Monday, September 7, 2009

Wardrobe Contest Rough Draft and Tips

For those of you who have never done a Wardrobe Contest before, I thought I would show you how I organize my thoughts. First I make a pile of fabric. I always try to start from the fabric and choose a pattern that will work for it and not the other way around. If I choose a pattern first, I spend forever finding the perfect fabric and I usually never find it. I don't have that problem if I start with the fabric.Then, I flip through my Burda patterns notebook. I make copy of the model photo and line drawing for every pattern in my Burda magazines. I put them in a plastic envelope and stick them in a three ring binder. Voila, pattern euphoria. I usually put the fabric on my lap otherwise, I get distracted by all the eye candy and forget why I'm looking in the first place. Here's an example of one from May of last year.

After I've chosen the fabrics and patterns, I figure out if they will work together. I look at necklines very carefully. I always seem to have a jacket/vest/coat that doesn't work well with the necklines I've chosen. Then, I sketch out a list of each component just to make sure it all works together. My last step is to move to the computer and actually make the storyboard. I find it easier if I choose Burda patterns because they have nice line drawings. Some of the older Jalies don't have great line drawings and you have to fiddle with them to make them look nice on your storyboard. I think Angie over at Quality Time has some of the best photoshoppy/storyboard tutorials. Here are a few I use: Mac Storyboard Tutorial, Mixing Prints Tutorial, and Storyboard Tutorial using Paint.net.

And here, obviously, is my poorly drawn rough draft storyboard (click to see the whole width). I did this at the table this morning at breakfast. You can see that my kids also "helped" by scribbling on it. I was going to do a vest and a dress but not anymore. I think a chanel-style jacket fits better into this plan. That, and I want to make one anyhow.

9 comments:

Melissa said...

Great pieces!

AllisonC said...

looks good! Thanks for the tips and especially for the link to Jemimabean's mac storyboard tutorial.

Tamara said...

Thanks for you method for planning a wardrobe. It was very helpful. Great suggestion about fitting fabric to patterns.

kiltsnquilts said...

Thanks, that is one thing I struggle with - making the storyboard! Do you put together the pics and line drawings from your BWOf on the computer?? Every design and line drawing?? That is some task and must take a while to do - one of those things you really need to keep up with I guess!

Amy said...

These tips are great!

Your pants turned out really nicely too. I'd like to try that pattern myself.

Rose said...

Your wardrobe plan looks great! I had to chuckle--I picked a pattern first once and never could find the right fabric. I learned the hard way!

Rachel said...

I can't wait to see your wardrobe come together.

Jenny said...

Thank you for the idea on organizing your Burda model pictures with the line drawings- great idea! And I love how you sketched out your wardrobe ideas- looks like you have some great options.

Anonymous said...

Can you explain how you put together the pics and line drawings for your BWOF. What program did you use?