For our school curriculum we all have to do a 4-8 week work placement in the textile industry. We could find it ourselves or the school had a list of companies that we could contact for the job placement. This had to be at a textile store or museum, textile manufacturer to get onsite work training.
I had decided that I would go to different shops that I would like to do my placement at. On my way to school I pass this lovely little upholstery shop everyday and I decided that I will go in there and ask if they would be interested in having me do my job placement there. I spoke with the owner and after explaining who I was and what reason I was coming into her store, she said that she would love for me to come there and do my placement. She had in the past offered this service to other students in our school.
Even though many shops were closed due to Corona Virus she still kept her store open so I was able to do my job placement.
I was so nervous going to work on my first day. Firstly I was afraid that my limited finnish language would become a deterrent. As I headed off for my first day all kinds of worries stressed me out ... what if I did not understand what she was explaining to me? what if I misunderstood her and made the articles incorrectly? What if? what if??
Once I got there we went through all the different machines she had there, and how they worked. She also told me what type of customer base she had. She sold some crafts there, but mainly she did furniture upholstery..
We discussed what she wanted me to work on while I was there for the month. She told me that she sold a lot of tote bags there, and wanted more of them. So, I was to design and make as many tote bags as I could during the month. She also asked if I would be interested in upholstering some ottomans for her.
Yipeee...This was going to be a great month..
This red tote bag is one of the first tote bags I made. I haven't sewed with leather so it was a learning experience. I also didn't have a pattern for this bag, so I looked at one of my tote bags at home and took a pattern from there. The selection of bag below show different fabrics. The fabric and leather were remnants of upholstery projects she had done for past customers.
I love this black and white bag. It turned out as I had envisioned. On the opposite side of the bag, the colours are reversed. The white is one the top and the black is on the bottom.
The blue bag to your right did not work out at all. I don't like the colour or the leather pocket I sewed on it. The leather looks old and used.
This bag to your left is one of my favorites. It is chic and modern.
This was a fun bag to make. I took a part a pillow that had faded in the store window by sunlight, and used the inside fabric to make this fun bag. It turned out great. The owner was also surprised at my inventiveness .
The bag to your left is a bag that I made from little strips of remnant fabric. This fabric is well know in Finland. It is called ARTEK It sells for about 400€ per meter. It is used to upholstery chairs etc. I did not have enough pieces so I sewed a leather strip in the middle.
I was very pleased with the outcome, and the owner said I could take this bag for myself. I was so..... thrilled.
In the back I used black material, and then sewed a strip of the zebra fabric down the back of the bag. It actually landed up looking very presentable on both sides.
I also used the same fabric to sew these bags. At the time that I sewed this bag to the left, I did not realize the cost of this fabric.
I sewed leather sides on this bag.
The bag to your right was one that I made for the owner. She had asked me to make her a bag from this fabric. She wanted it to have long shoulder straps, and a larger tote bag.
She also requested that I make a zipper on it. I had never sewed anything this complicated without a pattern.. (Let alone the stress of ruining the expensive bag). But she was so pleased with the outcome. ( as was I....)
Well... all the bags were so at this point,so she asked if I would like my hand at upholstery. I was so elated. I have upholstered one chair in my life, and I enjoyed it so much that I always wanted to take an upholstery course.
Now I get to do it for free..
In this picture I first glued stuffing on the styrofoam block then sewed the outer fabric and pulled it on the block... Now I am ready to finish the bottom of the block.
The completed ottoman. I was so pleased with the end result.
The owner was so pleased with my first ottoman that she asked if I would be interested in making one for an order she has from a customer.
To be honest... I was really nervous making this one, it was sewing on a faux leather, and if you make a mistake the whole fabric has to be tossed. Because on any leather product the sewing lines with not disappear.
As you can see I took on the project.I measured and marked every single line I had to sew.The leather top was to be a checkered look.
In this picture you can see the light chalk marks I made to sew along.Once this is completed the chalk marks rub off with a wet cloth.
In this picture to your right you can see that I have prepared the styrofoam block with the padding, and sewn the sides. I am checking to make sure the fabric is nice and snug on the block.
Now I just need to sew on the top and hand sew the bottom piece.
Here I am fitting and planning the sewing of the top of my ottoman. This has to be just perfect. I only get one shot to get it right.
The top is now sewn on.. It looks perfect. Like a professional had done it. ( the customer will never know that it was sewn by a student)
I hand sewed the bottom fabric.. It was quite tricky because you had to pull, hold, and sew at the same time.
Time had flown by so quickly working at Tikkiverstas. I cannot believe I only have one more week at the store.
I was thinking of what small project could I take on this last week, and then I remembered that the owner had in passing mentioned that she had a winter coat that she would love for me to sew into a weekend bag for her.
So... off I went on this last project.. The coat was luckily a large one, so I had plenty of material to work with. Here is a side view of the overnight bag.
In the photo above you can see how width of the bag.
In the right had picture you can see that I added extra pockets, hand straps, and a shoulder strap.
The owner was so very very happy that I had a chance to make this overnight bag. She has planned on making it herself for sometime, but never had the chance.
So..... to end this post of my work placement at Tikkiverstas I wanted to show a few pictures of my work displayed in the store window.
To the right you can see first ottoman displayed in the front window of the store. This picture is taken from the inside of the store.
This photo is taken from the outside of the store.
The ottoman was made to match the green chair in the store window.
This photo is also in the store window. Here you can see some of the handbags that I made.
To end this post, I just wanted to thank Tikkiverstas for giving me this wonderful opportunity to learn and grow here.
