Textile View

I had an article which my work was involved in!

I have held off on writing about this article in Textile View because I wanted to see the response to my work. Which I have welcomed and really enjoyed seeing my blog and work being viewed more. It's been exciting to see.
Though I didn't know when it would be published I wasn't prepared to receive much attention, and I certainly didn't keep it. At the time it was published I wasn't posting as much as I should have been.

I know my work wasn't in the spotlight, only part of a larger inspirations piece. I am really proud of my work. I love that the writers found my work displayed in my university's little booklet of degree work and sought me out. It's not a lot but I am really pleased.

I also have read the article and enjoyed looking at all the other work. It is a really good piece of writing and a good showcase for so many peoples work.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Textile View

Pattern!

My pattern stash!


 This is a asymmetric pattern for a dress - sizes 14 up to 22 from Butterick.
I brought it from my local market which had fabric and the ends bin. Not much else. There were several others that did. I did like this stall best to look at the fabrics, all the patterns and variety they stocked was bigger. Despite the stall being one of the smallest.

It sold patterns, ends of fabrics and also little 5p samples. Great for research and scrap booking but too small for anything else.

I've kept this pattern over the summer, along with a few others- the rest are sitting with my sister who actually has a sewing room. Even if she has no time to work on such projects.

What I love about this pattern is the options I have with mixing fabrics, prints, the splits and shaping. Once made at least just the once - I could probably play with the construction and shape of the dress.


What else could be made? Costumes or dress up? What would you guys suggest? What would you make?

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Pattern!

Weaving scarves

Using the jacquard I designed and woven this set of scarfs. In white, pink and blue, with a sewn edge to stop fraying too much. I wanted a different design than what others were creating for our fund raising at university.
I wanted something, suited for a younger target, and lent towards a 'girlish' design. But not out right pink and in your face.  I wanted something fun and didn't think out colour palettes would work, as well as this pale pink and blue palette. I did think of yellow, of green, and I did think of purple with pink too. But I didn't like it, and I found yarns but none that worked together.

I loved how this came out when woven and washed. I am really proud of the results. The design is simple, but effective and brings together the different elements.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Weaving scarves

C.W : Filling up my dress up box

I actually love dressing up, whether I'm in my 20s or younger or when I get older I think I will always love costumes.

Before August I was invited to a costume party and it took some time to set my heart to something as it was themed to something from your childhood. I picked Hades, but I didn't have the time to do something really fun like I had originally planned. I made a female version and bleached the ends of my hair to apply blue to it. However, I did a wardrobe costume with a dress, and added pieces or accessories  - so this isn't what I want to share. I want to share that I made a alternative costume, a unicorn outfit. I want to share this unicorn horn I made!


Made a lollipop stick, wadding, bright fleece, several sparkly or organza fabrics, ribbons and thread. The little  'gems' lying around were gonna be loose inside or glued to the outside, or just under the top layer of material. The ribbons allow the horn to be tied to the head or to a head band.

I am sorry I didn't take any photos of the construction. But I'll do my best to describe my process.

I started with the lollipop stick, and glued the wadding to it, just a basic cone shape to begin the shaping. This then needs to dry.

Then I used strips of wadding, I created the spiral shaping, stitching this into place, This is then layered on with two more layers, With less and less wadding nearer to the top, so the cone is heavier at the bottom.

The boldest, and sparkly fabric is then layered to cover it from the bottom to the top. This is then roughly stitched down in a spiral pattern, before layering the yellow fleece, in strips down the horn - not matching the spiral exactly. This is then stitched down, this time more neatly following the spiral again and the edges. More stitches are applied to add more colour - using pastel blue, yellow and pink threads. Just using seed stitches.

Now the bottoms is tidied up a little, bringing in the wadding and the fabrics that have already been applied, Create a rounded a base to work into more later. The next layer is the pink organza. This layer doesn't cover the entire horn, in one layer, it's a strip of fabric with the edges folded in, and spiraled till it covers the horn, this is then stitched down along the spiral and the bottom to tie the remaining down, cutting down on too much excess before folding the edges in.

To neaten the overall shape, stitch the spiral in, making sure stitches are even and neat. Then stitch down the folds and loose areas down.  With the horn complete I then added how the horn could attach to my head, for me this was ribbons, I could then tie this to my head, to a headband or a comb etc.
Whilst if some else had the option this might go for hair grip or clips. But I live this ribbon and if I did opt for a comb or something else, I could tie these to nice bows.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

C.W : Filling up my dress up box

A Wide Range

From my first year to my fourth year at university I drew a lot - from studies of work and real life objects or scenery. I drew from my mind and imagination, building on older work to develop ideas and styles. I painted, I used pencil, pen or crayon and pastels. 

I looked at a lot of materials, themes and explored as much as I could. Style, materials and texture were often important in my studies.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

A Wide Range

Stash!

Yarn Stash!

These yarns are a few that I am not using just yet (I'll share more on those projects later). I have a few small balls of cream with speckles of colour - Not enough for a jumper or anything in just this yarn. However, I could make some sleeves or use it as an edge or trimming, to a project ( I think it would be a quint little button stand if it was made from this yarn).  This is acrylic yarn, quite soft and fine.

