So corny, I know, but my brain may be freezing up and shutting down any moment now. I finally finished my first sample for a 'simple wrap'. I didn't take many process photos along the way, but at the end of it, I was kinda like, phew, that seemed like a lot of work. Maybe I took the scenic route to simplicity.
The knit part was actually pretty straight forward; by now I know what type of knit will sit without curling, what weight and density will hang well without being too heavy, what texture I like etc. But coming from a textile design background, as opposed to one in fashion, I have to work really hard at pattern making and sewing. Plus, I have a (perhaps stupidly) bad attitude to ready made, commercial patterns so I rarely use them. But I love knits and wovens together, so I'm determined to have a go at it.
So, way back when...an idea...
Round 1 toiles - pleats all wrong
Round 2 toiles - ditched the pleats
Round 3 toiles - with knitted panels, trying to get the shoulders to sit properly
Tension swatches, pattern pieces
Contact with the human world - a real life model- hand stitch detail instead of pleats
Determined to get the pleats in - more pattern pieces and sampling finishing techniques. At this stage I also took the knit panels off the sample, undid them and reknitted them to get the shoulders right.
The final product, and some fresh air. I fulfilled my intention of having the knit panels drape over the shoulders and hang straight down. My pet hate with normal wraps is because they are rectangles, they create gaping around the neck
The back, with the pleats AND hand stitch detail
The knit fabric
And the lining, I was pretty happy with this
