Just what the doctor (or surgeon) ordered!

I am currently watching the golden age of glamour on bbc 4. Its a repeat but will be on the iplayer. Its the last one in the series and is FANTASTIC! its got loads on the growth of consumerism, the influence of films and the changing role of women through the inter war years. Would be GREAT accompanied by some stuff about Chanel and Schiap to follow up. THIS is what I want to be teaching. Hurrah!!!

Performance textiles, modern materials, technical textiles, yadda yadda yadda

Well I have begun to climb this mountain of the range that is the A-level syllabus and they seemed to get it. The very basic beginning parts that is, like why sportwear manufacturers use synthetics, revision of terms like 'wicking' etc but my GOD there is so much more to go before I reach the peak.

I got as far as some basic performance textiles and will be trying to tackle some more up to date innovations after half term, I have given them a huge amount of reading to do over the half term and a list of websites to look at (but what is the use in this if they dont know what they are looking for? they MUST do the reading and hopefully understanding, first)

Then its medical textiles, then geotextiles, then interactive texiles and QTC, then I want to kill myself, then I cheer up because its my last year of this ridiculous AS syllabus and nearly the end of the A2 one! then its onto all the revision. Oh and finishing the projects, filling in the ever present and never fully complete CRF and waving them all off to foundation courses where they pride themselves in 'undoing' all the stuff they think they know about design from A-level.

But they climbed the matterhorn just because it was there right?

I'm going out, I may be away some time...................

Video clips for performance sportswear.

I am going to try and tackle performance textiles for sportswear this week with my AS and A2-ers.

The power point is FAR to long, and I havent even sctratched the surface on the content for this topic, but I will as ever be interspersing my droning on with some videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmcWzSjVegQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X6tsGfIVL8


I'll let you know how it goes.

stretchy stretchy

http://www.patternschool.com/?page_id=170

This is an amazing free pattern making website that I have been using for a couple of A-level projects (an ice dancing dress and a pair of jodpurs, not to be worn together of course)

It IS advanced and I know that a lot of people see the words stretch and fabric together and run a mile but just in case you were trying to find a decent commercial pattern for stretchy stuff, save your pennies and make your own!

Specialist supplies of trimmings and haberdashery can be difficult to track down (even with the great answer to everything that is google) so here are some specialist suppliers that I regularly use. Feel free to add any if you have some good ones or ask any other 'right siders' for help tracking stuff down.

For tailoring supplies its GOT to Jonathan Bernstein for anything thats not cloth.

http://www.qualitylinings.co.uk/linings.htm

Corsetry stuff from

Devine Supplies Ltd., 57a Brightwel Rd., Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, SSO 9EB, UK Tel: (01)702-352500 or (01702)-613101


Millinery (including feathers)

http://www.millinerwarehouse.co.uk/

http://www.baxterhart.co.uk/


There are no back handers here, just a satisfied customer.

I should really name all of the terrible ones too! I will never forget going inot a certain local hebdashery shop to find one of my students in tears because she had dared to bring her design work in to ask the shop dragons for some advice on what trim to buy. Needless to say we both left withour buying anything there that day, or any day since. I also told every one of my students from year 7-13 not to go there for anything even though it was pretty much next to the school.

Good ASl starter video

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/fire-proof-clothing/6057.html

I use this for AS students as a 'Theory Bite' before we get on with making in a double period.

Just got to keep squeezing it in week after week!

Is this Textiles??

http://www.isthistextiles.com/

Mind bending new design work from conceptual designers. Love it!

Recycle Upcycle

This is a blog run by the excellent Julia Roebuck who I have been collaborating with on recyclong and upcycling projects all year. She is working on resource pack for schools that looks amazing and her blog is great, give it a look.

http://upcycle-fashion.blogspot.com/

Free fashion courses for 16-18 year olds at the fashion and textiles museum. GREAT for portfolio building.

http://www.ftmlondon.org/academy/business/training/detail/?ID=185