The final week- Design development

During this last week i have been bringing together my ideas and working on a collection of harmonious samples, drawing on all i have learnt to produce a range of sophisticated, refined ideas.

I have been using my weaves to develop designs for embroidery as they have some really good qualities in them but i have found the embroidery techniques more engaging and appropriate to my project.

(sketchbook collage)

I used shorter bits of fabric to create stripes in this pleated sample. It has a lovely fluid feeling to it that reflects my ideas and sketches.

I picked out the most intriguing bits from my weaves and did quite a bit of "drawing" with the pfaff machine to try out different patterns. I really like the sequencing tool to make my own designs and found i could achieve similar details to my weaves. 

(sketchbook page: deconstructing photos)

I feel these are good examples of the aesthetic of my project, combining structure and pattern. I assembled the different fabrics and stitch to try and reflect the complex layers and conflicting elements i had observed in my research.

To make an interesting collection i played with geometric pleat shapes as well as the more flowing and loose. Having quite small, targeted detail that is perhaps a bit hidden, draws you in even more i think. A reoccurring theme throughout has been contrast, between the light and dark aspects of a fairground and structurally in the architecture. I think i have managed to convey this (somewhat subtly) in my samples through combining heavy and light fabrics, textures and detail. I have also been thinking about how my samples might be displayed to show their sculptural qualities, the piece on the left for example could be suspended.   

I feel have progressed well over this unit, i have enjoyed the freedom that embroidery gives to be quite experimental and use different materials. I think my work has a much more confident style which has been helped by looking at other designers/ artists work and taking on board advice from tutors to select an idea and run with it. One thing that would have been good to pursue if i had time is combining the weave and embroidery as it could produce exciting results. I am pleased with my outcomes and would be interested to see how they could be used collaboratively with others work as trims and details as i think this would really bring them to life.