Tag Archives: Finals

I Made a Jacket!

Front opening of my jacket.

For my final project in MG 312 – Manufacturing II Process Analysis, I made a lined, full zip, corduroy jacket with two front welt pockets. This was a very involved process as we started from scratch. We took our bodies measurements and made a “body fit” pattern. This was so that we knew exactly what our measurements were so that we always had a place to start from if we wanted to start over. Just getting my body fit pattern just right was difficult. I had little experience in making any type of garment, so it took a few iterations to get my body fit just right.

The lining and facing of my jacket. We also put a brand and size combo label, and a wash label in.

Once I nailed that, I started patterning the silhouette of my jacket. I sized up my body fit in every direction and started working on prototypes of my final garment. I particularly struggled with patterning my sleeve. This was the first sleeve that I have ever made. Most of the textbook resources that we had in the class were dedicated to women’s wear, so there wasn’t a huge selection of menswear guidance. Even so, some of the textbooks were hard for me to understand with my limited experience, so in the end, I made my sleeve based solely on intuition – it didn’t turn out half bad. It took me roughly 6 failed sleeves to get it sized just right – I still can’t believe pattern makers can make things like sleeves correctly on their first try.

The sleeve in the welt pocket of my jacket.

The blue corduroy and black lining that I used in my final garment were provided by my professor Linda Cohen (she’s the absolute best professor at FIT). I had to lay the corduroy in a specific way to make sure that the nap of the fabric was matching, but once I had everything cut and fused, it was time to start sewing. Sewing isn’t particularly complicated but it is definitely time-consuming to get quality seams. It also takes some amount of technical skill to operate the machinery well. It took me the entirety of a week to make my final garment. From finalizing my patterns, cutting my fabric, fusing my fabric, and sewing, I spent roughly 85% of a week in the labs. There was a point where I hadn’t eaten in 27 hours because I stayed up working for so long.

Back of my jacket.

On the last day of class, everyone presented their final garments and told us about their journey through the process. Everyone did an amazing job with their garments, no exceptions. Students made things such as denim jackets, tunics, suit vests, joggers, leather blazers, fur collars, robes, dresses, and even blouses. Once the presentations were over, even our professor told us that we had raised the bar for this project, which was an extremely rewarding thing to hear. This is the last class that I’ll be having with professor Linda Cohen and I can’t explain how thankful I am to have had her for the last two semesters. This class brought all of my fellow classmates together like no class has done before, and I am also thankful for that. Now I’ll have a jacket to wear for Winter that I made!

Front opening with the collar up.

FIT Writing Studio Event

Hey Guys,

FIT offers many resources to assist any student during finals season. One of the resources available at FIT is the Writing Studio. Located in room C612 of the Feldman Center, the Writing Studio provides a place where student can receive advisement on their writing, papers, and projects. Professors and tutors can provide feedback, proofreading, and research methods in order to You can make an appointment with someone at the studio, or simply walk in for feedback. The studio offers many different events that encourage students to stop by and bring their work!
With finals just around the corner, the Writing Studio is offering a Late Night Against Procrastination event. Students are welcome to get started on any papers or projects as the semester comes to a close. The hours of the event are 9pm-12am on Wednesday, April 25th. Pizza and snacks will be served, so be sure to stop by! If a late night of work doesn’t fit your schedule, the Writing Studio is open Monday-Friday from 10am-9pm, and Saturday from 1pm-4pm. Stop in and say hi!

Annmarie X

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What Works… and What Does Not: Finals

Hello Everyone,

Approaching my last semester of college has left me both reflecting and reminiscing. One of the most crucial times of the semester boils down to finals. After seven semesters of trial and error, I have found what personally works best for me during finals season… and what does not. Being in the art and design field means a lot more assigned projects. And lot more projects means a lot more cumulative time spent working on a finished product, rather than preparing for a test in many different classes. Throughout my years at FIT, I have discovered how to make the most efficient time of my semester, while still being able to enjoy it as much as I can. Here are a few dos and don’ts I can confidently recommend after my semesters at FIT:

DO: Plan, Plan, and Definitely Plan-
It is no mystery that FIT’s students are hardworking, devoted and passionate. With this devotion and passion comes a certain commitment to the assigned workload. Classes and due assignments become a lot more manageable and able to be completed to a level of satisfaction when the work is broken up. Creating a timeline for yourself so you can chip away piece by piece can help your stress levels and the finished product…which brings me to…

DON’T: Last Minute is Never a Fun Minute-
No matter how much we all want to convince ourselves, saving a project or assignment to the last minute is not fun. Even if you think you can finish the project in a day, why not give yourself the extra time? You never know if something may come up or go unexpectedly. Giving yourself the extra breathing time just incase is never a bad idea. Plus, allowing yourself the extra time gives a grace period for mistakes, or improving the project/assignment to your liking.

