Early Mood Board

A rough moodboard to start. I would really like to use some imagery from MAD BUNNY's tumblr but the pics arnt high res enough :( I want to capture the leasure and elegance while still having a natural degrading and stillness. Better to start with something tho eh? I do like the image of the girl with the fan as she is an ideal image of my consumer. Ive played with masking off some of the scanned muslin fabric to reveil an image of drowned deers behind but it is not that noticable. I want the fabrics to look like a curtain but I still think this is far from finished!

Synopsis

The Fall/Winter 2012 lounge intimatesand sleepwear collection ‘Forget-me-not’ is inspired by the fragility, layering and deterioration of memory. This is expressed through era inspired garments, layering,textural contrast within the garments and holes in the fabric and/or garment.

Both the sense of deterioration and dreamy tranquillity is created by thewatery amalgamated colour pallet which ranges from creamy whitesand purple pinks to soft greys, foggy greens and misty blue to forest and sea greens and blues. The muted colours help to create that feeling of quiet stillness within the memory and past.

The garments seem aged, with inspiration from many eras; features such as the 1920’s loose hung hemlines to orientalism inspired kimono wraps and high waist shorts echoing 1950’s bathing suits. The loose silhouettes, soft knits and weaves create a comfort and ease within the garments. The layering within the outfits along with the different garment shapes creates a layered look which has many levels of exposure.

The natural, seemingly simple fabrics (such as calico or warm wool) are finished with beads, frills and raw edges creating modern simplicity and charming honesty within the garments while retaining a bit of glamour and fragility.These details within the garments make them precious and like old treasured items.

The collection is accessorised by winter lounging essentials such as knit hats, felt caps, stockings and socks, felt slippers, sleeping masks, shawls and of course felt bead necklaces which add to the soft glamour.

This collection brings back the importance of comfort and style within lounge intimates and sleepwear, putting an easy glamour back into those Sunday mornings.

Dyeing Experiments

Dyeing experiments done 2 nights ago. I experimented with tea dyeing and watering down blue and yellow fabric paint. Tried on cotton knits, muslin cloth and mutton cloth. I also had another attempt at knitting with different colours together.

Pictures of the two processes.

Butter muslin blotted with tea.

Butter muslin blotted with  tea and dipped lightly in blue green dye.

Mutton cloth sponged with soft blue green dye.

Organic Cotton yarn dipped in tea.

Organic Cotton yarn sponged in soft blue green dye.

New knitting sample dipped in blue green dye.

All 6.

All up I was really excited about the results, I think they have the subtle dreamy worn look I was after. Also I was very happy with how my second attempt at knitting different colours together went, I loved adding the raw wool into the knit because it added some great soft texture and helped merge the transitions. But I feel there is a lack of pink/purple within the fabric colours but perhaps this can be addressed through the beading and accessories or trims.

Butter Muslin Bra

Last night I turned one of my sketches into reality!! Using butter muslin, Calico and Cotton Binding!

I think it turned out really well. The only issues I had was the slight warp in the design created by the off skew grain line, this is because I pinned it on my self and it was very difficult! Another issue I ran into was the back fastening, I used domes however they do not hold to well, I think hook and eyes would be ideal but i didnt have :(

The bra  is so soft and warm even though it is so simple! I added a drawstring at the front as there was a bit of slack. To me it looks a little sporty especially with the halterneck, 

I think I will attempt the matching garter belt I drew with this bra soon.

More Images of Inspirations 1920's + Art Deco

I found some really lovely imagery from some 1920's and art deco books. 

Pattern making

Interesting hats

Hood

Slippers

Beautiful embroidery

Drape

Shawl with tassels

Lazer cutting and natural fabrics

1920's underwear

1920's bra

Onepieces

Shawl

Scarfs

Elastic waist onepiece

Scarfs head

Felting Success!

After recovering from last nights failings I tried a different method of felting where you place the lose fibres in a container with a little hot water and detergent, once shaken to your hands fall off the fibres form a felted ball! The first attempt was done with the previous wool and did not work!!

After this I came to the conclusion that the wool I've been using is in fact not wool or is so treated that it will not felt! So I tried again using fibres from a ball of yarn, this time..success!!

I think now that I know it works I will buy some new wool via trade me to try make felted fabric.

Some Ideas for applying the Felt.

Necklace, hats, slippers (could also do shawl)

coco chanel pearls

Felting Fail experiment

Tonight I wanted to try creating felt from carded wool however it was a fail!. I tried the hand method which was very popular on the net, needed hot water, detergent, pressure and agitation with the fibres lain crisscross in layers. The hot water causes the wool to tighten and in conjunction with the presser and agitation should cause the fibres to intertwine. It seemed to be working but one I washed the detergent out and started to dry it, it started to break apart again! I think the main problem was the lack of agitation and the water not being hot enough.

It started to fall apart when drying but made for some lovely photos.

Knit Set

 I made some knicker shorts to go with the singlet and also added extra bead straps to the singlet. This set has no seams except the crotch seam so is very comfortable on the skin. The beads add a delicate frill however are cold at first.