After quite a lot of labour the final piece looks just like i planned. I am pleased everything was successful, with no major dramas. I like the view I was portraying and I think my inspiration was strong... With nothing more said, I give you my final WOOLLEM MERMAID SWIMWEAR!
I produced my bathing suit in two layers. An under layer which was the basic bathing suit shape, using the plain wool jersey. This acted as a base. The main layer was the rouched wool jersey attached over top. I did this to give the bathing suit support and to prevent it from stretching to a greater size or out of shape. I learnt this after the bottoms of my toile grew DRAMATICALLY after I produced them using only the rouched fabric, the use of such a large amount of fabric gave the bathing suit even greater stretch however very little recovery.
The clock was ticking... My idea was strong and was confident with the steps I had to take... Black chain however is IMPOSSIBLE to find... Not that I had a lot of time to look too hard. I found suitable white chain and spray painted it black.
I practiced the rouching effect on several pieces of fabric to see the effect and how much I would actually have to use, as the applique process is not sparing on fabric...
It turned out i had to rule 1cm lines on a 1.5 metre piece of wool jersey.
I was however, very happy with the end result. After cutting the pattern and sewing the tucks in opposite directions, I could start putting the bathing suit together..
After two days of sketching while keeping: black, one piece, wool jersey and Annette Kellerman close to mind... I had found the exact design that i want to create. I cant believe the time constrains! My lack of prior use of stretch fabrics and binding machines mixed with the two week deadline definately scared me!
But I wanted this to be good!
To make bring detail and complexity to the swimsuit, I decided to use rouching. I just had to incorporate chain into the design... it had so much meaning and portrayed Kellerman's rebellious views.
After being asked to design a one piece bathing suit, so many ideas immediately came to mind... Then there were the finer details: ONE- having to use the wool jersey. TWO - having to be ALL black. AND THREE - having to draw inspiration from Annette Kellerman.. Who was Annette Kellerman??
...Well after a bit of research, Anette Kellerman was quite amazing, but there was one particular thing that stood out for me...
At the age of 21, she was arrested for indecency on a beach wearing a skin tight, one piece, black bathing suit with legs that ended well above her knees. She later argued in court that she was being practical rather than provocative, after all, she explained is she were to swim in the customary garb of her day, she “may as well be swimming in chains”.
