Fabrics

I have ordering and cutting out my pattern peieces in the real fabrics in the past week so I haven't been able to blog but have pictures now to show of the fabrics...

Red Dress Fabric...

Red Stretch Sequinned Jersey-Top Fabric

Red Stretch Satin- Lining Fabric

Pink Dress Fabric...

Pink Duchess Satin- Top Fabric

Black Satin- Lining Fabric

I am just waiting on my red spandex to arrive and I have a few more items to cut out before I start sewing the pieces together. I can't wait to see what the dresses look like in the real fabrics but I know the red sequin fabric is going to be difficult to work with!



Bow Toile

It has been a successful week with the fitting and now I have made all the alterations to the patterns. I have nearly ordered and bought all the fabric and supplies that I need, just a few more things left that I have to buy. I am still waiting to receive a sample of red spandex fabric for my red corselet, as this is proving the most difficult fabric to find! 

I made a toile for the bow on the pink dress this week and I think it worked well but it will look much better in the real fabric when it is stiffened...  

My plan next week is to start cutting out in the the real fabric so it should be exciting...

Online Portfolio

Here is my online portfolio to view all my work up to date:

http://rhiannongillick.carbonmade.com/

Fitting of Toiles

I had the first fitting of the toiles today and it went well but I have a lot of alterations to do, to the patterns. The dresses looked really nice on and I am happy with how things look...

Red Dress and sleeve toile fitting...

Pink Dress toile fitting...

The next steps will be to alter all the patterns for the dresses and undergarments and toile the bow for the pink dress. I can then start cutting out the dresses in the real fabrics. I also have to order the rest of the fabrics and supplies I need which will be done this week.

Ready for the Fitting

It has been a busy, busy, busy week!! I have been working on toiles ready for a fitting on Monday and I managed to finish all my toiles and patterns so I am very happy...

Red dress toile, minus the sleeves...



Pink dress toile, minus the bow...

I have also just ordered the top fabric for both dresses so it is very exciting. Hopefully the fitting will go well on Monday!

Toiles

It has been a good weekend work wise, I have been working on the toiles for both dresses and making basic patterns ready to adapt when I have more pattern paper. I have found it difficult transferring the toiles in to flat patterns so I need some help to solve the problems!

Toile for the pattern of the top half of the pink dress...

Toile for the pattern of the top half of the red dress...

Here is the toile of the 1950s corselet that will go under the red dress, still got to adapt it more...

Introduction and Today's Progress

This is my first blog entry so I am just going to talk about what I am working on at the moment and what is planned for the next couple of weeks. 

I have just finished a 2 week work placement working on the TV show Merlin, I really enjoyed it there and it was a great experience. 

Now I am working on my final major project for my third and final year of my degree. I have chose to make two costumes from the film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). I will be making the red and pink dress that Marilyn Monroe wore for 2 show piece numbers in the film. I am imagining that I am constructing the costumes for a modern day remake of the film.

So this is where I am up to so far...

I have chosen my model and started my underwear patterns for both dresses. 

Today I have been working on the pink dress and I have been constructing the corset for the dress to be backed on to. 

I had to start with making cone bust shapes which may look funny but they give a great shape...

I used calico to mould my corset shape to the stand to get the shape I wanted. I used this to to cut pattern pieces to make a toile...

And I made up a toile from the pattern pieces and this is what I ended up with...

I am happy with my progress today but there is still a long way to go. Next step is to to cut the pink dress on top of this corset...