Mark making and Felting

Right it's been a while since I last posted, I've been crazy busy, but have got quite a bit done. I am posting some of my mark making and sketches as promised, and have also tried my hand at felting and embroidery.

Mark making representation of the eroded concrete:

Sketches of outside wall texture:

Pencil

Biro

Graphite

Embroidery and Felt making:

I begun experimentation by embroidering Hessian with DK in neutral colours. This is to represent the eroded concrete, as shown in the sketches. I didn't think it was particularly successful, so decided to experiment with felt making.

First I begun by just playing around with the process, I really wanted to see how I could make felt more textural, and less two-dimensional. I tried creating a layer of base felt, and adding pieces after. The pieces were very loose, and it didn't look great, so I tried to find other ways.

This was an experiment to see if texture could be created by adding objects underneath the top layer of felt. The bottom layer is purchased, half-felt. I added buttons, then created the felt pattern over the top. Although it is not visible, it did work, and the felt traps the buttons.

This is the most successful piece so far. I created this piece by placing buttons and thick yarn on top of the half felt, then creating a simple, neutral toned pattern over the top, to represent the eroded concrete. I then used various embroidery techniques to accentuate the buttons, and create a textured surface. The techniques I used include seeding, wheels, couching, French knots, and I also completely wrapped the buttons in yarn to imitate stones. I am really pleased with this piece and intend to continue experimenting with felt.

This is some of my work and experimentation for my "Can I Touch It?" project so far. I think my latest piece is the most fitting so far, as it most certainly makes you want to play with it, and see how all the different components feel.

I am going to do loom weaving tomorrow at college, and will try and create the most textural pieces I can. I will update as with the results as soon as possible, and hopefully it will give some inspiration! :D

Ciao for now! xx

Woven Matchboxes, and Knitted Treasure Chests

Right so I thought I'd show you some of my work that I have done on the Foundation Course, since starting textiles.

I'm currently working on a project called "Can I Touch It?" Rather dubious sounding name I know, But it relates to the fact that people always ask permission to touch my work, which I find silly as it's made from fabric, it's MADE to be touched! So I'm still in the research stages at the moment and have very little to show for it except sketches and such, which I may put up at some point. This project is my Final Major, and will be the last I ever do, so I thought I'd show you some of my previous projects!

So this is the "Matchbox" brief we were given over Christmas. We were asked to produce a piece of work using a matchbox, and we were allowed to do ANYTHING, as long as it used the box, or matches, or was inspired by them. This was my solution to the brief....

Weaved tartan matchboxes. I used normal sewing thread and a needle. I pierced the trays down the side at equal distances, to create the warp. I then followed to colour patterns to create the weft, and displayed them in the corresponding matchboxes. I bought the boxes from eBay.

The next project was "Hidden Gems". We could take the phrase in any direction we liked, I decided to take it as literally as possible and begun by hand knitting gem shapes. I came up with new ideas and developed and developed until I came up with the final outcome...

The box is hand-knitted using strips of brown fabric, which was very hard on the fingers, I must say! I then weaved into the middle of the box using gold cord, to suggest the "hidden gems". The box greatly resembles a bird's nest, and because of the colours is very well camouflaged in the bush when closed. When it is opened the gem (made of duck egg blue Angelina, to represent eggs hidden in nests) and the gold cord glitter brightly, making it very obvious that it is there. It is a hidden gem, as it is barely visible when closed, but once opened everyone sees it. I have done more projects than these two, but these were the two most successful, and I love them both!

Any comments would be appreciated, and I will begin updating on my current project very soon!

Ciao for now! :)

You want to do what?!

When I decided I wanted to pursue a career in knitting, people thought I was crazy. In actual fact, they still do. And so do I!

I begun my educational career with my GCSE's about 6 years ago now, not completely sure what it was that I wanted to do with my life, I just knew I wanted to do some form of drawing. I took Graphic Design, and Fine Art as my subjects, and passed with flying colours. I decided graphics was the only route for me to take so pursued this, going on to do Product Design for A-Level and specialising in graphics. I realised towards the end of my A-Levels that I wasn't entirely happy doing this, but wasn't certain what I would do instead, so applied for a foundation course in Art and Design. I thought this would broaden my horizons and help me figure out which path to take.

In the holidays before I started college, I was bored and decided I wanted to learn to knit, more to give me something to do than anything else. When I started college I put my knitting down and started with the graphics again. After doing one week of graphics, I HATED it. I went into the textiles class on a whim, and have never left. I saw a photo of some really "extreme knitting" (I love that phrase!) and remembered the iPod case I had knitted in the summer. I turned to my tutor (Who is a knitter herself) and told her I wanted to try knitting out. She seemed shocked but gave me some materials for it, and since then it's one of the main factors of my work. I also do a lot of crochet, weaving, and embroidery, all for fine art purposes. None of my work is commercial, and is usually quite wacky, and a little strange. But I love it! My heart is set on wool and I think it is something I will pursue forever, until my fingers curl up into claws, and I'm blind, and it's no longer physically possible.

This blog is going to be a way of keeping track of my progress, my work, my discoveries and ideas and so on. Almost like an online sketchbook. If I ever get time, I intend to create tutorials on knitting, crochet and so on. Not necessarily the set-in-stone methods, but my methods. Which are definitely different to the way my Nan used to do it, but still work well for me!

I really hope you enjoy looking at my work, and I can inspire other people to take up this retro pass-time. Many people see knitting as something solely for the elderly, but I'm 19 and spend every waking minute surrounded by wool. Knitting has become cool. Let me know what you think of my work, all comments are appreciated, and I want people to become involved!

Ciao for now!