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August 26, 2022
I know many of you are in the process of working on core patterns and working your way through the fitting process, and probably wondering is there life after working on a core pattern. And yes there is - I promise, and it's a golden life of sewing. Put another way, the pain of sewing is all at the beginning of a core pattern, and after that is all the fun. But in my book that's the way it should be, cause you not only will be having lots of fun in the future, but
you will be looking really great.
It's inevitable that while you're working on your pattern, you're actually going to have lots of ideas. And you will want to keep track of those. Recognizing that the very process of sewing and working on a project brings out all the creative juices, allows you to work, create and record while you're working. Don't worry if this takes you away from your main goal of fitting. These work in connection with the other.
Here's what happens, and most self-aware artists and creators of all sorts know this, and are ready for it.
1. One of the go-to ways for an artist to get started is simply start creating. You may not have an idea about where you're going, but simply starting will get the juices flowing. I usually like to pick out a solid, core pattern of something basic and simple that I know I will wear again and again. It's usually something that takes little time, but just doing it, calls the muse and before you know it you're getting ideas out the wazoo!
2. Next be ready for this - it's as predictable as 1 + 1 = 2. Have a notepad or something to record your ideas. Sometimes this is a wiggle or two to remind you of the ruffle on a sleeve or blouse or garment. Sometimes, you might need to sketch it out a little better. Remember this sketch isn't for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's for you and to jog your memory only. You'll get the hang of this after you've done it for a
while, and you'll be amazed at how simple it will be and what little you can get away to jog your memory. This is not to record the whole look, this is only to remind you of your idea.
3. When you get ready to start doing variations on your core pattern, then that's the time to bring all these out and start using them for ideas. If you like you can take screen shots or photos of your work and then keep them in cloud storage or Pinterest or other place so that they are easily accessible. Whatever location you decide, keep it in that one place. There is nothing worse than remembering you had an idea, but can't find it when you're
ready to sew it up and have the time.
From a personal note, I adore Pinterest. This is what my "Idea" board (and sub-boards) looks like:
It's taken me a while to organize this, but with the various boards I have, if I'm looking for a collar - it's as easy as pie.
This is like an artist's dream come true. Instead of having to go through search after search of something that you know you saw about 3 weeks to 3 years ago, here it all is in glorious graphic splendor!
Who would have known that cuffs could be so beautiful....
To see the true splendor of this - click the graphic to go to a larger version - I love everyone of these cuffs and some day I'll make them all up.
Usually in the creative process, you start with the selection of all your ideas in the Research phase. Then you go through and you start eliminating those that don't work, or aren't right or otherwise aren't applicable to your current project.
And a small note here - staying on point is key in the artistic process. WARNING: The muse will try to lure you off point. Your creative juices are pretty much running amok during this part of the process and it's easy to get side tracked into looking at ball gowns when you are really needing to work on a nice white blouse!
The next part is the famous "Ah-ha" moment when you have culled out what doesn't work and selected what does and hit upon the one idea that is perfect for your project.
After that it's a piece of cake - particularly with your core pattern - which means you trace off the design onto your core pattern, then cut it out, sew it up and finish it. You might need a quick fitting before finishing to check some minor details due to a slight fabric difference (like using a 60% stretch in a stretch core but a 45% stretch in the traced off version of the core pattern), but the bulk of the fitting, styling and flattering line and cut will already be packed
into the info on the core pattern, so the last three steps of tracing pattern, cutting out and sewing up are child's play - literally - I promise.
Truly, the hardest part, but actually some of the funnest part is the research. But the research doesn't happen if you don't write down those ideas while you're working on your core pattern. That's where you make the whole creative process work and what makes it work.
So enjoy this time you're using to fit your pattern, and write those ideas down!
There are many resources in the SewingArtistry Resource Library. Peruse through, and I'm always interested in what you like, or would like to see in the Library.
It's a conundrum, but students are at the disadvantage of not knowing what they don't know and therefore don't know what to ask. While the teacher is in a quandary of what the student needs to know, but not knowing what the student doesn't know. Wow! What a mouthful, but it's the truth. I get a lot of my ideas from my students and always, always enjoy hearing from you. All you have to do is reply to this letter.
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