Author: sophiah@andrew.cmu.edu

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Independent Project

Independent Project Final Update – Sophia

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Embroidery Back

Embroidery Front

Back Piece

Side Zipper

Inside of Button Area

Button Area

Front Piece Bottom

Front Piece Top

Front Piece

Intended effects:

I wanted to make a more traditional long qipao where the zipper is on the side, the pattern is symbolic, tight-fitting, and has two slits on the bottom. I also wanted to do embroidery on the qipao so that the birds and flowers could stand out.

Challenges:

I referenced my previous sewing patterns to sew this qipao. However, because I want to make the qipao have more traditional elements, a challenge I had was remaking the patterns to reflect those elements. The slits and zipper on the side were extremely hard to put together at first. They also impacted many other parts of the qipao. For example, putting the zipper on the side makes it harder for the wearer to put their head through. To tackle this, I first increased the size of the collar area so that a head can fit through. However, after putting the collar and front pieces together, I realized that it is too big. I then decided to cut the collar smaller and change the curve of the bias tape area in the front to tuck in the extra bias tape that I used on the collar.

Another challenge I had was making the qipao tight fitting and adding darts. Because the fabric is really thick and stretchy, it causes a lot of large and visible wrinkles when making the darts. I also tried doing hand embroidery using the kit I got from Walmart. However, due to time constraints and the fear that the fabric would break after poking it with a needle too many times, I decided to not do embroidery.

Successes:

Overall, I think the qipao turned out well and it fits on my body. Although there were a lot of challenges, I was able to learn a lot through the process. My biggest takeaway was being able to reference an existing pattern (the pattern I made last semester) and adjusting things to make the changes I wanted. Another big takeaway is being able to learn how the different pieces of a garment can interact with each other and what strategy to use for the best outcome. Other than the structural changes, I also changed a lot of the techniques I used to sew. For example, in the more modern qipao, I made the collar first, flipped it inside out, added bias tape and then sewed it onto the garment. However, this time, I decided to cut and put together the collar (without flipping it inside out) and then sewing it to the garment where the garment (front/back pieces) are placed inside of the collar so that the seam allowance is not visible. And then I added bias tape all together. 

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Independent Project

Independent Project Update – Sophia

I was able to finish tracing and cutting all the final pieces and watched a couple more online videos of people making a more traditional qipao. I also went to Walmart to purchase a nude zipper, more bias tape, and more nude thread to be used when sewing. Because the fabric already has designs of flowers and birds, I decided to also challenge myself to emborder on top of them. When I was at Walmart, I found some embroidery items that I can practice with.

I am a little behind my original schedule but I plan to finish sewing and adding the bias tape/buttons/zipper by this Friday. I would like to use this weekend to add the embroidery designs after seeing how the qipao looks and fits.

Below is an image of the cut pieces and all the supplies I purchased online and from Walmart.

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patterns&supplies
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Independent Project

Independent Project Proposal – Sophia

Core Concept:

I want to make a more traditional qipao for my final project. In the past, I made a more modernized qipao where the zipper is on the back, the dress is shorter and less tight, and the fabric design is black with colorful butterflies. This time, I want to include more traditional elements. This specific qipao would have a zipper on the side and two slits. It would also be longer and tight-fitted. I also plan to use fabric with designs of birds and flowers. The qipao would also be made to fit me and hopefully be used as a dance costume for a future performance.

Materials:

I have already purchased the fabric I plan to use to make the qipao. I am unsure what the material is called but it is thick and stretchy. For the buttons on the front, I plan to use Chinese qipao buttons that look like butterflies. I will also be using a long black zipper and nude bias tape. I would also need a sewing machine and other sewing-specific materials (like a zipper foot) which I will borrow from Ideate.

Timeline:

11/26 – finish cutting all the pieces, ready to be sewn together

11/27 – finish sewing everything together

11/28 – finish making minor changes

– The timeline above might change a little depending on when the buttons arrive

Below are some images of the pattern, design, and what I hope the final outcome to look like:

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qipaoSketch

qipaoPattern2

qipaoPattern1

qipaoDesign
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Encoded Cloth from the Future

Encoded Cloth Pt 3 Brainstorm – Ron, Aaron, Sophia

Concept:

In 2070, we believe that there would be 3 things that people would fear (water, fire, and snow). These are influenced by the results of climate change. As a result, people would worship the Fire, Water, and Snow Gods.

We would be printing the designs that symbolize water, fire, and snow. We also plan to cut the fabric into many pieces and then dye each piece using a different color. We would then sew the different pieces together. This is a way to show the Gods coming together to protect the people. This idea/design might change based on the outcome of the prints.

Images:

Below are the water, fire, and snow symbols

No description available.

