Intentions Evaluation

During this unit I believe that I have maintained an element of risk taking and experimentation whilst conducting visual research and generating a concept, as I have taken all of these initial factors to create the final outcomes of this project. I used my research and concept to achieve my final outcomes by refining my decisions in terms of colour, learning from the mistakes I made when it came to proportion and choosing the appropriate colours that appeared in my visual research. Reflecting on my work has proved to be a crucial aspect during the development process of this unit as I have been able to look upon my work critically, depicting the strengths and weaknesses of what I was creating.

Although my concept gave me freedom to create imagery from imagination, developing the idea of visualising sound proved to be difficult especially when producing the final collection of fabrics as I tried my best to explain my concept through the process, more could of been done to evoke the mood of my drawings and translate it into the samples. Despite of this I enjoyed working with a concept that allowed me to create abstract and expressive work that led me to artistic influences such as Cy Twombly and Barbara Rae.         

I believe that I have approached the use of process creatively throughout my development samples and in my final collection. Discovering which processes were the most suitable for the outcome I wanted to achieve was down to recording and reflecting how it would relate to my context. I established that e-wrapping and intarsia were the techniques that defined my context as these processes allowed me combine colours, create textures and produce a body of work that also permitted me to be as experimental as I wanted. 

By contextualising my own practice I have gained useful knowledge of contemporary textile practitioners that exist in the knitwear industry and beyond in the wider creative world, making the process of locating my work and establishing a direction for my practice easier. Knitwear labels such as Leutton Postle and Sibling interest and influence me as I can see how my work could fit into this diverse and unique style of fashion knitwear.  

I intend on developing my work further for the next unit by conducting more in depth research in terms of context, concentrating on fashion knitwear and gaining more ideas on generating individual and craft led samples that will interest my intended audience. Taking more notice and having a more reflective approach on the work in my sketchbook will be an area that will require attention in the next unit, guaranteeing that my work as a whole links together fluidly. Experimenting with new techniques on both the domestic and dubied knitting machines will also be important factors in the coming units, as I intend on strengthening my skills and knowledge of various processes in order to obtain an element of diversity in my work.  

Generating Final Samples

The purpose of this week was to start producing samples for my final collection of fabrics. Utilising my time efficiently has been a key aspect this week as I was able to create samples and depict which ones work well as a collection, giving myself time to refine and develop further final samples for the last week of the unit. Finding the exact colours in the right types of yarn has been crucial as I want my fabrics to be of good quality and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I have decided to use cotton and wool as they are dependable and easy to work with.

The main technique that appears in all of my final samples is intarsia as it proved to be the process that best explains my concept. This technique has allowed me to vary the backgrounds of my knit, making it possible to contrast the pastel colours with the darker tones without having a stripe of colour along the width of the fabric. The weakness of the samples that include e-wrapping with mohair is that after steaming the tassels lose their volume and become very flat, therefore I shall continue by using mercerised cotton to create a textured surface. 

My aim is that every individual sample has something different to portray in order for the collection as a whole to be varied. In order to improve the samples I am currently producing I need to make more connections between the work in my sketchbook, not being afraid of including large blocks of colour side by side with the intricate intarsia work as I have done so in my drawings.  

Throughout the week I have been evaluating the samples I have created, laying them out and assessing what the next sample should include in order to have a collection that reflects every aspect of my concept and context. The idea behind the collection is that some of the samples will be very loud and textured, whilst others will be more refined, giving a deliberate contrast that links back to my concept of visualising sound. 

Leutton Postle A/W 11

The luxury knitwear label Leutton Postle has been an inspiration for my own practice throughout this unit and furthermore has influenced my final collection of fabrics. Their adventurous and experimental use of techniques and processes succeed to create elaborate pieces that has transformed the way I interpreted knitwear, therefore giving me the confidence to generate samples that are bold and exciting by using a variation of skillful techniques.    

Concentrating on Colour

This week gave me the opportunity to refine the choices I make in terms of colour and proportion. In previous weeks I have struggled to communicate the exact colours that appear in my sketchbook ideas and development. As I continued to develop my ideas it became easier to depict the balance between the soft pastel and darker colours. 

My goal this week was to also connect my samples with my intended audience, making sure that I produce work that will interested them in terms of techniques and colour. I have established that my final collection will aim towards an unique audience of fashion knitwear for women as my samples evoke elements of individuality and creativity. I have contextualised my work towards fashion knitwear labels such as Leutton Postle and Sibling because their work is based on presenting knitwear in an exciting and innovative way.    

 Creating more yarn wrappings based on colour placement and proportion aided me when designing new sample ideas. The wrappings also assisted me when making decision based on what type of yarns work together well to create a sample that communicates with all the elements in my visual research, from my drawings to the context of my work.  

In terms of presentation I need to improve the way the samples are displayed as the sides tend to curl inwards, making it difficult to see the piece as a whole. When producing final samples I intend on steaming both sides of the fabric to ensure that they lay perfectly flat when mounted onto card. 

As I enter next week my intentions will be to improve and refine the samples I created this week by applying their strengths to start producing final samples, which are the broad use of techniques and intense colours. The coated PVC circles knitted into the samples will also be included in my final collection as they contribute an element of fun and individuality that relates to concept and context. I will also work on the weaknesses of the samples by varying the background colours, using intarsia to create a staggered effect that breaks the plain one colour background of the samples above. 

  I have introduced darker colours such as navy and deep purple into my knit samples to make the vibrant hints of orange and florescent pink stand out as unexpected colours, incorporating the idea of interrupting, unanticipated sounds of everyday life. This technique can also be interpreted as a way of depicting the difference between conscious and subconscious sounds that appear in my concept, utilising the contrast in colours as a means of creating this divergence. 

In previous weeks I have struggled with my colour combinations, using only light and subtle coloured yarns that failed to give my bright florescent colours the desired effect of standing out as interrupted, loud colours. Therefore the artist that has been relevant to the context of my work this week is Barbara Rae as I could relate my samples to her abstract paintings of the Scottish landscape. I found inspiration in the way she employs dark colours to make the bright colours seem more vivid and lively.