week six

This week I focused on three areas that came out of last week's meeting which were:

1. Develop 3-4 textiles that can be combined.

2. What do the jumpers look like, what makes them contemporary?

3. How do they reference NZ culture, what is unique to them in this respect?

1. Textiles

Embroidery on Felting

I tested out using embroidery on top of felting with some more abstract lines as well as small shapes such as koru like swirls and NZ foliage. I really like the way it turned out especially with the abstract swirls and shapes layered and creating the feel of a landscape. I tried to use different thread thicknesses and textures which I think adds some dimension. I think a slightly more shiny thread on the very matte felt creates an interesting contrast.

Dye Test

For the felting I wanted to use sustainably sourced wool as well as from a second hand source as I try not to use animal based fibers normally. I found a 5kg bag of off cuts from a mattress making business on Facebook and decided to buy it. The only problem with this is that it is only natural coloured wool so I knew I would have to try and dye it myself.

For my first dye test I used food colouring as I read on the internet that this works. I simmered the wool with the colour, salt, water and vinegar on the stove for over an hour until it had taken on as much pigment as possible.

The result was a very vibrant blue colour. I was going for a slightly deeper shade of blue but now that I know the food colouring works I can do experiments with other shades and brands to get a variety of colours. Luckily I have a lot of wool so I can dye plenty of batches.

Felting Test

I tested out hand felting both on a wool jumper that was felted in the wash and a piece of sweatshirting. Surprisingly the wool felted a lot quicker and flatter onto the sweatshirt fabric. Therefore, it might be worth it to do some larger tests on double jersey fabric.

Finishings

I also knitted a ribbed cuff as a test which I will try to felt and see if that makes it a bit more sturdy as well as test out the amount of shrinkage.

2. Contemporary Context

I think that in order to bring these very traditional techniques into a contemporary context I want to apply them to a more modern over-sized silhouette and create more abstract designs. I used images of Edmund Hillary and his team to develop some possible proportions that stay true to NZ culture and incorporates the theme of heritage and the landscape references in my textiles.

3. Reference to NZ Culture

The main reference to NZ culture I want to convey is the love for and beauty of the landscapes and nature. Having immigrated to NZ from Germany one of the things I most love about NZ is the closeness to nature and the beautiful untouched parts of nature and the respect for it that runs through the culture. I want to convey and express that beauty through the textile by referencing it in an abstract way. I played around with both more and less abstract motifs to see which way I want to go with this project. I think that the more realistic references that we have seen many times in clothing can look slightly dated so I think the more abstract approach will bring it into a contemporary context and make them unique my project.