Evaluation of Origins unit

During my time in both knit and weave i have tried to experiment with many different techniques and engage with the workshops as much as possible, to get a good feel for each area. There were a lot of techniques to explore with knit and i found i could experiment with different textures and colour well, producing a variety of samples more instantly than in weave. Weaving has been slower but satisfying, because it takes more time and planning than knit i feel my samples are more considered and developed in weave. I have also become more confident with my use of colour as i have progressed through the unit.

(development collage from sketchbook, using photocopy of earlier drawing and pro-marker)

The two initial weeks of drawing and the friday sessions have helped me think about drawing in a different way. I have been looking at mark making techniques and ways of capturing the qualities of the subject as opposed to purely representational drawings. As i have progressed through the unit i have worked on collage techniques to translate my initial research into knit and weave patterns and have focused more on colour proportion and composition. I feel i have been successful in making connections between my research and sampling. I think i could have done more drawing throughout the unit and worked with a wider selection of materials to create more expressive outcomes, this would have helped me develop ideas further. 

(knit sample - fairisle design with floats cut and brushed)

Ways of finishing the samples and developing them further once they were off the machine/loom really intrigued me. I looked into this a bit, brushing, washing and dyeing different samples but i would like to explore this more. I have also been introduced to different yarn qualities and learnt to use materials sensitively, considering their properties. I feel i could have  given more thought to this to create more interesting textural samples; it is something to develop in the next unit. 

(back of a weave sample on striped warp)

I have found producing a mood board and working into a sketchbook helpful in gathering my ideas together and making connections between them. Group discussions and tutorials also helped me to progress with my work; it was interesting to see how others used their sketchbooks.

One of the things to build on in the next unit is contextual references. I looked at some in this unit but researching more would broaden my knowledge and inform my work for the better.

Designer Study : Dashing Tweeds

 

The use of colour and materials are really inspiring. I love this quirky, contemporary take on tweed.

I also came across Dashing Tweeds whilst researching for material cultures as they are part of the re-birth of Harris tweed and British manufacturing, the cloth being designed and woven in Britain.

http://www.dashingtweeds.co.uk

Following one of the Friday drawing sessions on composition and collage I focused my attention on developing my drawings. The session involved reducing the subject to simple shapes and positive/ negative space which I found helpful when interpreting my own drawings and photos into weave structures.

     

   

The above images show my thought process when designing a weave pattern. I have been focusing on the shapes and patterns in my visual sources, working in a more abstract manner.

I have also been considering the types of yarn i'm using (combining texture with flatter/ smoother yarns) and how these will interact with the warp threads. Yarn wraps are a good way to explore colour proportion and arrangement.

     

     

     

Thinking in Knit

Over the past week (and a bit) i have tried to move forward with my drawing and develop knit designs from them; thinking about colour proportion, pattern and finishing techniques.

The above laddering and E wrapping techniques i found were particularly successful; giving the samples both linear and organic qualities.

The process of dying really intrigued me so I took some of my samples into the dye lab to experiment with dip dyeing them. The effects i achieved were subtle but nice. It was a good way of adding more fluid colour to my work. I would like to explore dying in greater detail in the future, combining yarns that will react differently to the dye.

Moving into weave, i want to push the types of yarns i'm using to create really interesting effects and continue to develop my drawings and photos into compositions and weave patterns; ultimately creating a more dynamic outcome.