✂-Designer's Tip of The Day-Marking An Altered Hemline

When altering a hemline a Quilter's Chalk and Sewing Gauge are two really great tools to use.  The Sewing Gauge can be set at the desired width for the hemline. Using the Quilter's Chalk, mark the distance along the cut edge.  Don't forget to account for the seam allowance!  Once everything has been marked cut along the chalk line, fold up the hem, press and sew! 

✂-Designer's Tip of The Day- Tracing Patterns

As Designers we are often attracted to vintage, out of print patterns, but wouldn't dare cut into them.... There is a way to make use of those old styles!  By using removable tape, a large sheet of butcher paper and a tracing wheel, you can trace out the pattern onto a new piece of paper.  Once all the pattern pieces have been traced off, you can "connect the dots" left by the tracing wheel with a pencil and a set of pattern making rulers.
Now you can cut out your fabric using the new pattern pieces without worrying about damaging the original pattern!

✂-Designer's Tip of the Day- Lace ♥

Lace can add just a little something special to any garment. Laces come in many widths, patterns, and colors, although ivory, black or white are the most traditionally used. Use lace on any hemline, dress, skirt, top, etc. Or find lace appliques to dress up a basic T-shirt!!
The laces above are eyelet-cotton lace and a rayon lace.

✂-The Designer's Tip of The Day-Surrealism in Fashion

Fashion enjoyed a fruitful and reciprocal relationship with the surrealist art movement (founded in 1942) based upon a shared propensity for fantasy and displacement. This was frequently evidenced within the realms of window display, fashion photography and advertising during the late 1930's. Elsa Schiaparelli was one of the few fashion designers to actively engage with Surrealism, collaborating with key artists including Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau.

It was not the silhouettes that Shiaparelli displayed her tendency towards the surreal, but in the details. Buttons took on the form of circus acrobats, beetles, guitars, vegetables and lollipops.....
The use of Surrealism in Fashion is the device of displacement- the placing of an object or image in an unfamiliar and jarring location.

Source-...isms understanding fashion by Mairi Mackinzie

✂-Designer's Tip of the Day- Embellished Fabrics

Materials such as beaded, sequined, and embroidered fabrics and cracked ice are among the most glamorous fabrics available. They can be used for complete garments or accent trims.
Sequins and beads are frequently applied with chanstitching which, when inadvertently pulled from one end, will unravel a large section.
Take care when using such fabrics, however, they make a great dress for a night at the Oscar's!!

Source-Clair Shaeffer's Fabric Sewing Guide 2nd Edition

✂-Designer's Tip of The Day-Embroidery by Machine

Embroidery is a great way to add something unique to your garments. Embroidery Machines come with many different features and can run anywhere from $200-$2000 for a home machine. Most come with a large selection of patterns, but additional styles and patterns can be added to your collection. This pattern was made with a Janome Memory Craft 300E, pattern purchased from the Martha Pullen collection.

✂-Designer's Tip of the Day-Design by Draping

                                                                             
Draping is modeling or shaping a piece of fabric on a dress form or life model. Madelene Vionnet (in the 1920's) and Madame Alix Gres (1930's) were the first couture designers to devote their talent and time to the art of draping. To this day, designers look back on their achievements and recreate their techniques.

For the designer who is looking for a more exciting cut and who is prepared for the unexpected, draping is an excellent way of approaching design and pattern development. Let yourself be inspired by the texture, colour and fall of the fabric and see the design evolve before your eyes.

Source- Basics Fashion Design 03: Construction by Anette Fischer
                 Drape by Liesse Morreale-Jones