but I could explore the idea of an adjustable cloth more and make it into a usable product (not sure exactly what yet).

These are pleats I created to continue that idea of an adjustable or movable cloth, so I could potentially add color between the pleats to add an element of surprise.

Finally, I always wanted to try constructing a whole dress, and right now I am into the structured square neckline look.