It is necessary to be aware of the following design features when designing and upcycling garments. • Colour: The colours we wear should suit our skin tone and the colour of our hair and eyes. Most people choose colours that they like, and which express their personality. Primary colours attract the eye and make a person stand out while neutral colours are classic and safe and do not date.
• Pattern: Pattern adds interest and variety to a garment, but is often a matter of fashion and taste. It should be used carefully in household textiles and clothing as too much can appear fussy.
• Shape: Shape refers to outline of an object. Colour, pattern and line in fabrics can visually alter the body shape. Well-shaped garments draw attention to our best features and away from our less flattering ones. Line in textiles can create an optical illusion by appearing to change the shape of something.
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• Texture: Texture refers to the feel or touch of the textile. The texture of household textiles is important. Texture is also significant in clothing, as bulky or very textured fabrics can alter body shape.
Design principles • Balance: All parts of an outfit should work well together • Emphasis: Using colour or pattern to draw attention to a particular feature • Proportion: The parts of an outfit are in proportion to each other and to the figure The same design features and principles apply to textile design as they do to interior design ( see p. 306).
Designing an outfit Factors you need to consider when designing an outfit are:
Classroom-Based Assessment
This section can be linked to CBA1: Creative Textiles.
• The occasion • The function of the garment and its suitability for purpose • Style and design features • Current fashion trends • What complements your body shape and size, and your skin tone • Resources such as money, equipment, knowledge, skills and time • Washing and care ( see p. 412)
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Strand 3: Textiles and Craft Section 1: Focus on Fabrics
