PDF: jacket reflection

Jacket Reflection

            I really enjoyed this project. I must admit, at first I was really unsure about it, since we were only draping and no sketching was allowed, but I ended up discovering that I really do like draping. I enjoyed working on the half scale too, which I had not used much before this.

I learned SO much making this jacket- it was a very successful project. I had never draped and then created a pattern before, and I found that I work well this way and I will use this system of making in the near future. I learned how to translate a half scale pattern to full scale too which will be very helpful now and it will save me cost on fabric initially and will save me time when trying to figure out a design initially because working so small means I can work faster. I learned a lot about construction too by sewing a lining.

If I were to remake this jacket, I think I would have chosen to have the print as the self fabric and used a very thin gray lining- maybe a thin cotton, instead. I would have even like to maybe make the jacket out of waterproof material- I think it could be a cool rain jacket. But with this being said, I still really love this jacket I made and I am very proud of it.

PDF:  letter jacket paper

Final Project- Letter Inspired Lined Jacket

            When I was little, I was known in my family as “kooky Katrina,” who always made up names for objects. Since I was about 2, I have been famous for the word “guquoi,” which is what I called water or liquids that I wanted to drink. Since I use to say lots of silly, made up words, I had a couple to choose from, but Guquoi has been the most memorable.

Guquoi was perfect for this project also because I love the organic, circular shape that the letter G makes. I had fun playing with how the letter can be written, like adding a long tail to it or making a big belly of the G, and cutting the letters out differently and playing with them and seeing how they work. After drawing many versions of a capital G onto muslin in all different sizes and shapes, I draped with these pieces. After many tries I finally came up with a design that was a complex, unrealistic, and confusing version of what I ended up making. On half scale, I morphed the drape many times, making it more wearable and ended up turning into what I have sewn today.

To this day, my family loves saying guquoi, At family dinners my sister will always ask me to pass the guquoi or ask me to get her a cup of guquoi when I’m in the kitchen. I chose this word because it’s silly and playful, which are two words that I love to have in mind when designing, and meaningful, reminding me of my family back in Boston that I do not get to see as much as I’d like to.