Below are the images to symbolize the Fire, Water, and Snow Gods

Open photo

Material List:

  1. Cloth to print on
  2. different dye colors (blue, yellow, red, black)
  3. 5 buckets to dye in
  4. rubber bands/marbles/floss to help create designs
  5. sewing machine
  6. threads
  7. water
  8. salt and other things needed to dye
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Encoded Cloth from the Future

100 Ideas for Encoded Cloth – Ron, Aaron, Sophia

  1. Spaceship boarding
  2. Colliding planets 
  3. City in space – think Elysium 
  4. Mars colony 
  5. Looking down on earth 
  6. Spaceship construction
  7. Resource extraction in space with broken earth in background
  8. Clear sky
  9. Futuristic spacesuits
  10. Plant in space 
  11. Birds flying into space
  12. Astronaut welcoming tourists
  13. View from office building on Mars
  14. Plans for toppling government – in patches
  15. People hiding from guards
  16. Vintage iPhone 20 for sale
  17. Three little humans (three little pigs)
  18. Peaceful ocean
  19. Kids playing at the beach
  20. Under the sea
  21. Water getting darker 
  22. Water floating
  23. Raining
  24. Rain and flooding
  25. People walking in the rain
  26. Trash in the ocean
  27. “Fast food” in the future
  28. Endless streams of data / records
  29. Ice Age
  30. City in Ice
  31. Ice in space
  32. Varied peoples in outer planets
  33. Uniformed peoples in outer planets
  34. Man looking at clock with master/boss/government behind
  35. Rising sea levels 
  36. Flooded towns
  37. Water extraction in space
  38. Touching light
  39. Radiation
  40. Different light colors
  41. Stars in space
  42. Imagery stars
  43. Naval Maps
  44. Schedules of work, routine
  45. Crew hierarchy/roles
  46. Journey from sea to space
  47. Dreams of what land looks like
  48. Oppressiveness of sea and space
  49. Monsters/god personification of land, sea, space
  50. Evolution of ships
  51. A circular tent made out of cloth and sticks
  52. A tent made out of multiple triangle shaped cloth
  53. Wall hanging with LED lights in the back
  54. Wall hanging with colorful LED lights in the back
  55. Table cloth with patches sewn on it
  56. Quilt made up of different patches
  57. Strips of cloth tied to each other (like a loose rope)
  58. Strips of cloth tied tightly with each other
  59. Strips of cloth braided
  60. Cube made out of 6 pieces of cloth
  61. Raincoat made out of dye cloth
  62. Raincoat made out of dye cloth of different materials
  63. Cloth sew together to look like a plastic bag
  64. Cloth sew together to look like an open chips bag
  65. Wall hanging that looks like dead plants
  66. Wall hanging of strips of paper cranes in different lengths
  67. Raincoat wall hanging 
  68. Different raincoats sewn together 
  69. Wet + dry Felt on quilt
  70. Wall hanging of cloth AND LED
  71. Forms inspired by naval traditions – ships and crew
  72. Waterproof
  73. Vacuum proof (both?)
  74. Umbrella/safety equipment in the future
  75. Different mini umbrellas made out of different cloth materials
  76. Umbrella with LED lights attached to it
  77. Umbrella + raincoat combination
  78. Wall hanging made out of cloth shaped leaves
  79. Lunch container with foods of the future
  80. Multi Purpose phone case
  81. Computer from 2070
  82. Ropes made out of dyed cloth pieces to hold snacks
  83. Four seasons
  84. Day/ night contrasts
  85. Dictatorship
  86. Wealthy suburban explorers
  87. Environmental disaster
  88. Large Waste
  89. Dark gloomy sewers
  90. Rainforest
  91. Space colony
  92. Memories from 2065
  93. Restricted Freedoms 
  94. Desperation of humanity
  95. Time: running out 
  96. Boundary between earth and space
  97. Vision of 2100
  98. Cherishing the present 
  99. Anticipating the future
  100. Exclusionary nature of privileges (only officials / rich get freedoms)
  101. Need for equitable access
  102. Vibrant city
  103. Futuristic concentration camp
  104. Duality of need – both sea and space
  105. Time capsule going thru space

Below are our favorite ideas from the list:

11, 18, 37, 44, 49, 61, 71, 74, 87, 98

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Encoded Cloth from the Future Gallery

Encoded Cloth Part 1 – Sophia Huang

I think that in 2070, global warming would have a major impact on our daily lives. Below are things I believe will happen due to global warming:

  1. The moisture in the air and the temperature will cause the icebergs to melt causing sea levels to rise which will then cause extreme hurricanes and tropical storms killing thousands of people and displacing millions of them. Every day thousands of people would be forced to evacuate to higher grounds if they want to live. Because multiple disasters are happening at the same time it will take months for basic food and water supply to reach those in need.
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hurricane

2. The melting of the permafrost will also release microbes that the human species were never exposed to causing even more health issues. As these are happening to those around the coast, other parts of the world would be so dry that there are droughts everywhere. There will not be enough water to water the plants and to feed the animals and food supply would become a life-threatening issue.

