The second week was spent on a cushion project, making cushions which involved using different techniques which we would need to know, so I learned techniques like; pinning, stitching seams, pressing, top stitching, overlocking, ironing, inserting a zip, applying bias binding, making and applying piping, machine gathering, catch stiches, tacking and attatching buttons. Some of which I had already known, but it was really great to do a project which included so much!
Once I had finished making my cushion, I started making a 1560's womans hat. I found this task paerticularly difficult as I had never made anything without having an example infront of me where I could take reference as to how it fits together, all I had was a black and which photo of a 1560's woman, and the pattern. I started by making a toile which took alot of time, but I managed to nearly finish it by the end of the week. During this week, we also got to stand in on a costume parade for one of the tron shows, it was long, very long, and i've definately learned a few things to think about when it comes to designing my costumes, and things to be prepared for in a costume parade because, personally, I think it could have run alot smoother, and not have been as long. It was a very good experience to watch something that i will need to do in 2 years time, so im grateful that we managed to go and check it out! of course, leaving the costume parade meant more notes for the shows had to be done.. so... roll on week 3!
The third week, and we were back onto doing notes for the two shows again, we also had the seonc of the two shows, costume parade, which went just about the same as the previous one. I have to say I found doing ntoes rather boring, but I learned quite alot from having to alter a few garments, though taking out sleeves, and putting new ones in is so annoying, I really was tempted to chuck it out the window! On the 4th week we were down at the tron helping with the two shows. I thought it was a really good experience and it was really fun to get to work in another theatre and get to know how it all works there!
Now on week five and at the moment I am in the middle of finishing off a crinoline cage which I am making for the west end parade, which has definately taken longer that I initially thought it would, but I am glad that we have been given the time so that we can finish it. Its Tuesday at the moment and we have another 3 days in the costume department, and I think, I will hopefully be able to finish making my 1560's hats, and we might be starting to make some of the costumes for the shows that are at the beginning of next year.Which will be fun and a new thing for us to learn!
I have put in some photos of some of the garments that I worked on, aswell as close ups.
