Thursday 31 October 2013

More birthday money fabric

I got myself some nice jersey fabrics and made myself some t shirt tops. 

3/4 sleeve
Short sleeve slash neck
Short sleeve this is actually the green fabric but it looks  quite grey. 

Not sure this top worked out the way I wanted. Would have liked it to have been longer. 






Weaving it was so much fun.

Back in September I took part in a two day weaving course run by James Donald (one of my tutors from college)  It was so much fun and I'm really please that I took the opportunity to do this course.  I would greatly recommend it to anyone who wants to have a go at weaving. Hear are some photos from the weekend. I will apologise now if any of my terminology is wrong.   
Setting up the warping threads.  Round and round and round we go. 
Separating the warp threads with the separating rods at the bottom......oh and a cup of tea. 
The "disgusting pink stuff" was to help us count out every 20 warp threads.
Starting to thread the loom. 
Attaching the warp threads to the back of the loom before winding them on. 
Warp threads on the separating rods.
The treadles.......eek have to thread each of these. 
The warp threads separated out along the back of the loom. 

Starting to thread. 

Once all the treadles were threaded.

More threading.....Two at a time this time though so much quicker. First job of Sunday morning.
Tying onto the front of the loom....nearly time to start weaving. 
Its a bit blurry but this was starting with a plain weave to draw

Starting the twill weave

The weaving pixie, domino.

We were obviously no fun.

Weaving
Oops that doesn't quite look correct but I quite like it.

We have a breakage .......
Tying in the loose wrap thread for now. 
Weaving
Weaving
Yay all done. just needs washed up and a few loose ends sorted out. TTFN 


Friday 13 September 2013

Latest projects

So that's it, the summer has been and gone and we are already 2 weeks into college. I really don't feel like I've done very much so far, but then things have been just as hectic out of college as they have been at college. So taking a quick breather to show off what I made with the fabric I bought in Chester with my birthday money! :) 
I got the idea for this one while watching Doctor Who, Clara was wearing a dress like this and seeing as I couldn't get hold of one online I figured the next best thing was to make one of my own. :)
The picture doesn't really do this justice but I have worn it along to the prize giving ceremony we had last Monday. It was good fun and I got a ceficticate and everything. :)
I had a bit of a boo boo with the shirt. Firstly I didn't have enough fabric which is why the button section is a different colour. And then just as I though things were going so well I caught the sleeve in the overlocker and cut a big hole in it hence the red section in the arm. I have to admit that I still need to do the button holes. (I really hate them)

So it's time to get back to research for our three projects. Will be back soon to blether on about them. :) TTFN 

Thursday 15 August 2013

Where has the time gone!!!

I can't believe that I haven't been on here since May. Where has the summer gone. Only a couple of weeks left till I start HND year 2. So what have I been up too.........

Well I found out at the fashion show that I won a prize for my hat, have to wait till the prize giving ceremony on the 9th of September what I won, but if nothing else its an excuse to wear something that I have made over the summer.

When I was in Oban way way back at the start of June we went to the Sealife Sanctuary and on their new nature trail (in tribute to Terry Nutkins) they mentioned that Harris Tweed used plants such as lichens to dye the wool they use in their weaving. I am hoping to have a shot of dyeing fabrics with plant dyes before the summer runs out but time will tell.

I did finally get a chance to do something with the fabrics that Liam and Kristen gave me for Christmas when they came to visit at Easter.

Here we have the dress I made for Uncle Bob's 60th birthday and Uncle Bob and Auntie Ronnie's 20th wedding anniversary. Phil from the cricket club said I won "dress of the day" 
Who needs to buy a Tilly and the Buttons shirt pattern (don't get me wrong I love the girls idea and work) .....but I put this pattern together myself, saved myself £7 on that. I have to admit I hate button holes and the self covered buttons were a bit fiddly but I love how this worked out. Just need to get some more fabric to more.

I also took a chance and spoke to my tutor James who co-owns a shop in Edinburgh called Concrete Wardrobe on Broughton Street. He had noticed one of the cards I had made and after talking to him in July  he agreed to give my cards a shot in his shop. Fingers crossed.....
So summer is nearly over but before I get stuck back in the classroom I plan to make a final couple of projects with the fabrics I bought with my birthday money in Chester (they came all the way from Dallas, Texas though...spooky) Maybe something to wear to prize giving. :) 
Pictures to follow..........TTFN


Monday 20 May 2013

The Seven Deadly Sins!!!!

Another project from last term was Design Semantics where we had to look at the "elements of design" ie Line, Tone, Texture, Shape, Colour, Pattern, Balance, Rhythm, Scale and Form. We had to gather as much information on these elements in relation to one of the seven deadly sins.

Pride, Envy, Anger, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony and Lust. I was drawn to Envy and looked into various elements of envy.

Sin: Envy
Deamon: Leviathan
Punishment in Hell: Put in freezing water
Animal: Dog
Colour: Green

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photos/patterns-aurorae/

Download Wolf Hd Wallpaper Widescreen
http://www.wallpixy.com/download-wolf-hd-wallpaper-widescreen/

The frozen glass
http://www.zastavki.com/eng/Winter/wallpaper-36422.htm

I was really taken by the frozen water on glass, and took this idea through to design stage. We had to design a textile garment based on the research we had found. Here are the front and back views of the finished top. I used net and felting wool and stichted them onto the top with some feathers to create a "frozen water" design on the top.


Love how this turned out especially considering that I had no idea where to take this project. TTFN xxx

Sunday 19 May 2013

Fine art Project

We had a year long project in which we had to select a house from a specific Architect and design a textile artifact for the house. I selected a house in North Uist called Clachan Lodge which it situated to the North of the island over looking Clachan Sands.

http://www.clachanlodge.com/ClachanLodge-Gallery.htm

http://www.clachanlodge.com/ClachanLodge-Gallery.htm
I was specially drawn to this house because of the nice rafter details over the main living area of the house. So I designed a wall hanging to fit in the rafter space which took inspiration from satellite imaging and imposed the layout of the Outer Hebrides islands onto the hanging.

Work in process, this wasn't how i pictured it but am much happier with the way this is going!!
Machine stitching the white squares took for ever, I even took a break for a cuppa when I was half way through!!!  
Close up of seeding stitch.
Close up for stitch details.