Study of how people determine quality in relation to the price:

I would really appreciate if you can fill out my survey. Everyone shops and buys knitwear at one time or another during the year. I am conducting a survey regarding how people shop and your reactions to the quality of knitwear.

If you are accessing this page via smart phone or internet, Please click below:

<a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NYDRNWP">Click here to take survey</a>

Please forward on!!!!

To forward Please click below:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NYDRNWP

Thanks!

Do you need moving supplies? Did you answer yes?

Oh you did! Great!

I found this site called http://groups.freecycle.org/KensingtonandChelseaFreecycle/posts/all Freecycle.

I used it, first time and had a good experience.

Snapshot of Freecycle site

Freecycle catergorises you into local areas so that you can use the service and link it to destinations close to you.

Freecycle is a wanted and offering site where people take or give unwanted items for ....you've guessed it......FOR FREEE!!!!


I needed large scale removal cardboard boxes and box fillers ie bubble wrap etc.

Although only 2 were advertised. I ended up taking 5 flat packed boxes home in the car and putting the rest in the suitcase. Is there something you need however dont want to spend alot on the purchase. Look to Freecycle!

Give it a try...

N xoxo

(I am not affliated with Freecyle. I like to share tips and ideas that are counterproductive for everyone to be in the know).

Car Boot Sale

I am looking to move out of my childhood home and need to down size. As a secret shopaholic, I bought so much things (its a weakness) as a result I cannot move in my box room. I went during  summer 2013 to the car boot sale near Kilburn Park station at the St Augustines secondary school. Available every Saturday 10am -3pm.

I paid £10 at the gate, walked through with one suitcase (expecting another later on). As i got there late, I got put at a quiet spot at the back. Which had its pros and cons. I made £40 selling used and new items (a word of advice: bring things that are used or broken as opposed to new clothes, as you might despair at the price people expect you to sell it to them).

To cut a story in half,  I have to get rid of half my room in size. Heres some hindsight tips that i wish i knew pre first car boot sale!

 Take Care,  N xoxo

Aviation:

Inspiration: Bessie Coleman (first African American women to get her pilots licence, remarkably in France) and RAF Museum

For those unaware of where (this insightful museum) is located at:

Grahame Park Way  London NW9 5LL 020 8205 2266

Link enclosed: http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk

I went to RAF museum, looking to learn about aviation and enjoyed an interesting experience talking to a pilot.  Here are some photo's that i took during my visit.

Aviation - slideshow

Thanks for looking at my blog. Have a good day!

Dissertation research: Monsato Cotton, quality of yarn etc...

Following the entry of my final year at uni (God willing), I began to explore research for my dissertation. Originally, I was inspired by ' Who or what determines the cost of fashion'. I slowly found that my hypothesis was too broad and led to too many external variables which would make it impossible to draw to a close. 

So I decided to link my dissertation to my passion: Knitwear.

Following my placement with the great 'knitwear sculptutor, Alice Palmer'. I found that I was keen to know why after a trip to the local yarn suppliers, 'why yarn is so expensive? Why do we import yarn? '

This led me to consider yarn qualities, how is the value determined, what is the real quality? Weight, How the yarn knits? How I use it as a designer etc? 

Introducing a new hypothesis,

I found myself researching the cultivation of cotton, very interesting. I learnt that ethical issues really empowered me to connect with my inner voice. Proppelling my dissertation for with new information, daily. My research led me to Monsato who 'In 2006, bought Delta &Pineland, A leading producer of cotton seed, so that it now controls a huge share of the cotton seed market'.

The name Monsato when search using search engines was covered in negative commentary quite controversial considering their website values and aims to help support.

Most alarming is that when i type in monsato, up pops the words 'slave trade'  and articles explaining Monsato's involvement in slave trade. 

Please note: My writing merely depicts my research when searching the World Wide Web.

A Indian activist protesting against Monsato is a lady called 

Vandana Shiva Activist and author Dr Vandana Shiva is the founder of the Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology.

Shiva who really opens peoples eyes, to the things that generally go unnoticed by so many.

Such as how can a company patent a seed when it is a natural resource? 

I shall post more information as i research my dissertation.

Thanks for reading my blog!

My placement with Alice Palmer:

Back blogging...

I have been really really busy working at my placement and developing my upcoming website. I am back now. Return to Ravensbourne university and to the net to turn my hand to some more blogging.  Plus to keep things exciting, I am continuing at my placement on a 1 day, a week basis.

While i was away, I made some prints.... 

Concept- Cracked glass....(Destruction)

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development- development inspired by Piet Mondrian

Pattern from my 'After Destruction Poses Restoration' development- development inspired by Piet Mondrian

Advertising & Marketing Project:

My university gave us the marketing and advertising brief to:

• Produce womanswear and photography or illustrations work independently.

Independent outcomes

1. Dress ‘celebrates and embraces diversity of the body, this may include age, size, skin, tone, and height’.
2. CAD flats & Illustrations in colour with fabric samples (photographed everything scanned in and made digital) and technical drawing.
3. submit a short design statement outlining your inspiration and market.

SHORT STATEMENT

My inspiration for this project was Albinism. The term Albinism refers to the inherited condition that affects the melanin production in the body. The symptoms can contrast depending on the person and the amount of melanin. Some people can be sensitive to light (photophobia) or  have problems with their eyesight. I wanted to celebrate albinism as I think that people are beautiful no matter what there skin tone, hair or eye colour.

Following the suns article, i was amazed that all of an asian family were albino's  (according to the Guinness World Records, the 'Parvez family' are the largest) and to understand what their experience with albinism. Please have a look at the suns article- {below}

(http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/4221017/The-worlds-biggest-albino-clan-are-living-in-Coventry.html “ We dislike the term albino as it refers to a disability and we want to be treated like everyone else”.

