Fabric Concepts

Designing for Textiles is a very practical and purposeful enterprise with the end product (a lot of the time) needing to be commercially viable. However, that does not rule out the opportunity for complete experimentation and designing with this idea from the forefront.Recently, I completed the module 'Fabric Concepts' which was an all encompassing experimental approach through the medium of knit. This process led way of working provided me with a fantastic challenge to think beyond a mean of application for a fabric (initially) and really tested the 'what if..' possibilities of my working. Reflecting on this short design challenging, I thoroughly enjoyed this way of working which was very much unlike my usual process. It was extremely exciting to be able to physically change the properties of a knit once it had come off the machine and I made this my main focus throughout the project. Learning how to use a single bed knitting machine was a real insight and experimenting with hooking up techniques and unusual knitting yarns (elastic- bottom left image) allowed me to create some very interesting forms.

My initial experimentation came from changing forms using hand knitted plastic yarns and heat (top left image), which I found quite difficult to translate to the knitting machine. Although, this idea of heat changing forms stuck with me and I began to experiment with puff binding and its affect on a knitted fabric. The two images on the right show the completely difference in how far I pushed the use of the puff binder; in the top right image the knitted strips were coated in the substance and heated for as long as possible which created a very rigid finished fabric. Whereas, in the bottom right image the knits were only highlighted with the binder along one edge to accentuate the lines and curves created by the contrast of materials.

I found that using photography for visualisations really helped me to create an atmosphere that these knitted interior swatches could fit into. The samples below are suggested to be for lighting designs. It is noticeable in all the images that the pieces are not commercially viable but the whole idea of this project was a no boundaries approach to create fabrics and this tremendously enhanced my learning.

This very non- tried and tested way of working challenged my abilities to work outside of my comfort zone but also enabled me to create some really quite interesting fabric swatches. Whilst it may not end up being my continual method of working I think it's really important for me to revisit this experimental approach to free up my designing process and keep my work fresh.