Part 4 - Project 9 Woven Structures Stage 3 Experimenting with different materials

For this sample I used a linen warp and did a mixture of plain weave and Soumak technique.  Threads and materials were rug wool, torn dyed muslin. netting bags that fruit is bought in, knitting ribbon, gimp, organza ribbon and dyed lace.  I did one row of Ghiordes Knot using torn dyed muslin.

I chose to do Soumak technique as I like the way the warp is covered even though a thick thread or fabric is used and it can give a lovely texture.  The row of Soumak worked in turquoise muslin has the muslin double the width of the rows worked at the bottom of the sample.  I think both work well and give a lovely texture.  I think using the muslin for the Ghiordes Knot give a really good texture especially as the muslin is frayed in places.

Using the gimp for plain weave did not work well as I could not get it to cover the warp which I would have liked it to do.  The lace row is quite effective I think because even though the warp is showing I like the contrast of colour and the width of the lace against the warp.

Although I like this sample in hindsight I think I could have been much more adventurous with my choice of materials.  I could have used some of the lavender sticks that I used in a previous exercise in this project.  Looking on my desk now I could have used strings of beads and some of the dried leaves I have collected.  I think maybe I haven't thought more freely in these weaving exercises as I found it difficult at the beginning trying the techniques and the warping the most difficult.  I feel this has made me not look favourably on weaving which is probably most unfair.  I am going to look at textiles artists that use weaving in their work.  

As I was working the weaving samples I thought about needleweaving.  This is a form of drawn thread work where the decoration is woven on the warp or weft of the fabric after threads have been withdrawn from the fabric.  I have done some of this work in the past but not in an experimental way.  Perhaps this is something I should look at doing.

A textile designer that I like who uses weaving in her work is a Dutch textile artist called Marianne Kemp.  She specialises in weaving using horsehair and other unusual materials.  She has collaborated with designers from other disciplines thereby developing new patterns and textures making textiles, 3D objects and installations.  Her weavings can be used a lighting objects, to divide rooms or to cover the body.

I like her work because it is delicate looking but is actually quite robust.  I like the hanging below because of the neutral colours and the delicate warp and weft.  My favourite piece is the dress, christobal twill, image below.  It is made using two different techniques at the same time. The round shape is created where the horsehair is woven in also making deep pleats.  I like this piece because of the shape and the materials used which gives a flecked effect over the dress giving a nice texture.

I can see from Marianne Kemp's work that by using unusual materials you can still make functional items.

kemp, m. (2015). [image] Available at: http://www.horsehairweaving.com/weaving/photos/MKemp_HCHWA-D.jpg [Accessed 8 May 2015].



kemp, m. (2015). christobal twill. [image] Available at: http://www.horsehairweaving.com/weaving/photos/Mkemp_ChristobalTwill.jpg [Accessed 8 May 2015].