Experimentation_ week four

The week began with a group tutorial where we discussed different techniques I could try to reflect my visual research.

I have been trying to achieve a 3D effect in my knit. Laura suggested knitting sections then joining them together to reflect some of the origami structures from my sketchbook. I experimented with different ways of doing this with varying degrees of success.....

I used a partial knit technique in the sample above, it didn't really work though, the shapes are too floppy and rounded.

This one was more successful, I knitted a strip of hexagons and linked them together with copper wire. It has a nice ripple effect; increasing the scale would create an interesting surface.  

We have also learnt a new technique of "weaving in" on the domestic machines, which I have tried to utilise to incorporate sections of rigidity in my samples.

( Woven- in leather strips, cotton background)

I like that you can see the individual stitches against the leather strips, I could experiment with making different shapes and patterns.

Here I wove in copper wire in order to manipulate the finished sample and create a more 3D structure. I quite like the juxtaposition between the open knit and the heavy embroidered knots, This has a more organic feel to it, I could perhaps combine this with the more geometric shapes.

I am pleased that I have generated several starting points to develop and expand. I think it would help to dissect my drawings more, re reviewing them to tease out qualities to bring into my samples.

PDP tutorial_ week three

This week I have moved into my specialism- knit. I had a positive PDP tutorial at the beginning of the week where we discussed the project and what I need to be working on.
I had a lot of ideas to bring to the tutorial but found it difficult to sum up what my concept is, so I have reviewed my research and tried to pin point what its all about.
I would describe my project as_ inspired by organisms within nature that form their own habitats; with a focus on developing fabrics or garments that are flexible, expandable and sensitive. I have found it helpful to gather some key images on pinterest to visualise my ideas and act as a reference for myself throughout the unit.

http://uk.pinterest.com/bphippswardle/mobile-habitats/

The materials I use are a key component in this project, as I am looking at texture and surface a lot. I want to really push what I can use and knit with, e.g: leather, silk, paper yarns, copper wire and potentially explore coating and dying my own yarns.

With my tutor, Laura we discussed my use of colour and how the fibre/yarn choice affects this. I have continued making yarn wraps and colour studies, mixing tones and brights to create an exciting palette.

I have began to knit small samples on the domestic knitting machines, mostly experimenting with yarn and colour combinations.

( viscose/ wool)

I wanted to see the effect of using very different yarn types and used the technique of 'hooking up' to add some texture.

Here I was exploring colour proportion and E-wrapped in some leather strips, which have made intriguing, embellishment like sections.

This is a sample of hand knitted copper wire layered over some machine knitting, the contrast between the soft yarn and hard, clean wire is really nice; I will defiantly think about different ways of incorporating metallics in my work. 

Visual research_ week two

Continuing my visual research, I have started to develop my ideas, working with different materials in a 3D way.  A book called collapsibles gave me some ideas for different mechanisms and ways to manipulate materials so I have have been experimenting with folding, pleating and curling. Following another group tutorial I have also begun to consider what kind of materials and colours to use in order to reflect my visual research. Below is a maquette for a fabric that could form different shapes.

I used a fine mesh and geometric shapes to achieve the contrast in density and materiality I found In my visual research. The look is rough but I think the idea has potential to keep exploring.

These are a development on the flexible/ folded fabric, I wanted to create something with greater rigidity. I imagine many more of them joined together to create a shell-like structure.

(magnetic curtain_ Florian Krautli)

The above image is work by Swiss designer Florian Krautli, he has created a flexible curtain that can be manipulated using the magnets embedded within it. I love the way it is interactive and can be adapted to meet the users needs. I would like to incorporate this idea into my own work, potentially using a similar technique with knit.



I started out working with quite a variety of colours taken from my inspirations but now need to define a colour palette to use for the rest of the project. I have picked out some of my favourite colour ways and done some yarn wrappings to generate ideas. I like the contrast between bright colours and muted tones but need to work a bit more to create a dynamic selection of colours and materials. Overall I feel I have progressed this week but need to bring my ideas together to create a clearer concept and move forward into the sampling stage.

Visual research_week one

"Mobile Habitats" is the visual research brief that I chose. I liked the experimental, 3D approach outlined in the brief and felt the idea of habitats was a good continuation of some of my summer work (mostly inspired by my surrounding, natural environment).

What came to mind when thinking of 'Mobile habitats' were shells and cocoons, seed pods and then tents and hammocks; portable habitats that relate to the body.

One of the first tasks was to "explore the idea of habitats in relation to inside/outside."
I thought of how a chameleon changes colour, adapting to and interacting with its surroundings….

(ink, tracing paper and pastel rubbing)

I like the layering in the drawing above as it gives it a reptilian quality. My aim was to capture the changing colours of the chameleon I observed; I think I could work on making the colours more sensitive and refined.

(ink, pencil and paper)

This drawing was inspired by the contrast in surface between the inside and outside of shells. Cutting and folding the paper also gave me the idea of how you could turn something 2D into 3D, a vessel or habitat.

Following a review of our drawings with our tutor I started to work in a more 3D way, considering both shape and surface. I compiled a list of keywords, relating to mobile habitats to start to generate ideas for potential outcomes/ solutions.

Here I cut up and manipulated a copy of the chameleon drawing to explore the idea of an expanding/ evolving drawing.

(photocopy- paper and ink)

Working in this more abstract manner from the keywords is quite new for me but I have found it exciting and am pleased with some of the outcomes. The drawing above has a hard, protective quality to it, like that of a tortoise shell.

I will continue to develop and refine the techniques I am using and experiment with a wider range of materials and surfaces for the next week of visual research.