Spring 2012
FCSC 4178/5178 - FIBER ARTS
Class Time: Monday and Wednesday 5:10 - 7 pm
Instructor/ Dr. Donna M. Brown Michaella Kaszuba
Graduate TA: Office 251 AG. Office Ag. 232
Phone 766-4145
Office Hours: By appointment by appointment
Course Objective: By developing/enhancing both technical and creative apparel construction skills,
students will become creators and appreciators of distinctive pieces of wearable
art. Students will also gain an understanding of how to display their artistic
creations for others to appreciate.
FCSC Competencies: Students in this class will have the opportunity to develop their skills in the following FCSC required competencies:
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Professional Behavior
Attendance: Attendance is required and a roll shall be taken at each class. Two or more unexplained absences WILL result in a lower grade, through the loss of laboratory technique/professional behavior grade points. Arriving at class late, or leaving early (unless the day’s assignment is complete) will be noted and listed as only partial attendance, and may contribute to the loss of grade points. Excused absences will require advance notification of the intent to miss class, contact via e-mail or voice mail before the completion of the class period, an official doctor’s note or an official university excuse. If you are sick, please stay home, but be sure to contact the instructor before the end of class so your absence will be excused! If you have repeated absences due to illness, you will very likely be expected to verify with a doctor’s note.
Grading: Grades will be assigned as follows:
90 - 100% A
80 - 89% B
70 - 79% C
60 - 69% D
59% or lower F
Grades will be assigned for the following:
Sample Portfolio 50%
Final Project 35%
Laboratory Technique/Professional Behavior 15%
Total 100%
Laboratory Technique/Professional Behavior Grade:
This grade will encompass several aspects of classroom performance/professional behavior, and will be awarded at the instructor’s discretion based on observations of individuals’ performances/professional behavior in each area. It includes responsible use and treatment of ALL laboratory equipment. Points will be deducted for any mistreatment of sewing machines and equipment. This also includes basic maintenance of equipment, such as regular cleaning and oiling. Spot checks will be made to determine the level of maintenance being performed. Loss of equipment will also result in a loss of grade points.
Poor attendance (see above) WILL result in a loss of points in this area. ALL students MUST work on their sample portfolio and their final project(s) DURING CLASS HOURS. Additional time may be spent, if needed, outside class hours, either at home (with instructor’s permission) or in the laboratory (at prearranged times only). Failure to work on projects during class is likely to result in the forfeiture of the laboratory technique/classroom performance grade AND a grade of an F on the project or sample in question.
This grade will also be used to assess each student’s level of preparation for class - this includes doing all required homework (both reading and sample preparation if assigned) as well as coming to class with required supplies and materials. As with all university classes, there IS an expectation that students will complete homework for this class, with a maximum expectation of an average of 3 hours for each credit hour per week (i.e. an average of a maximum of 9 hours per week). This homework time does NOT include hours required to make up work missed due to class absences.
This grade also includes working on the assigned task for the day – class time may NOT be used to make up missed and/or incomplete assignments from previous days or late assignments except with the permission of the instructor! Students WILL be expected to read and attempt to follow any/all written directions, and use the supplied samples during class – a student’s level of effort and application/critical thinking and problem solving during class will impact this grade.
Note: Cell phone use is NOT permitted during class time, including text messaging – this wastes class time designed for working on assignments. Such a waste of class time will result in the loss of grade points. This grade will additionally address students’ level of courtesy to both instructors and other class members.
Sample and Project Grading Policies:
NO late assignments will be accepted, unless they are accompanied by an official university excuse or doctor’s note, AND/OR direct contact was made with the instructor to indicate the student has a serious illness as per the attendance policy. Specific arrangements for the revised due date(s) of late or missed assignments DUE TO ILLNESS must be made directly with the instructor. If you are sick/absent on the day an assignment is due, you will not be required to come to campus to submit the assignment on that day ONLY IF you have contacted the instructor as required in the attendance policy. Please submit your assignment on the revised date worked out with the instructor. Assignments may be left in the instructor’s mailbox (in Ag. 249). It is the student’s responsibility to use the syllabus to be aware of ALL assignment and project due dates – “I didn’t know it was due today” will not be accepted as an excuse for the lack of submission of an assignment.
NOTE If you are having difficulty keeping up, PLEASE come and discuss this with your instructor ASAP so we can work on a way to assist you before it becomes too overwhelming, and before too many points are lost because of incomplete assignments!! It is YOUR responsibility to make an appointment with the instructor to discuss your difficulties.
