This year I am going to show case my students and their work and I would like to introduce Helen V. Helen originally studied Fashion Design at the (then) Melbourne College of Textiles in Pascoe Vale back in the ’90’s( now amalgamated into RMIT- Brunswick). After having a successful career in the knit wear industry , Helen retired from the industry to have her children.
Helen started her pattern making classes with me 2013 to re-enforce her skills and to further her study in more difficult areas of pattern engineering. If you were to ask her if have I managed to keep up the challenges for her – yes… she would wholeheartedly agree.
Helen has drafted her library of blocks – skirt, pants block ( English and German ) and also her bodice blocks.
The below photos show Helen’s design and draft of her 2013 winter coat. The garment was inspired by a Marfy design – www.marfy.it/index.php. The earliest Marfy pattern catalog that I own is from 1989 and have continued to purchase them ever since.They are great inspiration and as they sell the individual patterns from the catalog they are a great source for your own Designer Garment.
Below are photos of her design and her finished coat. This was Helen’s first trial of her pattern and instead of using a calico for fit, we were very confident that the shape would be a success so we went for the “real thing’ in fabric .The coating was purchased from Darn Cheap , and is a medium weight wool blend ( more wool than blend ) – and at only $20 per metre, I am sure you will all agree that for the first try or “toile” the garment has been a great success.
Design details such as – raglan saddle shoulder, off-set princess paneling, and wide grown-on collar, complete with full lining.
One of Helen’s fellow students – Ali – loved the coat so much she has also made one for herself. Photo’s will be coming soon.
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- image of coat
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- Front of coat ,no buttonholes yet.
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- back of grown on collar
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- back of coat
Helen was so happy with her first version of the coat, she then purchased another wool blend from Darn Cheap to re-make the jacket. Helen had a school function to attend so she made the coat again and also a matching print dress. The dress was developed from her bodice block – front draped crossover upper bodice, fitted skirt and draped front hanging sash. Again the pattern was a bit challenging and gave me a few grey hairs in construction , but it was a successful make in the end.
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- draped cross over front dress
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- closer view of front
Cheerio and Good luck to you all.
Ann from Designer Stitch School of Fashion and Design.