Table Runner Assignment

Table runners are a great way to dress up dining tables. They cover only the middle section of the table but serves as an important element of decoration. We were tasked to sew a table runner for our 3rd sewing assignment. Sewing a table runner is not a challenge for us because it is stitched together with simple and basic straight seams. However, we were given the challenge to do fabric painting on the sides of our table runner. Fabric painting is something that is completely foreign to us. But we took on the challenge! It was definitely a very tedious process for us to master all the painting skills (shading, highlight gradient), but we all did it and I am sure that we are all very proud of our hard work! :)

Below are some pictures of our table runners

Creating our ONE & ONLY File Cover!!! *Limited Edition*

This week we continued our journey on sewing with the next project on personalized file cover! Starting with the choosing of selfie-photos to decorating the file with cloths of various colors and designs, our end-product was just FABULOUS!
Below are various file covers from our group:

 

During the process of file cover making, we played around with the various combination of cloth and decorative stitches to make the file cover more appealing and interesting. Some of the problems faced will be the sides of the file design when we have to add in different straps of cloth as it was not long enough, as well as to seal the raw edges around. In conclusion, we had a great time doing this file cover, and we feel a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment when we had completed the product, especially when our faces are at the front of the file to show our identity as the "Designer". This customized file cover definitely be used in various ways, look forward to it!

Tote Bag Assignment

Yesterday, we went to the textiles lab to complete our tote bag assignment. We find that sewing in NIE is rather fun and manageable. 

To be honest, sewing in TP is rather stressful as we have to start from scratch when we sew. From getting your own fabric, designing the tote bag, doing paper patterns for the ideal size of the tote bag, cutting the fabric to finally sewing the actual bag itself. 

I guess Dr Mok believes in us that we are already able to do these since we have done so much before. Therefore we have the luxury of Mr Tong cutting out all the fabric nicely for us. This aids in our sewing process and we are able to sew immediately. 

A few of us went Daiso to shop for the handle of the tote bag. We couldn't decide which handle to get. Therefore a tip before you go Daiso to get your bag handle is to have a picture of your tote bag ready! This will make it easier for us to find a matching handle for our bag. Alternatively, we can also bring the actual bag there to find the most suitable handle for our bag. :) 

We could use different embroidery stitches when we are sewing, so it is up to our creativity! The machine in NIE has close to 1000 different stitches. It is such a BIG variety. We were all so spoilt for choice!! Although we are using the same fabric, these stitches really helped us to make our bag look so different from our classmates! 

We can use this tote bag next time when we are in schools too! As we move around classes to teach, to put our textbooks and lesson materials! 

Who says sewing isn't fun? Cause we all enjoyed ourselves! :D 

Our sewing journey has been a pleasant one thus far! :)

Embroidery

There are two types of embroidery; Hand Embroidery and Machine Embroidery.

Embroidery are usually used on denim, hats, caps, blanket and dress shirts. The following picture show the basic stitches of hand embroidery.

http://www.goldendragon.com.sg/images/Embroidery/stitch.jpg

In The Teaching of Clothing and Textiles module, we did machine embroidery. 

The computerized sewing machine that we usedhas more than 900 embroidery stitches with functions such as combining row of alternate decorative stitch. In our competency profile 2 assignment, we played with other different functions of the machine such as altering the stitch width and length, vertical mirror image, horizontal mirror image (up), horizontal image (down), long stitch function and pattern extend function.

Competency Profile 1

On our very first lesson of "The Teaching of Clothing and Textiles" we were tasked to do a competency profile. This is for our teacher to judge how competent we are in sewing. Thus we are assigned to sew some basic seams as well as three different shapes.

They are:

• Square
• Triangle 
• Circle

Sewing the square and triangle was pretty manageable. The challenging part is when we had to sew a circle. I guess this is where we all unpick our fabric several times to perfect it. 

Although during the 3 years in Temasek Polytechnic, we had several sewing modules like Lifestyle Sewing 1, Lifestyle Sewing 2 and Decorative Construction we still faced some difficulties sewing a perfect round circle.

However, we take face the challenges and tasks given to us positively!

Below are photographs of our very first competency profile.

Welcome!

Welcome to our Teaching of Clothing and Textiles blog. Liping, Wei Jing, Eileen and I will be sharing bits and pieces of our learning journey here. Enjoy!