ALMOST there....!

Hi Everyone,

To anyone else my new studio / fitting room would look finished, but a certain few things still need doing...

But anyway, here it is, looking more like a workplace :-)

More photos tomorrow when the sun comes out....well, we hope!

Bobbie

New teaching studio / fitting room

Hi Everyone,

Keeping up with all the places that one wants to service with updates / photos / news / interesting/amusing facts / is a bit of a mission, and I tend to go first to the easiest access, which in my case happens to be Facebook. But FB does not rule the world (yet), and I have to remember that, and try to make everything accessible to as many as poss, just to stay in touch!   
There's 'networking' from a business point of view, but also keeping up with friends old and new....
ANYWAY!! Here we are after much signing in, and signing out of google accounts and getting passwords correct!

Just wanted to tell all of you interested in pattern cutting / sewing techniques that my new teaching studio/fitting room is finally 99% there, and you can see some photos here. I'll be having a little opening in the next 2 weeks or so hopefully, so look out for dates here, and on my Atelier Wedding Dresses facebook page. If you come across this blog by chance, please also see my website, www.bobbiesroom.co.uk, but for specific things about the classes, this is the place! If you have any queries about anything at all, please email me: atelierclasses1@gmail.com, or phone 07941 619992. Back soon....

Table top not actually screwed down yet, but...!

Experimental Japanese pattern cutting on an 'activewear' jacket

Hi Everyone,

Who would think that a running jacket could incorporate aspects of the Japanese pattern cutting methods that I love? 
Well, one of my students from my 'outside' teaching at Ravensbourne, (as opposed to the one to one classes), has achieved just that in the last activewear project by designing her pattern to include a 'disapperaring' hood, with no seam to attach it to the body of the jacket. Really great that second year students should attempt and succeed with this so well. I can't give you a photo I'm afraid, for obvious reasons, but here are some similar things using that technique from one of the brilliant 'Pattern Magic' books by Tomoko Nakamichi: 

The hood transmutes into the jacket body, in the same way that the collar and the ties do here. 

For the same 'activewear' project, I made a sample of an integral 'backpack' for a jacket as a bit of possible inspiration for the students. This uses the Japanese 'Otoshiana' technique - you can see how it works. All you have to do is make the shape you want at first in paper, (or at least an approximation), and then transfer this into a pattern as shown, then cut out the pieces in calico with a seam allowance, sew together the pieces and hey presto - there you have it! Here are the photos: 

Make your shape in stiff paper

Mark and number the sections

Cut apart and press flat on a table

Trace around the shape on pattern paper and add 1cm seam allowance 

Sew up the pieces, and place where the shape is wanted on the garment,  (i.e. jacket back), and continue the seam lines to the edge of the pattern piece. 

Side view

Then the shape is an integral part of the garment, and facings can be added, or the fabric can be double layered as you want.

You can learn these techniques with me at my home studio -just email sewing@bobbiesroom.co.uk, atelierclasses1@gmail.com, or phone 07941 619992 for prices and details.

testing

Slightly belated Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone,

A very Happy New Year to you all...

Well, the New Year 2014 has started pretty well - the flu thing I had all over Christmas has gone - nice to feel normal (!), and I have yet another new student for private classes starting in a week or so.

Sewing and pattern cutting is steadily becoming more fashionable, lucky for me! I guess this is to do with a few different things - the economic climate (restraining spending in retail shops), recycling and saving of resources, a reaction against slave and child labour in clothing factories in the third world, a feeling that old fashioned values and skills are worth nurturing (making your own clothes, recycling old ones, using leftover fabric for accessories etc), and maybe just wanting to do something real and practical instead of virtual or online. 
I have to say that when I am involved in pattern cutting/making up/designing on paper - stuff away from the computer, my brain feels different! Calmer, more methodical - and for someone a bit 'high stress' like myself(!), that's a good thing. Do any of you out there feel that too?


New studio fitting/decorating is held up due to the lurgy, but back on track as of today....

Anyway, hope you all have a brilliant 2014, keep warm (in the Northern Hemisphere!), and an encouraging thought - as of Dec 21st, the days are getting longer (again in the Northern Hemisphere) - yippee!! For those of you south of the equator, reverse the above!! 

Please reply/comment on this post if you feel inspired - it's always good to know that there are people out there reading this!

Bobbie 

Beautiful dress by Elke Walter

A little progress on the new fitting / teaching room...and a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone.

Floorboards have appeared in my 'soon-to-be' new fitting room/teaching room! What has this to do with pattern cutting/teaching you may ask...?! The significance of this means that the walls are painted, the floor is next to be painted, and then the gloss can be done, and THEN.......we are nearer completion!

I have 2 new students for one  to one private classes starting in January, so hoping that all this will be done by the time they start! My introductory offer of 5 classes for the price of 6 still holds for NEW students, payable in advance. 

Other news: my pattern cutting teaching is continuing at Ravensbourne, Greenwich after Christmas which is great in terms of the students, environment, colleagues, location etc. I love being back in London, especially now it's winter. Sometimes in the country, although it's beautiful and the air is clean, I feel as if all other human beings are dead!

\

Bespoke commissions are ongoing too - a wedding dress for July, and a mother of the bride for March, AND....a previous customer was married a couple of weeks ago in the city hall, Florence Italy, in a black wedding dress!!! What a beauty she was too, and what a totally romantic place to be married. (A couple of photos at the end).

  

Sarah and Ben's wedding in Florence, Italy

Just a snap as you can see - note the people in winter jackets and scarves, and Sarah in strapless dress! She was determined, despite suggestions of faux fur/cashmere capelets/wraps....

Any comments, questions, please feel free to email on: atelier@bobbiesroom.co.uk, or comment here of course!

Classes, classes, classes......

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick word to update you on Atelier Classes stuff....

Quite a few new students have started in the last few months, so, realising that the pattern cutting/sewing teaching is becoming more popular (for several reasons - discuss!!), I am concentrating on that at the moment, as well as 'outside' university teaching. I try to give my customers what they want...!

My new studio expansion STILL hasn't happened, but I'm hoping that in the next few weeks it will be done, and there will be a lot more pattern cutting table space, accessible from all angles, and all beautifully, newly decorated!

WHEN this is a reality, I am planning a little opening do, so that anybody interested can come and have a look, bring their friends and have a drink and a nibble :-)

Will keep you posted.

The 6 classes for the price of 5 introductory offer still holds, so if you fancy giving yourself an early Christmas present, give me a call on 07941 619992 or email atelier@bobbiesroom.co.uk

Speak soon!

Bobbie