What's on the runways in 2020? Wide disco collars, chic trench coats, and layered skirts in simmering neons, crochet knits, and faux leather. Do you study the pages of Glamour, Vogue, Marie Claire, and wish to be involved in the world of trendy fashion? Perhaps you follow fashion influencers on Instagram. Or, do you enjoy the satisfaction of making things yourself, your way? If so, this class is for you. Each week this course will cover three parallel tracks: the history of fashion, fashion design, and sewing, with the first hour of each class being lessons and design work and the second hour dedicated to application and sewing.
Fashion trends are often cyclical, and elements of style are reimagined every few decades. Students will seek inspiration for new designs and style remixes by learning about the history of fashion in eastern and western cultures for the last century. First semester, students will look at fashion trends by decade from 1900 through the 1960s. This semester will cover chapters 1 through 3 in the textbook. With inspiration from historical design trends, students will learn how to create fashion renderings, from initial concepts through a chic, coordinated collection. First semester, the class will learn about color theory, color psychology, and composing color palettes. They will learn to draw their designs by sketching a croquis (a quick, rough sketch of a garments on a proportioned figure.) Students will practice vision boarding and developing a story board. In this class, students will also learn to sew clothing as way of sharing- and wearing- fashions that they have designed. First semester, students will begin by getting-to-know their sewing machines including different components, attachments, and functions, along with care and use if their machines. Students will begin with simple stitching exercises, and their first project will be sewing a pin cushion that they will use throughout the year. The class will also learn the basics of hand sewing. The class will discover how garments are assembled by deconstructing an article of clothing from its seams. The group will learn how to read a sewing pattern and take measurements and will learn about different types of fabrics, their uses, and care. The group will learn about hems and elastic along with closures and how/where to use them. First semester's project will be sewing a custom pair of PJ pants. Students who practice at home will find that their sewing skills are refined and perfected more quickly. However, due to the complexity of constructing wearable, functional pieces of clothing, students should understand that by the end of the year, their sewn items will be more basic than the complex designs they render in the fashion design portion of the class. It takes years of practice before designers can create the complete, detailed collection that they have designed! Topics in this Series: Style Studio: Fashion Design and Sewing I (Semester 1), Style Studio: Fashion Design and Sewing I (Semester 2). Students continuing from first semester receive priority pre-registration for second semester. Prerequisites: First semester- none. A student who wishes to enroll in the second semester must know some of the beginning sewing and artistic skills (equivalent to first semester) and will require instructor approval to enroll. Levels: There will be different levels of the sewing instruction: a basic pattern for those new to the craft and a more complex version of the same project for those with more advanced sewing knowledge. Interested students with advanced sewing skills may take the course and sew their own projects during the second hour. These students would be asked to review their projects with the instructor in advance. Workload: Students should expect to spend 1-2 hours per week outside of class on reading assignments and completing or practicing the sewing skill/step covered in class. Assignments: Projects and readings will be given out in class and will also be communicated via email. Assessments: Individual feedback is given in class. Formal assessments will not be given. Textbook: Students should purchase Fundamentals of Fashion Design, 3rd Edition, by Richard Sorger and Jenny Udale (ISBN# 978-1474270007) before the first class. Additional information will be distributed as handouts in class. Equipment/Fabric: Students must bring to class each week:
A portable sewing machine with bobbins. If you are purchasing a new sewing machine for the class, a Singer Heavy Duty Sewing Machine, 4400 series, model is recommended. These can be purchased from Amazon or Joann Fabrics for $160-$180. Students who are bringing a pre-owed or loaned sewing machine are expected to have the machine professionally serviced before the start of class.
The sewing machine owner's manual
An extension cord
Fabric for class assignments. A list of needed fabric and sewing patterns will be sent out the first day of class, with the recommended quantity, type, and deadlines.
Lab/Supply Fee: A class fee of $45.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class for a project box, including a sewing kit (with 1 pack of sewing machine needles, thread, and hand sewing essentials), sketchpad, folder, tracing paper, colored pencils, eraser. The supply fee also includes the shared cost and use of a lightbox for tracing. The cost of photocopied class documents is included in the course fee. What to Bring: Instructor-furnished sewing kit, art supplies, sewing machine, bobbins, owner's manual, extension cord, fabric, and images/sample photos, swatches, and other assigned materials. Credit: Homeschool families may wish to count this course as a component (partial) credit in Fine Arts or Career Education for purposes of a high school transcript.