Blog post 5

Blog 5

This week I’ve been mainly concentrating on my secondary research and sampling for The Association of Fashion and Textile Courses Award.  I was really struggling with my secondary research because I didn’t know what to look into, but after the tutorial on Tuesday Kate encouraged me to look at my past works to take inspiration from.  I’m very glad about this because I can learn in-depth about those particular designs and techniques instead of wasting time and over thinking.   

My Samples 

I’m mainly interested in fabric manipulating so will be researching things such as smocking, pleating, gathering and tucks.  I’ve looked at Miu Miu for smocking design designs.

From the feedback for my Rolls Royce project I was advised to add more into some of my samples, so I’ve done more tailor tacking on some of my dyed fabrics which look really interesting.

I attended the CV work shop taught by Clare Calveley this Wednesday, which was very helpful because we learnt to use InDesign software.  From the feedback for my CV, I need to rearrange the text and make it uniform, but keeping the background image subtle, so that the text is readable. 

I also went to a craft fair in Event City called The Creative Craft  Show, which was really interesting because I got to talk to creative textile people.  I talked to CarolAnn J Allan who dyed using natural materials such as leaves and onion skins, which I had tried when I was doing my Foundation, but it didn't work too well because apparently I had missed out a component.  I would really like to research more on this topic for my other projects 

From the Unit X lecture, I have decided on my three options, 18 The Whitworth Threads, 14 Haptic and finally 5 Intangible Culture

The Association of Fashion and Textile Courses Award

Locating blog post 4

New project - The Association of Fashion and Textile Courses Award

I’ve chosen another live project from the list on Moodle, it’s part of the Bradford Textile Prize.  For this I must produce a “textile or material sample which focuses on responsible design through either recycling, sustainable fibres, reconstruction, zero-waste techniques or design for the circular economy. Potential use for Fashion, Interiors, Accessories or Product should be communicated through illustration/visualisation.”

I have chosen this project because I’m enthusiastic about recycling materials and sustainability. So far, I have been to charity shop to choose materials for my sampling as well as going to the Creative Recycling Gallery in Chorlton for more inspiration. 

Manchester Museum 

This week I have been to the Manchester Museum and have collected inspiration through the fossils and drawn them as research for my further sampling.  I’ve decided to use pictures I’ve taken from the museum as my colour choice, not just from one picture but from several. I have also played around with cement because I thought I could create some fossil like textures and I also like the natural lines it’s made because of cling film at the back. 

My drawings 

Cement Experiment  

Locating blog post 3

Locating blog post 3

This week is the last week for the Rolls Royce project, so since last week I’ve produced more samples using Disperse dye and machine embroidery. I’ve tried to produce the samples by looking at sketchbook because it helps to pick out elements from drawings.  Within my samples I’ve considered the sense of touch and have produced several with tactile surfaces. 

I must say that this project has slowed me down slightly because I didn’t like the use of my colours and I struggled with it because I didn’t think it fitted the luxury and bespoke theme, however I’ve continued to use it because I’d already produced some samples and it was quite late to change it.

I attended the magnetic workshop called Ferromagnetic taught by Elnaz Yazdani which was fascinating because of the way the fluid creates 3D patterns and drawing on the magnetic base.

Locating blog 2

Locating blog 2

We were given the engineering embroidery for our first project. For this we have to design for Rolls Royce “hand /machine crafted bespoke embroidered interior applications for the best cars in the world”.  I’ve decided to design the inside roof of the car because in all the cars I’ve been in it has been plain and I think it would be exciting to have it designed.

The tutorial was very helpful this week because I learnt I need to focus on my own style when drawing for sampling.  I was looking at artists such as Victoria Haven and Paul Klee for their simple line drawings and was concentrating more on their work than my own instead of using them as my inspiration. I need to keep reminding myself that I need to develop and use my own drawings.

Paul Klee

Victoria Haven  

This week I have started my sampling procedure. I’ve done some hand printing with pigment dyes on fabric. I’m thinking of taking these samples further by cutting them and using pieces in other work.  Jackson Pollack is part of my recent research and I am very enthusiastic about his work.  

Jackson Pollack

The starting point of my sampling.