From the paper pattern I had created I cut my panels out of the real fabric, I cut 3 red cotton panels, 2 sublimation polyester panels and 6 white cotton panels. I pinned them all together and placed them on the mannequin to check they would work, once I was happy with the fit I added the prints to the panels before they were all sewn together.

This was my favourite bit of the making process because the prints add depth and texture to the boring panels, bringing them to life. I used the techniques:

• Sublimating
• Machine zig stitching
• Applique
• Painting

As I had previously tested all these techniques before there was no problems when doing them on the final piece, I was very happy how the patterns looked because they were clean and well done giving them a professional look. Once I pinned the completed panels all together I could really see the resemblance to a circus tent, the contrasting panels create the triangle shape of the big top tent and all the colourful prints bring the life and energy of the circus into my design.In my prints I can see how my artist research from the Moschino Resort collection has influenced me, I have channelled Jeremy Scott’s use of bright tacky prints, that are very stereotypical linked to a circus. 

I put the elastic in the top to gather the fabric creating a narrower top, I did this by folding the edge over and creating a channel then threading the elastic through. It was difficult to pull the elastic through as there was so much material; however I attached safety pins to the elastic making it easier to feel where the elastic was. I had to make sure the elastic was really tight because of the amount of fabric I have used, meaning it is quite heavy and would pull the elastic down if it wasn’t tight enough.

One change in my design that I have made during the construction process in changing the triangular hem, in my original design the prints of each panel continue down to the point of the triangle. However I have changed the design so the triangle is a contrasting red fabric, I had to do this because it was too tricky to get the print to continue down in a triangle shape. Although this wasn’t my original idea I think it is successful because it shows a solid end to the garment by making it in a bold red fabric, it also resembles the bunting that can be seen around a circus.

The yellow ruffle collar wasn’t as successful as I had hoped. I sewed calico on the back of my original yellow fabric to add strength, but when I made the final thing it still appeared flat. I want to work on adding extra structure to the collar so it stands up more, I will look at adding wire or boning under the pleats.

Overall my design is completed but I wouldn’t like to go back over it and perfect certain parts as I’m not happy in the structure of the garment. I think that the hula hoop underneath makes the garment into a tube shape rather than a triangle shape like the circus tent, therefore I have come up with some ways of putting more structure into the garment. I am going to buy some iron on interfacing and put that on the inside of each panel to make them more solid so they will hold their shape, if I still need more support I will use boning on the edges of the panels.