Module one, chapter eleven

Chapter Eleven:

Resolved sample - Growth and disintegration

First thoughts: Paper experiments

The following images show my experiments with paper to try out a variety of ways of disintegrating the sheets leading to different effects and levels of this disintegration.

1/11/1: Paper experiments sheet one

1/11/2: Paper experiments sheet two

Second thoughts: Paper shapes

Not surprisingly, the more I cut the shape the trickier it became to reassemble! The colour of the background helped break up the shape giving the illusion of disintegration.



1/11/3: Paper shapes

Third Thoughts: disintegrating fabric squares

The following two images show the completion of various exercises to disintegrate a piece of fabric. The main technique used was to fray the fabric however this very quickly left me with numb fingers! I soon found an alternative and quicker way to do this with a small pair of embroidery scissors.

1/11/4: fabric disintegration experiments sheet one

1/11/5: fabric disintegration experiments sheet two

Different ways of making a shape disintegrate/grow using stitchery

The first set of samples (left column in the following image) show my attempt at making one of my shapes thinner/smaller through reverse applique and contour stitching. The second set of images show my experiments with various forms of stitching to break up the green motif so that it has the optical illusion of disintegrating into the red background fabric.

1/11/6: samples to play with growth and disintegration effects

Growth through repeat

1/11/7: Making shape from several smaller shapes

1/11/8: Shape repeated on a larger scale

1/11/9: Shape repeated into a half drop pattern

1/11/10: Scale change repeat

1/11/11: Shape repeated to form another star (note incidental star in negative space)

1/11/12: Overlapped repeat to form asymmetric star

1/11/13: Small scale repeated over large version of motif to form a new star shape

Planning the resolved sample

The following image shows the working sheet to collate together the ideas for the motif, colours and materials.

1/11/14: Planning the resolved sample in terms of motif, colour and materials

The following images show possible layouts for the resolved sample using coloured papers.

1/11/15: Planning layout #A

1/11/16: Planning the layout #B

1/11/17: Formulating the background on the resolved sample. Note addition of stitching (right)

The resolved sample

Once the background of felt bonded fabrics cut to shape was fixed in place with Bondaweb, the next stage was to create the main centre motif. Shiny green fabric was printed using the original stamp into a pattern that reflected the original motif that had been developed. A layer of printed net (printed in a different pattern to add contrast) was placed over. A layer of red satin was put underneath all these layers with several layers of chiffon and organza under that. Reverse applique was used using machine embroidery (satin stitch and a machine cross stitch pattern). This embroidery followed the original shape inside and out to give a feeling of growth. The print and netting at this stage giving an impression of disintegration. The chenille cut away applique method was used for the organza/chiffon layers and deliberately frayed for further effect. Note that on the actual sample this appears very textured but the photo does not do this justice unfortunately. A small version of the motif was then cut from a decorative bonded felt and then stitched in place using the cross stitch. This was applied so that the stitching went onto the layers underneath as well as on the bonded fabric to try and break up the outline and blend the shape into the background.

This was all that I had planned to do with the sample but I wasn't satisfied as the green motif just contrasted to much with the red. To combat this I then added a fibre paper shape and appliqued it on with a simple hand embroidered running stitch. This was a very subtle addition but it went a long way to 'kill' the overpowering green. This was challenging to sew on as by that stage there were numerous layers to penetrate the needle through. The top image that follows shows what the sample looked like before this final addition. The bottom image shows the finished resolved sample for this module.

1/11/18: Resolved sample before final embellishment added 

1/11/19: Resolved sample