DO: Expect the Unexpected
No matter how much we prepare and how hard we try, not everything goes according to plan… and that is okay. There is only so much that is in your control. Give yourself that extra “just incase” time, but also do not worry if there are a few bumps in the road. Some of my biggest struggles helped me grow and become a stronger person; it is all apart of life’s journey. Embrace it!

DON’T: Let Stress Get the Best of You
With the occasional lack of control comes stress. I think every college student (and probably every human being) can relate to a time where stress and anxiety felt a bit overwhelming. I have learned throughout my college career that the best way to deal with stress is to manage it and not let it consume. Sometimes a bit of stress is healthy. Stress can help motivate us to work on a project or get something done. However, do not let it take over. We are all human so the feelings of stress and anxiety, to an extend, are natural. Always remind yourself that in the end, it is going to workout.

Lastly… DO Your Best!
If you can put your head on the pillow knowing you gave something your all, then that is the the most fulfilling kind of accomplishment. Take pride in knowing that you put the effort and hard work into making something great. Be proud of your successes and embrace your failures. College is the time to try and fail and succeed… it is all part of your journey!

I hope that these dos and don’ts provide some words of encouragement! What are your tips and tricks for making it through finals?

Until next time,
Annmarie x

Here’s to My Last Semester:

This is it— next semester is my final semester. My last hoorah. My last time to enjoy the city as a student. I can’t believe my time here is almost up. Your last semester of college is totally not the end, even though it may feel like it at times. Good news is there’s tons of ways to make your last semester memorable and productive, just like I’m going to make mine!

1. EMBRACE THE LAST MOMENTS

It’s crazy to think the “best four years of your life” (or three in my case, lol) are just about over. As scary as that may sound, there is so much to look forward to. The most interesting feeling as a senior is the nostalgia you feel about the past.

2. DO SOMETHING

It’s never too late to get involved. Join that organization you “never had time for” before. Plus, it makes for a great resume builder…or just take on an intensive internship!

3. POLISH YOUR RESUME AND PERFECT COVER LETTERS

Speaking of resumes, now is the time to perfect them. Make sure everything is up to date and practice writing cover letters.

4. SOAK UP WHAT FIT HAS TO OFFER

The real world will not be as forgiving as FIT…who am I kidding, we all know FIT is intense. If they haven’t already, mommy and daddy won’t be paying for things anymore. Appreciate the free food around campus, going to an organizational meeting and having financial aid.

5. STAY ORGANIZED

Chances are you’re going to be applying to at least 40+ jobs (unfortunately, finding jobs after graduation isn’t as easy as your humanities elective). Create a spreadsheet to organize where and when you applied, what position and the location of the job.

6. KEEP UP

Let’s be honest, you mentally checked out of college as soon as winter break started. But skipping class and missing homework assignments won’t help you graduate. Buy a planner and stay up to date with all your deadlines. Each assignment you turn in leaves you one step closer to graduation.

7. NETWORKING NEVER FELT SO GOOD

By this point you should know what exactly you want to get into, and the only way to get into it is by making those connections. Keep in touch with your old internship supervisor and network whenever you can—these are going to be useful relationships to have. Mingle like you’re desperate, but in this case, for a job, not for a relationship.

8. CLEAN UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

You know that picture of you holding a red cup in your bathing suit during spring break? It’s got to go. Potential employers are going to be checking your Facebook and other social media sites during the hiring process. The last thing you want is to not get a job because you were photographed doing something inappropriate!

9. DO IT ALL

Now is not the time to be afraid of what you want. You’ve made it this far and the only thing stopping you from reaching your goals are your fears. You can do anything you set your mind too…times ticking!

10. ENJOY IT

After all is said and done, this is your last year of college. You’re not going to have the free time you have now once you sell your soul to the real world. Stay out ‘til 4 a.m., or go on a spontaneous adventure. These however many years won’t happen again!

Mariano

Tips for Finals

The end of the semester is here and with that comes beautiful weather, and sometimes a tendency to slack in the motivation department. Here are some of my tips and tricks for preparing for finals:

Study outside of your apartment. If you have a habit of studying on your couch and falling asleep, now is the time to kick that habit in the butt. Head over to the library, coffee shop, or a place best suited for zero distractions and quiet time.
Keep your phone on loud. This may sound counterproductive, however, I typically check my phone when I’m curious if I have a new notification or text message. If you keep your volume up, you’ll know when you’ve been notified, rather than constantly checking to see if someone needs to get a hold of you. If you’re studying in the library, put your phone on loud, but put headphones in.
Study with friends. If you’re in a study group, someone most likely has some insight on a topic that you aren’t 100% confident about, and vice versa. You become more knowledgeable about the topic when you have to teach it to someone else.
Plan out your schedule. Set deadlines for yourself and allow yourself to go out to dinner or plan a cafe visit so that you have something to look forward to.
Sleep. This step is often very neglected during finals weeks, but is so important that you are getting proper rest. You wouldn’t want to be under the weather the first week of summer, would you?

Best of luck!

Ashley