School, future plans, long term goals, and donations

 This is a loooong post, but there's important updates and school stuff for transparency of what I've been working towards. 

 Let's just call it a few long term goals, and a call out for some help. I'm not working at this time. That's right, I don't have a job. 

 This is so I can focus on school, to get the experience I need, to start looking into working for garment repair places, or possibly even having the piece of paper I need from school, to teach mending, sewing and repair. How anyone can do all the full time courses and manage to find time to hand all their stuff in with a full day of classes, along with all the homework, which takes a lot of work, is beyond me. 

I've spent DAYS sewing the same hat to finish it for class, or patterning out something by hand to get the best grades possible. For the record, I have a straight A grade average across ALL of my classes I've taken so far. 

 For possible future employers who come across my videos (or this blog), if there's any Toronto (Canada) based businesses that is a sewing shop, repair shop, or crafting studio that is looking for someone who's been home sewing since they were in grade school, that wants someone who can teach sewing basics on their payroll, or someone that is willing to learn tailoring methods through working experience, please send me a message and I will reply! 

My email for my Youtube channel is kiera.oona.crafts@gmail.com

I can also be reached via the following platforms:

 Instagram: @kieraoona

Youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/@kieraoona

Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/kieraoona

Bluesky:  https://bsky.app/profile/kieraoona.bsky.social

 I want to do better by the environment, moving towards a job in the Toronto area (preferably closer to home) that has sustainability in mind, or towards slow fashion or more tailored fashion, so people can make their own clothes, or reach for clothes they will wear more often.... but I also need to keep a roof over my head. 

With that said... The current problem, is all my classes that I planned on taking, and wanted to take as a backup were all cancelled (a little frustrating). 

I have enough funds to keep a roof over my head and pay for classes **for now** without going into debt. However, most sewing places expect that you have experience in the industry, which I don't. 

Everything I have learned is either through personal experience, or through the continuing education courses at George Brown so far.I also have tools and supplies I needed to replace or get repaired. I was able to replace my steam iron with my own money, but I could use some help to recoup the losses....which is where all of you lovely people come in! 

The money will funnel back into my Youtube channel for supplies, music subscriptions for music on my videos, as well as taking more classes if they become available through the college in the spring (April is when the next semester for Con-ed is usually available) 

 For transparency, I'm still looking at taking the following classes that I need to obtain the Fashion Fundamentals Certificate at George Brown College: 

Pattern Drafting 2 (I have supplies for this from the last class)
Introduction to Adobe (prerequisite) (Adobe Creative Cloud subscription needed)
Adobe Illustrator for Fashion (Adobe Creative Cloud subscription needed)
Fashion Illustration and Design (will probably need Copic markers for this)
Draping for Fashion Design (possibly some fabric expenses)

For these classes I still need a laptop to take with me, and that will run Adobe Creative Cloud (another monthly expense)

In the images below, I have the course list, and the classes that I still need or want to take are listed on the image, which is the list provided from the college. Also my Ko-Fi goal posting on my Ko-Fi page.

As for the other courses for more industry experience, I'm hoping the professors will provide me with more information on the following courses through George Brown Fashion Exchange:

Power Sewing
Apparel Fit Technician
 

In the meantime, I'm still working on making more videos while waiting for classes to open back up, working on body blocks that are tailor fit to myself for pattern drafting practice, and passing along the knowledge of what I've learned, in video format, for all of you out there. For anyone who is able to donate, thank you! My Ko-Fi link is https://ko-fi.com/kieraoona

 

 

 

 

 

Changes and updates - Visible Mending - Tinker Toronto - Millinery video

Some of you who have been to this blog before, may notice some changes.  I've decided to remove the older content, as it would be irrelevant for use anymore, because most of the links are outdated, I don't use certain sites anymore, or for other reasons. 

With that said, I am trying to work on newer content, and I'm continually updating my YouTube, for more tutorials and content.  

I have several projects on the go, but these things will take time to create, and publish.  

 In the meantime, I suggest going to check out my YouTube Channel or my Instagram for additional content, which is where I post the most frequently.

 

As an update, on September 19 (2024) I had visited Bampot House of Tea and Board Games, for a night of teaching people how to mend their clothes, through means of "visible mending".  I even managed to finish a patch on my own Threadbanger T-shirt.  

Since Threadbanger has sadly disbanded (they have their reasons for no longer continuing, and please respect their privacy) I want to keep wearing the tees I bought as long as possible. 

I'm still creating videos with the spirit of Threadbanger in mind as best I can, and I want to keep making more content for those of you to follow along at home, in the spirit of DIY.

I also now have a Linktree, where you can find free patterns I'm working on, which I only have one available at the moment, but again in the spirit of DIY, a lot of it is "do it yourself" as the format may leave a few people scratching their heads.

I also have been taking classes at George Brown College, to bolster what I know in the realm of sewing, and have even completed my Millinery certificate!  That's hat making for those who don't know the term.

 

With that said, if you like my videos, please go to my channel, like, subscribe and comment, and pass the info along to friends, or family, as it really helps to boost the algorithm to let Youtube know you want to see more.  It also helps me with a bit of a serotonin bump, knowing that you like what you see, find it useful, and want to see more.

