Textiles Core Competency Self-Assessment

My Artifact:

This is a midi evening dress I made including a zipper and bow.

Explanation:

While creating this project, I used the core competency “critical/reflective thinking.” This is because I had to use problem solving strategies. I knew that the pattern I bought wasn’t going to fit me how I wanted. Because of this, I thought that it would be a good idea to sew in a bow. Wanting it to appear professional, I made sure to sew it into the side seams of the dress. After doing so, the dress fit me perfectly and turned out how I hoped it would. The only thing I would improve on for next time is the bottom hem. I think I could have made it less bulky, which would result in it weighing the dress down less. Otherwise I am extremely happy with the finished product and think it is something I would wear.

Textiles Core Competency Self-Assessment

Thinking: Critical/Reflective Thinking

My Artifact: Three Tiered Cotton Skirt

While completing this project I used the core competency Thinking, specifically critical/reflective thinking. When creating my pattern on my fabric, I realized that I didn’t have enough material to properly follow the YouTube pattern I was using. To fix this, I used problem solving strategies by making the longest tier a few inches shorter. This only affected the amount of ruffle/gathering created. Because I worked on this project independently, the only feedback I received was to use a different thread. My previous thread was over 50 years old, meaning it wasn’t strong enough, would break when you pulled at it, and wasn’t staying threaded in my machine. Instead, I used the school’s thread After finding the YouTube video that I used for this piece, I watched it over a few times and looked at the description to see what supplies would be needed. As I got my materials from the fabric store, I made sure to double check with the workers that I was grabbing the correct fabric. The only aspect I would improve on for next time would be to distribute my gathering more evenly. I think what would help would be to divide the basting stitch into quadrants, so that there isn’t as much fabric to work with.

Facing A Challenge

My Artifact: A Chapter One question I struggled with…

The first time I tried this question I found it challenging because of the pie symbol, specifically pie r squared. I was easily able to fill in the volume and height, but struggled with figuring out my next step. These kinds of questions have always been difficult for me as I have never been properly taught how to do them. The mistake I made when completing it the first time was attempting to divide one third, rather than multiplying both sides by three. I know that doing it this way isn’t even close to being correct, and if it were a simpler algebra question I would have done it right. I think that I was beginning to get confused, as well as overthink and give up because of the pie symbol. The first strategy I used to figure out this problem was by looking at the answer key. I still didn’t completely understand why or how certain moves were made, so I checked on Photomath. After reading through each step, I finally began to understand how to solve that question. To check my knowledge, I proceeded onto the next assigned problem, which was slightly harder, and completed it correctly with no assistance. To solve this question I had to use basic algebra skills, multiplying, dividing, as well as square rooting. Next time I encounter a difficult problem I will push myself to try to complete it, instead of immediately giving up and checking the answer key. I feel that doing that will allow me to learn more efficiently, as well as faster, helping me to improve my overall understanding and grade in this course.

Core Competency Self-Assessment

Critical and Reflective Thinking

A dichotomous key with the buttons on it.
A dichotomous key with a legend for five buttons.

I can analyze evidence to make judgments.

While participating in this activity, I had to carefully and closely observe each and every button. Once I made a judgment, and came to a conclusion on them, I constructed a scientific tool used to determine organisms; a dichotomous key. I gained quick decision making skills, as well as had to use creativity to come up with differing names, which still described the physical characteristics of the buttons. If I did this activity again, I would make each main section extra clear, and come up with more distinct names.