Hand-in and Group Tutorials

On the 23rd of October I had an "Informal" hand-in with both my tutors this past Friday. I was looking forward to talking about my work because although I was excited about my work I was feeling a little lost after finishing my box loom samples. In a small group of 3 people, we all when around discussing our ideas and showing samples and research into our projects with helpful advise and discussion of our work by peers and staff after each presentation. I was given good feedback on my research and sketchbook studies, with particular interest in my box loom samples, but advised to find a focus in (under the umbrella) of shape. Intially I wanted to shape in textiles which is a big area to study, but what I hadn't yet done was state (in my proposal) a clear pathway into the topic. 

After thinking about for a while I realised that the work I had one common factor or focus that I had not yet put together. Which is texture. All of my drawings, research and samples had this in common, now I have switched my focus to creating shape using texture and aiming to create dimensional textiles using interesting structures like honeycomb and explore more into ideas using more fancy yarns in interesting ways. I also have come across some really good books, to have a look at, such as 

Collapse Weave by Anne Field, Weaving Textiles That Shape Themselves by Ann Richards and

Magical materials to weave by Lotte dalgaard. I also have to remember that every so often its a good itdea to lay all of my work out in front of me to really be able to self evaluate my work. (I own none of these images) 

Box loom weaving

I love using a box loom they are ridiculously simple to use and I love to use them for very small little experiments for my sketchbook. After the wire and monofilament yarns arrived last week I was able to really get to grips with the way they move, feel and weave. I also had some synthetic hair lying around so I used some of that in my weaving aswell. I am quite pleased with my work so far. My sketchbook in particular is coming along nicely I might now start thinking about possible outcomes and colour studies.

Fancy yarns

Through artist research I started to think about alternative 'fancy yarns' to use in my weaving. There are many usual and exciting yarns that react with sun light, water and even heat.

I ordered a small sample collection of 1 meter coloured coils (0.50mm) and a sample pack of silver plated coils in a range of sizes (0.40mm - 1.25mm) from the scientific wire company found at wires.co.uk. A UK based seller with a large variety of wire for craft. I ordered this on the 3rd of October. I received an email confirmation of shipping on the 5th of October  and received the order on the 8th October. Costing £10.33 including shipping.

It took just under a week for it to arrive. Very good service, nice packaging. I was slightly hesitant about ordering as I hadn't ordered from this website before and I am always unsure about ordering from an unknown company, this was of course before I had discussed this with other course mates and technicians and found that it is a very well used company especially for bulk orders.

I also ordered a cone of monofilament black 682 from uppingham yarns. Ordered on the 2nd of October shipped on the 6th and I received it on the 9th. It was more expensive to order from this company than wires.co.uk. I felt like the £3.00 for the cone was reasonable but the £4.00 I spent on shipping felt was a little too expensive considering that I ordered one cone, comparison to the wire company.

Artist research

My work has been influenced by several designers though this unit. I have been look at the work of Marianne Kemp, jenny ford and Fran solar to name a few. These designers have really inspired me to explore a wider range of materials, and take a different approach to my textiles.

For example, Jenny ford specializes in sculptural textiles using materials from wire to electrical cords. It made think about me textiles in relation to a purpose. In the past I have always made work for a blanket or curtains, which I enjoy but what about textiles made simply for the eyes, display or installation decorous purposes? Instead of looking at a piece of textiles made for a coat or a cushion, what about textiles for artistic expression, that had no proper function but was an idea a feeling or emotion expressed through sculpture. (None of these images belong to me.)

Jenny Ford Textiles

Fran Solar - Metal Weaver

Marianne Kemp - Horsehair Designer

Wet finishing

If I'm honest I don't particularly enjoy wet finishing my samples. But it is a necessary step in presenting my samples. I understand that not a lot  of textile institutions have a wet finishing area so I guess I shouldn't complain too much. I guess I find it tedious because I don't really like getting wet. But as long as I bring some music along with me I find that keeps me going..

Natural black weaving

I wasn't particularly pleased with my black after the skein had completely dyed.  But I carried on and tried to look past it because it was just test for experimenting. I made a few little card windings and honestly I think I should have spent a little more time on them. I only made 2 windings, with the idea that I wanted a mixture of black on one side and white on the other. But I wanted the colours to blend in together in the middle and the blend out to soild colours of black and white. Already unimpressed by the black, I returned to my dobby loom and began to set up with this new warp. I kept the length of my warp under 2 metres as I didn't want to spend or waste too much of my time or the yarn.

Acid dyeing natural black..

I dyed a very natural looking black using lanacron grey SB at 2.00%. The yarn was Falklands 9's. I enjoy using this yarn quite a lot it has a really nice finish, not too fine but it is on the chunkier side of the scale but, saves a lot of time winding and threading on the mill and on the loom. The process was quite straightforward I was lucky enough to have the dye room all to myself which made doing this again a lot more relaxing. The colour I was dyeing with of course didn't come out as dark as I wanted it was much more like a very dark navy blue. But I asked around the studio and I half the people I asked said it looked black so I was satisfied at that moment.