ALL samples and projects must be appropriately labeled (your name and individual
project/sample name) and submitted with appropriate grade sheet
Completed progress/supply checks for jacket project
Correct and/or appropriate techniques used throughout
Quality of workmanship
Neatness and cleanliness of project and techniques
Correct pressing techniques used throughout (project and samples must be pressed before
grading)
Appropriate choice of fabric or materials for project style
Appropriate selection of notions for project (not critical for samples)
Garment fit, when appropriate
Appropriateness of style for student. It is acceptable to construct your garment for a
family member or friend if desired but fit will still need to be assessed if physically
possible
Consideration will be given for the difficulty level of the jacket project
Continuation of learning and skill progression
Disability/Accommodations
If you have a physical, learning, sensory, or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. You will need to register with and provide documentation of your disability to University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in Student Educational Opportunity (SEO) room 330 of Knight Hall.
Required Text: Course Packet for FCSC 4178/5178, available ONLY from the University Bookstore.
Professional Sewing Techniques for Designers, by Julie Cole
and Sharon Czachor (Fairchild Books, Inc. 2009. ISBN-13: 978-1-56367-516-
40).
Suggested/optional texts/reading: Reader's Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing
Supplies: pins
tape measure
seam gauge
shears
small, sharp scissors (e.g. embroidery scissors with sharp points)
small rotary cutter
marking pens, pencils, chalk (your preference)
Dressmaker's carbon and wheel
hand sewing needles - sharps
- beading or #12 quilting needles
thread - variety of colors
- quilting thread
- invisible thread (nylon monofilament) if you have any
- elastic thread for the machine if you have any
- decorative threads if you have any (some samples of these will be available for use in class)
pens, pencils, etc
ruler
scraps of: ribbons and trims
fancy yarns
fabrics of different colors, prints, textures, etc.
batting, fiberfill (stuffing)
cording
buttons and beads for embellishments
small amount of water-soluble stabilizer (1/4 yd?)
The following supplies would be helpful if you have them, but don't buy them especially for class:
pleater board
wooden machine embroidery hoop
ALL supplies (including machine embroidery designs) for your final jacket project. Watch for interesting remnants and/or sale fabrics and trims. Let Dr. Brown know EARLY if you wish to order dyes, marbling and/or embroidery designs and supplies for your project so you can be directed to the best locations to order such supplies.
FINAL PROJECT (due Monday 4/23 by ABSOLUTELY NO LATER THAN 7 p.m.)
Each student will be required to produce a wearable art jacket, using a combination of the fabric manipulation techniques learned in the sample portfolio. Any jacket pattern with long sleeves may be used - a variety will be available in class, or the student is free to design their own. The jacket should be fully lined, and may be quilted if desired. The choice of color scheme, techniques used, etc. is entirely the student's. A minimum of four different techniques must be incorporated. These techniques must be included in such a way as to make a SIGNIFICANT contribution to the garment (i.e. a single buttonhole is not acceptable for consideration as a technique for inclusion). Those students enrolled for graduate credit (FCSC 5178) will be required to produce an entire outfit i.e. the jacket as described previously and an additional coordinating piece, such as pants, dress, skirt, etc. which does not need to be embellished as for the jacket.
ALL students (including those enrolled for audit) will be required as part of this project to participate in a public exhibition of their work (Friday April 27th, 5 - 8 p.m.). The exhibit will be housed in the loggia area of the American Heritage Center, and will remain in place for the summer. It is expected that ALL students will cooperate fully, including having garments completed by the necessary date for the exhibition, as well as providing information for narrative text to be used in the exhibit, and a list of guests to be invited to the exhibit opening on or before scheduled deadlines (all to be provided electronically in the appropriate format to Dr. Brown). It is also possible that all students will be expected to participate in fund raising activities to help support the cost of mounting the exhibit, and the opening reception.
Students registered for audit WILL be required to complete the appropriate final project as described above, as well as participate in the final exhibit. You are welcome to submit samples for grading, but are not required to do so, but should plan on working on samples with other class members throughout the semester. i.e. if registered for FCSC 5178 for audit, a jacket AND coordinating piece MUST be completed.