Emotion intelligence is an awareness and appreciation for everyone. Albinism is one of the groups in some place without that voice in need of awareness and appreciation.  Please follow:

http://www.albinism.org/publications/what_is_albinism.html

What are groups you follow or are passionate about?

Tuesday& Wednesday Evaluation:

Tuesday 8th January 2013 & Wednesday 9th January 2013 

Both days have been a phlethora of hand sewing, mattress stitching, steam blocking, finishing production lines (swing tags, ribbons, presentation & Packaging.

i sure with every fibre of my being that i love, appreciate and i am passionate about knitwear and working within industry as a freelance knitwear designer. Nothing like being put through the motions to see what you really have!

I love it!

back to my website on the weekend!

you cant forget, put your dreams first because only then will it become a reality!

amen

Old Navy Brief:

Got a new brief:

Company: Old navy (American family brand)

http://www.oldnavy.com/

THEME: WE ARE FAMILY!   

Old Navy is known for dressing the American family fashionably + casually – with optimism and a touch of irreverence. We absolutely love our family of customers – Jennie, Mike, and the kids – giving them – ‘Irresistible everyday fashion supplies for the whole family!

DIRECTION: 

• Focus on Spring 2014
• Build on the Heritage of Old Navy – We’re based on ‘jeans + tees’ with new relevance for today.
• ‘Instantly put together ‘throw it on’ happy!’
• ‘Instantly look great, ‘good guy’ ease!’
• Design a collection inspired by Denim, Tee-shirts, and Sweatshirts
• Incorporate Old Navy logos and American icons

Your project should be a mix of classic shapes balanced with updated fashion silhouettes. Lively and youthful with the Old Navy wink!

 ‘Make the familiar new – and ‘the trend understandable.’

COLOUR: Bold, bright, feel-good colour is in the DNA of the brand.

RESEARCH: 

• History of Old Navy (established 1994)
• Relevance of the Jean, Sweatshirt, and T-shirt in American Culture
• Influences of Logo and Graphics in Fashion

So i got to start where i left off on friday-sewing in ends :)

i completed 6 Cap sleeves plus hand sewing using the mattress stitch to define and create the desired shape. I also got half way through mattress stitch sewing another 4, I have tasks for tomorrow. Which is fab! I love coming in and getting on with the tasks.

Sadly! I have no direct photographs in the studio however i will get some photos of the team currently in the studio with me.

Evaluation of my day, I think i have mastered the construction of the desired shape, mattress stitch ( i am certainly able to sew this a lot quicker then last week. I am very pleased as i would love to be able to complete the manufacturing process from start to finish.

I am learning a lot from alice, attention to detail, securing the finish, professional finishings so far to name a few.

Goal: To be able to complete the manufacturing process from start to finish, efficiently.

Till tomorrows update...

Mattress Stitching & Servicing a Dubied Machine

The Peak of my day at placement is i learnt how to service a dubied machine and overcame a independent task that i was struggling with.

I sewed in some more (sewing ends- sewing in the ends of yarn not within the knitting) ends today however due to the nature of the yarn laddering, I had to burn the ends of the yarn and conceal it. I also sewed the shoulder panels to some Cap sleeves using the mattress stitch. It was rather complicated to master the task as i had to figure out how it was sewn from a existing fully finish garment.

I have to say that once i understood the technique, i wanted to carry on with the task. However the Dubied 12gg Machine needed servicing. Lucky me!!!

This is a Dubied knitting machine

The pitt of my day was the bad backache, i came home with today and yesterday.

We began the process of servicing the dubied at 4:00PM, i left placement at 6Pm with the front bed high butts remaining to be cleaned.


I will say that servicing a dubied machine is very time consuming but i approached the task with enthusiasm and was pleased that i managed to clean the entire back bed high butts, low butts and also the front low butts.

An example of needles on a dubied

I cannot wait to go to the studio to finish mattress stitching each cap sleeve 7 times.

I am expecting next week to be very busy, long hours and all in the aide of meeting a huge target deadline. to some this may seem like a plain tasks but i am very passionate about knitwear and keen to absorb the full experience. It is key as this is my career goal.

I am keen to learn how a label operate, everything knit related, manufacturing a collection, time management.

 Alice thus far, is teaching me quite a bit.

New Term- Placement Term

Thursday 3rd January 2013 (POSTED A DAY LATE)

Today I Learnt how to use  steam blocking to shape finished knitted panels.

To those that do not know what Steam blocking is.

The process of blocking panels/Fabric to a flat smooth surface using pins and a steam iron to smooth out creases, bumps, relief and shape delicate knitting or crochet.


The Peak of the day was how many i knitted pieces that i steamed and also that Alice was happy with the standards on completion.


The Pitt of the day, I ended up with really bad backache from standing all day ( I suffer from backaches regularly).

I will update this post in a few days to add photo's demonstrating the steam blocking method.

New Years Resolutions: 2013

Happy new year 2013!!!! 

New Years Resolutions

1. Eat more healthily
2. Exercise regularly and strengthen core areas.
3. Launch online retail e-commerce knitwear site.
4. Book &Take my driving test.
5. Knit 5 pieces of knitwear a week.
6. Learn new knitting techniques.
7. Smile everyday for at least 10 mins (recommended for everyone).
8. Learn new advanced pattern cutting skills.
9. Learn new advanced CAD skills.
10. Practise speaking French conversationally. 
11. Read one new book per month.
12. Complete technical folder techniques.
13. Enjoy life to the max, travel, photograph, take in the world!
14. Look after my mind, body and soul.
15. Complete several steps from my 10 step plan by 31st Dec 2013.

So we all have goals to aspire to...what are yours....

Good Luck!!!!!!