 This yarn (below) is a silk and alpaca mix in jewel colours, I crocheted the entire length of it - bringing to coloured sections closer together.  This doesn't look right knitted tightly unfortunately. I am thinking of actually sewing or loosely knitting/crocheting this new yarn into something. My original plan was to create necklaces and bracelets with just the lengths. But, I can make something special, and I really want to with this yarn's colours.

This yarn I originally had plans for - to knit a little waist coat front with this yarn for a 4 year old, and get more yarn as I needed. As a 4 year old is likely to grow out the clothing quickly and not care much about colour matching. I thought this adorable and still do - this was last summer, and I think the little man has enough sweaters, sweater vests, etc that we all love to dress him up in. (So far he doesn't care or have a 'special outfit' he just has to wear). Now I don't know, I think its something I'd like to wear but I have no clue what to make, maybe make socks? I want it to last but its the perfect size to practice double ended knitting needles too. This is heavily dyed wool yarn.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Stash!

Old school sketchbook work

 

Sketchbook work from school - this is about 7 years old now.  This piece is a study 

of an artist - I haven't noted the name. Made in watercolours, pencil and some graphite.

Above and below a wax and fabric painting. Based on sea shell work. 

Above is the paper it was layered on, below is the fabric.

Some flower work - pressings and watercolour work outlined.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Old school sketchbook work

New Pattern to do!

                       I have a new pattern to do! Exciting!

I picked this up second hand, not from the magazine. This wasn't a freebie for me but a little donation from a bookstall, to a beautiful building isn't much trouble. The architecture of an old train station turned into a social hub with cinema and cafes, and galleries is wonderful when there's no use for such an old building.

Anyway back to the pattern. I choose this out of all the other vintage ones - because its more wearable for me - as a I am curvy woman. It has boning in the sweet heart neckline, a train, and a jacket for full lace.
The silhouette isn't one I have had before, though I do have a sweet heart neckline in a skater dress - but it doesn't have any boning, it uses netting to hold up the dress.

I thought very quickly in how I can use this pattern to alter other - e.g. sweet heart neckline, boning, a train - which I can use to create a nicely rounded up and down hem.

The skater dress is one I first thought of editing, then this pattern I think I could make something really lovely. Something unique for me.

I could use this dress for all kinds of occasions - especially dressing up for a big do, I could use it to go to weddings, though I won't use it for my own -  I think I would be too obsessed with getting it perfect! So I wouldn't enjoy it as much.

I really want to try the lace jacket but it's likely the last thing I'll ever make - it's not something I would wear very often. A bit of a shame.

* I wish I had brought a hat - navy blue, small top, with a wide, titled rim. It leans forward to show off the back - under the rim the hat continues to show off blue roses. It's stunning.

I can imagine that hat. and this dress made up with a bodice of black duchess satin (quite heavy and thick, with a thinner lining) and a white/cream/blue skirt. Maybe with blue stitching, that few people would probably notice.

Perhaps, I'll get doodling soon to share some ideas with you guys? I'd love to get some options.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

New Pattern to do!

Practicing my stitch work

I've been practicing my stitches and it developed into something else. This little practice has really surprised me, though I did pick out some pretty complementary colours. I didn't really expect a design. However, I was repeating whatever I  did on one side, on the other to reflect the design and fill an area. This meant I could use more colour and  also practice stitch counting, and counting the area.

I used a woven cotton fabric, though it is uneven - this was intended as a practice only, so I didn't need to worry too much. I did keep count and try to keep the work even. I explored a lot of different combinations of colours, thread counts, stitches and tensions.  A few stitches were left loose to gather more thread on top of the fabric, allowing for a slightly different texture and depth to the work. 

I also applied different coverage. Using couching, heavy stitches, larger thread counts, and layers of stitches to build colour in areas and hinting at areas that are only outlined.

I had a lot of fun with the cross stitches covering the roof - layered with more cross stitch work and couched thread.

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

Practicing my stitch work

G.O: Butterfly Doodles

I've mentioned my interest in Spoon flowers contests and weekly competitions - well I thought I'd share my work to draw butterflies. I actually went out of my way to but a little antique book of English Butterflies.  I posted an image of the book on my Instagram. 

This little book with its coloured plates of butterflies - claiming them to be true to size, allowed me to explore different sizes, shapes and colours of Butterflies.

I used felt tip pens with water - to dull the colour and then build it over layers. It also allows for  strong lines of colour and bleeding in areas. I used the pens like watercolours and it can create similar results though some colours are much harder to build upon (e.g. yellow) and grey/blacks are hard to keep strong without it bleeding into several other colours when too much water is used.

I also played with composition to create a much busier pattern, something I don't often do. I wanted all the colour and the clashing of all the butterflies. I played with scale, with different sizes and never repeating a pattern. Though this allowed me to play and explore more than create a final piece.

I am sorry, but I won't be sharing my final designs any time soon. However these 

studies and drawings will inform further work. This will be created using a digital

 tablet and software. I am really looking forward to continuing this work.               

 ____________________________________________________________

For those interested:

 Spoonflower's weekly contests

Share:facebook - twitter - pinterest

G.O: Butterfly Doodles