Self Initiated Project | Encasement

Following on from the collection of samples I created for the Bradford Textiles Live Brief, I wanted to continue with the concept of ‘Boundaries’ but push it on further into a new direction. As I was previously gaining visual research from urban imagery, I decided to take an alternate route looking at natural forms. Initially, I was drawn to cocoons and the different structures, intrigued by the changing areas of density and delicate detail. Undergoing my own visual research, I visited the Manchester Museum to study natural forms. I was especially drawn to nests and the remains of animal skeletons. Reflecting upon my research, I found a continuing theme of how the exterior traps things inside and how different these forms can be.

Above is one of the images from my visual research at the museum. What inspires me is the linear structure with spatial elements, inside a long textured exterior. The photograph below is also very influential to my project, with the circular open shape surrounded by dense areas, then loose linear elements adding detail to the edges.

From my visual research I have interpreted a clean and sophisticated style when working in my sketchbook, therefore I have been using this palette of blues, silvers, bronze, gold and ivory when making yarn choices and creating a body of samples. I plan to create a body of work at a luxury high street level,  I have been using fine yarns such as silk in order to give a high quality finish. Whilst sampling this week, I have been focussing on trapping elements in my knits, playing with contrasting weights of fabric to add elements of texture in order to communicate my concept. 

In this sample I inlayed a yarn that is almost like a spun hair fibre, called Springtuft. This trapping of thick texture almost gives my sample a woven quality, which I think works well reflecting my concept because it holds the yarn in so tight, then puffs out and the exterior, communicating the inside of something contrasted with the outside. In order to push this further I will play around with moving the inlays to make the shape less repetitive and give more heavily textured areas.

I took my conceptual research into a different direction looking at woven designers. I especially liked Mary Anne Moodies’ samples and how she creates movement and alternate shapes throughout the pieces.

Mary Anne Moodie - Woven Designer

In order to push my sampling forward I am going to start to think about how I can create this woven-looking outcome by knitting on the Dubied, and how I can make this work on the body in order to make a garment for womenswear fashion.