Practical garment making and coursework portfolio
What the portfolio must prove
The coursework portfolio is evidence of the journey, not just the product: brief, research, design development, final design, pattern, toile, construction samples, final garment and evaluation. A time plan with dates and a specification sheet (fabric, trims, costings, sizes) show planning. Photograph each stage, including the toile fitting and any changes made.
Construction discipline
Work in a logical order: staystitch curves, sew darts, join seams, insert fastenings, attach facings and collars, then hem. Press at every stage - seams open, darts to the side, hems lightly. Use the right seam for the fabric: French seams for lightweight sheers, overlocked or bound seams for fraying fabrics. Keep a sample book of seams, zips, buttonholes, pockets and hems with notes on machine settings.
Quality and evaluation
Check stitch length and tension on scrap first, backstitch securely, trim threads, and match pattern to pattern at seams. Evaluate against the brief: fit, finish, function, cost and sustainability. Say what you would change and why.
Worked example: an invisible zip in a lined bodice - staystitch the opening, press the zip coils back, pin from the right side with the fold covering the coils, baste, stitch with a zip foot, then check the lining is free before pressing.
Traps: photographing only the finished garment; samples with no annotation; evaluating with 'I like it'; skipping the toile.