A SHADED VIEW ON FASHION - A BLOG THAT KEEPS YOU POSTED WITH THE LATEST FASHION UPDATES...

From this blog http://www.ashadedviewonfashion.com/ I collected different inspiration and knowledge of upcoming and previous exhibitions and latest catwalk shows. I feel this blog is very strong and this blogger is very good at what she does providing her own image and style and getting that across to all of her followers in what she is interested in. I like her colour scheme and illustrative style she uses to display her identity, I would advance my blog some day to inherit this same concept of using my image in a stylised way; to make the blog more my own.So if you ever need any help on what trends are coming through http://www.ashadedviewonfashion.com/ would be the place to visit.

STITCHWOOWOO A BLOG THAT PROVIDES CRAFT IDEAS...

From this blog http://stitchywoowoo.blogspot.co.uk/, I have taken many different influences using Art & Crafts. This blogger gives such creative and innovative ways of displaying fabrics and wording in such a delicate format and that's what comes across in all of her posts. I like this blog as it gives you ideas that you can use and develop yourself within Fashion. I like the fresh and calm colour scheme as it makes you feel at ease when enjoying her work. If you ever have a spare minute look at her blog: http://stitchywoowoo.blogspot.co.uk/.

LAY PLAN FOR MY SHIFT DRESS...

A task that I have to complete in order to achieve my grade for my manufacturing brief, is to complete a Lay Plan. These are important in industry, as they allow manufacturer's to know how much fabric they will need, so they reduce the risk of wasting fabric quantities and money. I created a Lay Plan for my shift dress, as it will be the first garment I make, so it seems convenient to create a Lay Plan, so I know how much of my fabric I will need. I did have a little bit of excess but nothing that I would be able to create a large pattern from. I found this one quite simple and straight forward as it is a basic cut dress with a facing and additional circles.

TOILING MY INVISIBLE PANTS...

My second to last toile, I have completed was my Invisible Pants, which are a pair of trousers with curved panels down the side seams. I found these one of the most easiest toile's yet, so I don't know whether they are easy, or it's because I have had much practise in getting these right. Surprisingly, I didn't have any problems with the main trouser panels and attaching them together, the only difficulty I had was creating the waistband and remembering all the little things you need to do to get a success. I have to remember when doing my final garment, not to press my seams open, as I realised this when my curved lines weren't as smooth as they should have been. On the toile there is an unwanted dart in the back, which I have now removed, so for the final garment it won't be there, which will make it look neater in the back.

TOILING MY FROWNING TOP...

For this bodice I amended all the patterns before hand: making the neck line bigger, widening the armhole and creating panels rather than darts. I did this as I have had problems throughout all the fittings of the bodices I have made so I thought I would save the hassle this time round. I thought I would try do the panels in interchanging colours as I was thinking of applying this to my final version. I inserted my invisible zip upside down to allow the zip to still be attached to the bodice at the neck but still allow it to go over the head. I then had to think of ways to finish the garment so I created a facing and sewed both sides together to sew a 1cm seam allowance at the hem to then press over and finish the garment off. I feel like this toile had been the most successful yet as the patterns were all correct to start with and it was just a matter of inserting all the components and it was done. I still have to attach bias binding sampling the neckline and armhole.

TOILING MY MOTIONLESS JUMPSUIT( TROUSERS)

Following on from my bodice I had to make the other addition which was a pair of trousers which connected at the waist line. These trousers worked much better than the bodice as the design lines were easier sew together and weren't as fiddly. I found the invisible zip easier than I did in the first year as I sewed it in the side going from the armhole down to the hip line of the trousers joining both garments. I had to measure the waist of the bodice to fit the trousers waist line and amend the patterns. I also samples bias binding on the arm hole and then I will hem the bottom of the trouser leg by 1cm. To problem solve the shoulder as it was to small to fit over the mannequin so we had to adapt the jumpsuit to make it easy to get into. I added some poppers into the right shoulder seam and sampled hand stitch and machine and preferred the machine stitch as it secures the popper tape down the best. The bodice will be much better for the real garment as I have sampled the bodice twice to get the corners right so hopefully the jumpsuit should go to plan.

TOP 10 BLOGS THAT INSPIRE ME...

For my computer brief one of the tasks is to look at blogs that I read daily and evaluate how they inspire my thoughts about my own blog. I always look at updates and new blog posts and something can catch my eye whether it is a colour scheme or a certain topic that attracts more viewers. I take inspiration from some blogs for there layout or style and try and explore ways I can get a similar look and finish to my blog.The top 10 blogs that inspire me are:

1. http://fredbutlerstyle.blogspot.co.uk - for the interesting concepts and new, innovative ideas coming through in the designs and works.

2. http://www.thestylerookie.com/ - for the strong images and research that build a stronger knowledge on my behalf for concept ideas.

3. http://ameliafashionland.blogspot.co.uk/ - for the interest in menswear, as I don't follow mens fashion as much as women swear and it allows me to take ideas and inspiration from the latest collections.

4. http://www.stylescrapbook.com/ - for the outfits she produces keeping up with the latest trends but adding her own twist and style to the overall look.

5. http://aroselikethis.blogspot.co.uk/ - for her interest in vintage clothing and evaluation of high street clothing e.g Evans, Dorothy Perkins.

6. http://www.brownplatform.com - for the daring clothing she wears which often clashes but works really well as an overall outfit.

7. http://exquisitusfashion.blogspot.co.uk - for the layout of the image about the title and passion for music and how that interest comes through in her style.

8. http://fashionprettyrabbit.blogspot.co.uk/ - for the graffiti influence seen in the layout of the blog and the old fashioned looking photography used giving the blog another dimension.

9. http://almostfashioon.blogspot.co.uk/ - for the colour palettes he is usually attracted always gives me new shades a d tones which I can add to my palette of colours.

10. http://www.bipling.com/ - for the use of animation in her blog posts and layout and latest reports from the fashion shows.