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drought

3. Climate change will cause mosquitoes and ticks to reproduce faster and to spread even deadlier diseases. There will be mosquitoes even at previously safe parts affecting all of us. The insurance companies will soon declare bankruptcy leaving millions of people without the resources they need to survive and hospitals will be too overwhelmed and soon turn into hotspots for disease transmissions.

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misquitos

4. Mass migration to less hot areas will cause refugee problems and while people are migrating, due to the lack of food and water supply, people will end up stealing or even killing each other to survive. Global trade will slow down since all the trade routes would have been affected by these disasters and diseases. And the countries who originally export their resources will no longer do so as they would want to leave all the supplies for their own citizens. Lastly, these things would cause income equality to worsen as only the rich can afford to wash their hands, eat uncontaminated food, and get basic necessities and medical attention.

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no food

I think that the things people would make would be influenced by these 4 major effects of global warming but with a positive spin to it. For example, seeing hurricanes and floods, people would hope for a beautiful/relaxing, and safe ocean. Seeing the mosquitos, people would hope they are beautiful/colorful birds instead. People would also hope to escape Earth and make things that are space-related.

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Tapestry Weavings

Weaving Final Reflection – Sophia

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Full Piece

Close up – top

Close up – middle

Close up – bottom 1

Close up – bottom 2

Close up – swing

Close up – bottom

Top

Close up – empty gap

Progress:

For this project, I really hope to use different techniques to create an image. In the beginning, I was just learning how to weave using one color: orange. After weaving for many inches, I realized that it is starting to look like a sunset and I decided to test out the idea of sunset and see where it takes me. After adding the yellow for the sun and some patterns to mimic a sunset, I decided to also add water so that it looks like a sunset at the beach. After completing the middle grey water area, I wanted to use brighter blue to make the waves and then light brown for the sand. However, as I was creating the waves using light blue, I realized that it would be better if I were to use the idea of under the sea instead of my original plan. I also really enjoy making friendship bracelets and so I use that braiding technique for the leftover yarn from making the waves. Towards the end of my weaving, I realized that the braid looks like swings and so I added a cup I wet felt as swings. I also wanted to add a dangling piece to the original weaving and that also turned into a swing. After completing the weaving, I made some final touches with shells, small decorations, and chopsticks on the top to use for hanging the weaving.

What worked well?

Overall, I think my decision to turn the bottom part into “under the sea” worked out well. When I was doing the grey area, I didn’t really know what was next. I googled some images and really liked one where there are braided waves across and so I decided to try that. This was also taking a risk because my choice of color is drastically different from what I was using. I think that it worked well because it allowed me to be more creative and gave the entire weaving more energy. It allowed me to add different patterns and gaps making the weaving more 3D. I also think that weaving backward worked well. At first, it was hard because I wanted to create images like the ship. However, I later realized that going from top-down allowed me to be more flexible with what I want to include and it was also much easier to add objects/elements to the weaving.

What to improve?

I would have improved the overall shape of the weaving. After taking it off the loom, I realized that some areas are not as straight as others. I also realized that the left side kind of gathers inwards. Someone from class commented that it looks like 1/2 a surfboard. I actually really like the idea of a surfboard and think that it would have gone really well with the weaving. Next time I would make sure that the tension of the yarn is consistent and I would also plan the final shape of the weaving.

What did I learn?

On top of how to weave and how to make different patterns, I also learned that adding objects to the weaving can help bring it to life and that it is okay to not know what to weave. For my weaving, I incorporated a lot of different objects and elements and I think that these things made the weaving more interesting and real. Since the beginning of the weaving, I wanted to create an image and I wanted to plan everything. I feel reassured when I know exactly what to add and what colors I want to use. However, towards the middle, my plans did not really work and I had to pivot. As I continued weaving, the outcome started to give me new ideas which I realized are better than my old ones. For my future weavings, I hope to also add objects/elements and to also let my weaving guide me.

Five Directions:

  1. Another sunset but with birds, adding origami cranes
  2. The beach with sand and water, adding shells to the sand
  3. Full under the sea idea with jellyfish
  4. Under the sea with Spongebob
  5. Only the waves but using different patterns and different materials to braid
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Tapestry Weavings

Weaving in Progress – Sophia

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image
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Tapestry Weavings

Weaving of Interest – Sophia

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Floral Wall Hanging by Alyssa Ki

Floral Wall Hanging

This weaving is a floral wall hanging. It was made by Alyssa Ki in 2020. It uses a combination of colors and patterns to make a flower boutique. The lighter colors look like the flower petals while the darker colors look like the stem/leaves. This is created by using techniques like weaving, macrame, needle-felt, and crochet.