Shopping sources for your final project
www.trimfabric.com – great for fabrics, especially wool.
www.thaisilks.com – great for all silks, including dyed.
www.fashionfabricsclub.com – fabrics, including wool and silk
www.fabrics.com – apparel fabrics.
www.dharmatrading.com – all dyeing and painting supplies, as well as white and black silk, cotton and sometimes rayon fabrics for painting/dyeing. Also carry the Shiva oil paint sticks.
www.i-kandi.com – Hot-fix Swarovski crystals, rhinestones, etc. and hot wax art supplies.
www.whimbeads.com – hand beading supplies and beads.
www.beyondbeadery.com – same as above
www.firemountaingems.com – same as above.
www.achildsdream.com - wool fiber for needle punching (under handwork and supplies/felt and felting crafts).
www.theyarntree.com – wool fiber for needle punching.
Homework:
For each class period students WILL be expected to read the notes/directions from the course packet for the upcoming assignment, BEFORE they arrive at class. Students will also be expected to complete any unfinished assignments from the previous class period.
FIBER ARTS CLASS SCHEDULE
Day
/Date
/Scheduled Activity
/Due Today
(at the beginning of class)
MON / 1/9 / Introductions, syllabusWED / 1/11 / Fabric Embellishments
Seam Inserts
WED / 1/18 / Fabric Tubes and Piping
Fringing
MON / 1/23 / Slashing and Fraying
Machine Couching / Fabric Embellishments
Seam Inserts
WED / 1/25 / Pleating and Tucking Techniques
Prepare fabric for Wrinkled Surfaces / Fabric Tubes and Piping
Fringing
MON / 1/30 / Gathering and Machine Smocking
Techniques
Wrinkled Surfaces / Slashing and Fraying
Machine Couching
WED / 2/1 / Twin Needle Stitching / Pleating and Tucking
Techniques
MON / 2/6 / Decorative Effects with Ribbons / Gathering and Machine
Smocking Techniques
Wrinkled Surfaces
WED / 2/8 / Beading
Shisha Mirrors / Twin Needle Stitching
MON / 2/13 / Tie Dyeing
Painting with Dyes
(prepare Serti resist) / Decorative Effects with Ribbons
WED / 2/15 / Fabric Marbling
Painting with Paints
Airbrushing / Beading
Shisha Mirrors
MON / 2/20 / Machine Appliqué
WED / 2/22 / Machine Appliqué
Cutwork / Tie Dyeing
Painting with Dyes
Fabric Marbling
Painting with Paints
Airbrushing
MON / 2/27 / Decorative Buttonholes and Closures
Faced Shapes
WED / 2/29 / Using Fabric, Trim and Embellishment
Scraps / Machine Appliqué
Cutwork
MON / 3/5 / Fabric Weaving / Decorative Buttonholes and
Closures
Faced Shapes
WED / 3/7 / Demonstration Day
Jacket/final project planning day / Using Fabric, Trim and
Embellishment Scraps
MON / 3/19 / Begin Jacket/final Project (supply check) / Fabric Weaving
Invitation list (via e-mail)
Day
/Date
/Scheduled Activity
/ Due Today(at the beginning of class)
WED / 3/21 / Jacket/final Project
MON / 3/26 / Jacket/final Project
WED / 3/28 / Jacket/final Project (progress check 1)
MON / 4/2 / Jacket/final Project
WED / 4/4 / Jacket/final Project
MON / 4/9 / Jacket/final Project / Photography during class
WED / 4/11 / Jacket/final Project (progress check 2) / Narrative statements and technical descriptions
MON / 4/16 / Jacket/final Project
WED / 4/18 / Jacket/final Project
MON / 4/23 / Jacket/final Project / Jackets/final projects due by
7 pm – NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GRANTED – if not complete by 7 pm project is likely to earn an F!
WED / 4/25 / Course evaluations/clean out drawers, clean machines, etc.
Mount jacket/final project. Prepare for move to AHC.
FRIDAY / 4/27 / Opening Reception for Coat Couture XIV (attendance required). 5 – 8 p.m.
Spring 2012 Due Dates and Deadlines Related to Final Project
Monday March 19th
Invitation list due to Dr. Brown via e-mail at . You must use complete names (i.e. must include surnames – i.e. no Grandma or Grandpa for names, etc.) and must include complete, correct addresses (must have zip codes!!). Any incomplete will not be sent, and NO LATE LISTS OR PARTIAL LISTS WILL BE ACCEPTED! Please include your name at the top of your list. Invitation list MUST be typed in Excel 2007. You need three cells across the page for each address – first cell is for complete name, second cell is for the complete street address, and the final cell is for city, state and zip code. See the example below.