This week, for my free inquiry project, I chose to continue refining my slit weaving technique while it was still fresh in my mind, building on the skills I developed in my previous reflection. I wanted to experiment with a different type of clothing article, as I felt that pants were the easiest medium—the even stretch between the seams made cutting and weaving less challenging compared to the project I worked on this week.
For this attempt, I selected a red bodysuit, feeling confident after my success with the pants. However, this piece proved to be a more difficult medium. Right from the first step, I encountered issues with drawing my slit lines accurately due to the bodysuit’s stretchier and thinner fabric. The pen kept snagging on the material, making drawing clean, precise lines difficult.
As shown in the pictures, I had to redraw the lines multiple times, especially since the design was more complex than simple vertical slits down pant legs. Additionally, I had to ensure the lines were symmetrical on both the front and back of the bodysuit without cutting through the middle seam.
Once I was satisfied with the lines—measuring them as precisely as possible with a ruler—I began cutting. First, I made a small incision at the top of each line, then cut along the entire length to maintain consistency. I repeated this process on the other side before using the same weaving technique as my previous project.
I started by pulling the top slit above the next one, then weaving each subsequent slit through the one above it, continuing this pattern until I reached the last slit. At the end, I made a small incision about an inch from the bottom, cut the final slit in half, and tied it securely through the hole with a double knot. I repeated this on the other side as well.
Looking back, I should have designed, measured, and cut the middle section before weaving the sides to ensure better symmetry and accuracy. Since I hadn’t done that, I instead put on the bodysuit, marked the middle of my torso, sketched out the design, and cut the slits using the same technique as the sides. Next time, I will plan this step earlier in the process for a more precise and efficient outcome.
Despite the added challenge compared to the pants I made previously, I’m really happy with how the bodysuit turned out! I think it would be a great piece to wear in the summer for a music festival, paired with a longer skirt and some boots. The bodysuit itself is very comfortable, and now that I’ve successfully completed two different types of clothing with different materials, I feel much more confident in my skills.
I plan to continue refining my process of designing, measuring, and cutting various clothing pieces, and I might even explore more intricate slit-weaving techniques. One thing that would be especially useful if I continue with this—and possibly sell clothing in the future—is getting a mannequin. Having one would make it much easier to design, measure, and cut, rather than trying to conceptualize and work on a piece while wearing it myself.