I also have a Ko-Fi page in which you can donate to help keep me caffeinated, or to help me get supplies to showcase more builds and more DIY tutorials, since sewing with a camera in my lap gets really awkward, and could really use better audio equipment, as well as fabrics to make things to show you how it's done.  Especially if you like hats, cosplay or just want to learn how to sew.

If you want to donate, please scan the QR code below:

 

 

I'm also writing a small e-zine on how to do sewing in general, with techniques, tools, ideas, but it's slow going, so it might be a while as I'm hand writing it, but I also plan on making a typed up version for people who need it, which will eventually be available on my Ko-Fi page as well.

In the meantime, I'm working on more school, as well as a new video, so stay tuned!

Wheel of Time - Books and TV show - Aes Sedai shawl construction basics

 Hello Denizens...and Wheel of Time cosplayers!

I wanted to get you a better diagram of the elements of the Aes Sedai shawl, as described from the books, and I'm hoping they will be in the show at some point.

For those of you who are making one of your own, just remember there is no time limit to this craft along this time.

To showcase your work, please use the hashtag #wotcraftalong

For those of you in the Costube community who want to make one, if you are making one, through the usual channels on Discord, if you are interested, please @ me so I can set a realistic timeframe for reveals if you would like to add one to my reveal video.

If you are on Instagram, please use the hashtag #wotcraftalong so I can find your work.

If you are a Youtuber, and making one of these shawls for your own cosplay, please tag me on Youtube so I can also find your work.

Also keep in mind, you can use mixed methods of any material. You can weave, knit, crochet, or sew to make one.

You can use natural fiber, or acrylics. You could even make one out of scraps, using patchwork techniques for quilting to make your shawl.

If anyone has questions, or needs a bit of help, please comment below.

For reference I used a very, very barebones basic knitting pattern to make it.

 Edit: I have since added several videos on YouTube, for the construction, spinning, knitting pattern, and information regarding the books and the premise of the TV show on Prime.

 

Come join me on the journey, by watching the videos below (in construction sequence order):

Introduction to the challenge, tv show, and books:

 

 

 

Knit-with-me livestream:

 

 

 

Construction of the White Flame of Tar Valon pin:

 

 

 

 

Knitting Pattern (in video description), final construction and reveal in the snow:

 

 

Community Poll and YouTube channel updates- January 2023

 Hello Denizens of the Internet.  

 

I have a poll up on my YouTube channel and I could use your input.  Please vote on the poll, at the link below, on my community tab on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@kieraoona/community

I also have posted a few more videos since my last blog post.  If you'd like to, please check out my videos, as well as like and subscribe if you enjoy my videos.  Every little bit helps the algorithm gods.

Also as an update, I've signed up for courses and am going back to school.   

Below is a photo of one of the classrooms I'm in.

In addition I'm changing a few videos that are older, and removing them as the video and audio quality is absolute crap due to their age.

That being said I still plan on doing videos soon to replace a few of the old ones that may need updating, such as machine maintenance, and terminology for home sewing machines.

As I'm going to school and not working at the moment, if you feel like supporting my channel with a small donation, I have a Ko-Fi account, at the link below:

https://ko-fi.com/kieraoona 

Any support will help me with supplies and materials, (cause school supplies are expensive), caffination in the form of tea, subscriptions for tools (such as background music that I use in my current videos), or upgrades to filming equipment (currently using a Samsung Galaxy A5 as my filming camera, which is at least 5 years old)

Thank you all for those of you who are watching my videos so far, or subscribed so far, and I look forward to making more content to help you all on your creative and crafting journeys!

 

Recap of 2022 and viking brooches

 

I know...I know, It's been a long time since I have updated this blog.  I've been busy with work, life and general YouTube things that will be my main platform. 

I should update here more when I can, for those of you who are looking for more history things, DIY things, and craft shenanigans in general.

With that said, I will keep this brief as best I can.

I will be going to school in 2023, for garment construction and hat making to start, then using those course credits into possibly getting into a fashion and tailoring full time course.  It's the first time I'll be back at school in decades.  I'm a bit nervous, but who wouldn't be?

If this is your first time here, welcome, fellow Denizen of the Internet!

My focuses are going to be on slow fashion, upcycling where possible, vintage reconstruction for 1940's and 1950s, with a smattering of other eras from viking to victorian/edwardian.

 I have books on Victorian tailoring, the Halsam system, and I'm working on ideas slowly. 

I have been involved lately with the CosTube community, and have been working on multiple projects including spinning, vintage fashions, pattern making, and some costume elements.

I strongly advise to visit my YouTube page for more details and potential inspiration.

One of the "series" projects I've been working on for this year is the Tortoise Brooch challenge for those interested in Viking era, to make their own.  You can see my journey below:

 

The introduction to the challenge:

 Next, failing at attaching things:

And the final assembly and success:

 

If you like what you see, or if you;re interested in seeing more, please visit my YouTube page, like, subscribe, comment on what you liked or what you'd like to see next, as it all helps to bump the algorithm, and gives me a bit of a serotonin boost, and knowing what you all want for content.

Provided I have time, I look forward to joining CoSy 2023 (that's the CosTube Symposium).

See you all out there later for our next adventure...which may involve Butterick's 1950's "Walkaway Dress".  Stay tuned!