Project 9 Woven Structures

(Research point, Analysing colour, texture and proportion and Project 8, Yarns, are all recorded on my previous blog - lizziegoldenblog.wordpress.com. The rest of my work to complete A Creative Approach will be recorded on this blog).

Equipment I have to use for this project include

- small wooden frames (24cm x 30cm) constructed at my workplace, years ago, for weaving with children

- a couple of strong picture frames (38cm x 45cm and 46cm x 58cm)

- a wooden shuttle stick. I'll make some more with strong card.

- a very extensive selection of materials and yarns

Stage 1 Preparation

I chose one of the smaller wooden frames, and with a small saw marked small notches into the top and bottom of the frame, 1cm apart. I used strong cotton string as a warp.

I chose threads, mostly crochet cotton, of colours as found in this picture of an Autumn sunset in New Mexico, to weave with. 

I made a head cord using a very strong nylon thread I had. I have one wooden shuttle and prepared more shuttles with strong cardboard. 

Stage 2 

I wove using the threads I'd chosen ,thoroughly enjoying the process of making fabric. 

I particularly liked the texture created by the soumak knots.

Although in tapestry weaving plain weave, of one over one under, is followed, I enjoyed experimenting with 2/3 under and 2/3/4 over, enjoying the patterns I was making.

When I used a stronger cotton, the weft couldn't be pushed down so much, to hide the warp threads.

I enjoyed making curved wefts, not minding that I didn't feel in control of the resulting shapes.

Stage 3 Experimenting with different materials

I used similar colours, but used balls made from old t-shirts, carrier bags and several strands of wool wound together.

As predicted in the instructions, at times, due to the bulkiness of the materials, at times it was difficult to cover the warp.

I particularly enjoyed the different textural qualities created by using the soumak technique. 

I also like the ghiordes knots. It would be interesting to experiment with these knots, making a pattern with their length. 

I can imagine making an interesting bag with fabric made this way.

Stage 4 Developing design ideas into weaving

Sample 1

The text begins "This approach links with the analysis work you did at the start of Part Five". Well I haven't started Part 5, that comes after Part 4, n'est-que pa? So I'll do my best to follow the rest of the instructions. Working with colour, texture and proportion to create strips, learning techniques learnt in stages 2 and 3. Reading ahead, I know this piece will be a challenge to me, as I like to see pieces develop as I work, in order to follow these instructions I'm going to need to be quite disciplined. Not my strong point! ;-) 

For this piece I'm going to choose a photo of a beautiful area near home which is under threat of development.

Using gouache paints I painted stripes on a page in my scrapbook, finding the colours I see in the photo. The blue isn't quite right, and maybe the ochre is a bit too golden, but otherwise I'm happy with these colours.

Using crayons I marked off horizontal stripes on graph paper. 

Although I couldn't find the exact colours in the crayons (for example the yellow ochre was too bright) I quite enjoyed looking carefully at all the colours I saw in the piece and looking at the colour proportions. I found it challenging to be precise, this isn't my strength!

I found the colours in wools and cotton and I did a small weaving on my home made loom. The process was slow but I did enjoy seeing the piece grow. I like it a lot close up.

I didn't manage to keep it perfectly straight, didn't manage to keep it from going in at the sides.

The colours and proportions are fairly accurate, but I confess I didn't try hard to achieve this.

I'm not going to sew in the ends! This is just a sample. I do like the "wrong" side, but the great amount of ends does hide the weaving.

Sample 2

The story board that I have made is rather rushed I am afraid - I am concerned to get this assignment completed. I appreciate how useful a story board can be, I value the use for an artist at looking closely at images, texture and colour and bringing them together on a board. In fact I often encourage this in adult education classes that I run. Since I've been looking at colours and texture by the river, I decided it would be fine not to spend too long on the storyboard.

A friend gave me a book that her mother-in-law was going to give to a charity shop, and she thought I'd like it. I love it, find it so inspiring! 

I particularly like the technique of creating slits, and weaving strips through the slits created in other strips on the same frame. And I think it's particularly suitable for a piece inspired by the riverside grasses - as the grasses are always crossing in front and behind each other.

I thoroughly enjoyed doing these - learning a new technique and slowly weaving. I could add to the piece as there are slits which I haven't woven through. I probably will.