end of term.

i think i have learnt the most in my life in the last three months.

now i just have to wait for my percentage! waa.

i don't think anybody realises (unless you're studying it) how technical and hard work textile design is. the number of processes i should know are overwhelming. but it's only been the first term of university, i've got plenty of time to master them... also, not really knowing about anything other than stitch and embroidery when i started probably didn't help. it's a good job i find it all interesting, so i have the right attitude towards learning new skills. next term we're weaving on the looms... which i have neveeer done before!

my head hurts now. and i can't wait to go home for christmas :)

buttons!

i did have to leave my button head people alone, but i could experiment with buttons on fabric!

fabric manipulation.

fabric manipulation with second hand fabric;

 i have collaged pieces togetger with stitch, applique, wadding and fringing:

 

 

hand stitch manipulation; experimenting with layers, pleats, colour gradients and changes in texture.

types of stitch.

a variety of stitches i used in this stitch project; french knots, straight stitch, back stitch, cross stitch, couching, pekinese and the chain loop stitch.

knit.

i have created a number of knit samples for this 'on the surface' project, focusing especially on the colour gradients of a landscape... brown>green>blue

i have also incorporated it into my stitch by knitting cables on the knitting machines then using couching stitch to secure it onto the fabric.

by adding yarns used in my hand knitting into my machine knit gives the samples textural interest by looping, weaving and knotting.

hand stitch samples.

i created these hand stitch sample from looking at the lines made in my photographs and translating them onto fabric. i achieved this by looking at the colour and form and varying the stitch type.

machine embroidery samples.

 i started to question; why are photos rectangle if the camera is round? so i often worked with circles to depict my rectangular photos and therefore, translating it into a circular image.

fabric painting.

 

by painting onto fabric directly you can stitch over the top to highlight details. i like this method of sampling, because it's quick and effective. i have embellished with beads and varied the thread type.

pleating, folding and smocking.

 this is my sample from the princess pleater. (a smocking and pleating machine)
way to take further - embroider and print onto pleated fabric.

 this was one of a few fabric manipulation samples from a few workshops. i thought about experimenting with pleating, but decided to stitch instead :)

this is a direct smocking samples of 'honeycomb' stitching. it adds texture and interest to any fabric.

embroidery hoops.

i have been embroidery for the last two days and forgot how much I LOVE IT. i've been working in embroidery hoops as i find them convenient and neat to work with stitch. the embroidery hoop also keeps work flat and tight and allows you to add much more detail to hand stitching. it's also good to use them on the sewing machine and you can embroider freely without sewing your finger... i have had to learn to be patient!

i have created a few samples; (translating colour from my photos)

alison willoughby.

  http://www.alisonwilloughby.com/

we had a stitch workshop today with the lovely alison willoughby. what an inspirational, talented woman. dressed in all black, teamed with a trendy hair cut and giant bangles she gave an introduction to hand stitching and how she uses it in her work (£900 skirts... covered in everything!) she came round the group one by one to talk to and find out how we were getting on with the project. she seemed to like my sketch book; laughing at the button heads.
she suggested i shuold;
- look at line and colour gradient; striping down my photos to their simplistic form - like the doodble i do over the top and then translate this into stitch and knit.
- work in a more sophisticated way with stitch, but allowing myself to work over the top in a more messy manner.
- she said to choose a few favourite photos. disect them and translate into needle and thread.

this feedback led me stitching till one in the morning. i was on a inspirational, creative roleeee!

what i need to think about;
- types of thread and wool.
- colour gradients
- knit
- panels, folds
- lines
-blocks
- machine and hand stitch
- more controlled style
- keep having fun
- layout
- scale
- beads, buttons and other embellishments.
- look at jacobean style embroidery and crewel work.

button heads

i thought that as well as working alongside landscapes and nature, i could experiment with my photographs of people; who are after all organic.

i initially played with sticking buttons over peoples faces, translating this into a drawing and then embroidering. but realised that i had to focus on this three week project rather than trying to look and manipulate every photo i've ever taken. i need to focus and sustain projects better! stop trying to do everything emily!