Practice - Week 5

During my presentation feedback, artists were suggested for further inspiration. Laura McPherson's use of lines of colour relate well to my colour proportion work. Her structures are interesting and offer compositional solutions.

Knit by Laura McPherson

This Is Colossal's website offered a range of contexts I could explore. In particular, Rebecca Louise Law's floral installation could be a potential context for my passementerie pieces. I could create a mass collection of long, narrow structures that hang together to create a large installation.

Rebecca Louise Law

I believe I require the structured format and time-span involved with weaving to use my time efficiently. Although the warp is restrictive, the weave rotation motivates me to produce work to a schedule, which enhances my productivity. I created a warp consisting of alternating white and cream mercerised cotton to allow complete freedom of colour with my weft. It consists of two narrow sections with a central gap to create interest.

Unsuccessful weave

My first plain weaving based on my colour proportion was unsuccessful because it was too bold and had no substance, so I created a series of drawings which inspired me to change my entire attitude towards my weaving technique.

Drawings & design ideas

I used the structure of my warp to represent the composition of my floral reference. I inlayed yarns to create the texture of the floral elements, which gave my weaving life and movement. I then decided to explore this further with embroidery machines, where I refined my idea.

Plain weave & inlay yarns

Practice - Week 4

I focused on improving my crochet chains by utilising my colour proportion swatches extracted from my floral photographs. This resulted in an abstract interpretation of my colour, whilst retaining the floral essence created by my crochet patterns.

Colour research & crochet chain

I developed my crochet chains further by attaching fabric to the edge, creating a developed form. This sheer, lightweight fabric successfully captured the essence of the delicate petals, whilst the crocheted mercerised cotton emulated the structure of the flower's centre.

Colour proportion, crochet chains with fabric

I found creating my presentation helpful for reflecting on my direction. I presented these structures, where I gained useful feedback. I was advised to discard my wire structure samples, as they were too literal, and to instead focus on passementerie structures involving crochet, weave and fabric. This was reassuring feedback, and I agreed that these structures were more sophisticated and offered more potential. I think combining these elements will be interesting and provide a structure for my own working process.

Practice - Week 3

Elie Saab was suggested as context for my work, which relates to my floral concept. I could potentially create a collection of forms to embellish a garment with. This also inspired me to explore form further as three-dimensional. I incorporated wire to create structure, resulting in ruffles and repeated forms.

Elie Saab

I improved my crochet form by using thicker yarn, however, I preferred the crochet chain before I constructed it into a 3D form. This inspired me to perhaps focus on trimmings of garments or jewellery. I discovered Lizzie Fortunato, who incorporates elements similar to crocheted structures in her necklaces.

Lizzie Fortunato

Practice - Week 2

My photograph with cornely chain sample

I interpreted my floral forms with a variety of embroidery techniques to become accustomed to the machines. The cornely machine is fast-paced and creates a robust quality, resulting in an interesting abstract interpretation of the forms.

My photograph with embellisher sample

The embellishing machine puckered the fabric to create movement in the surface, resembling petals. The machine is easy to control, so the result is sensitive, and a technique I aim to take further. 

My drawing with hand-stitch sample

I used simple stitches to recreate other floral forms, which provided more accuracy, but was less time-efficient. I crocheted a 3D form, which was unsuccessful in colour and lacking in structure.