and Finally

This Unit was research related to find a palette of colour from a single plant - nettles - and using the outcomes to create dyed images from my observations of water. It was also about ways to develop my practice away from samples and knowledge to working on a larger scale which can be applied to design related specific objects which have business potential.

The critical evaluation is giving me the opportunity to see how successful I have been but I am also looking at associated areas not fully necessary or covered by my research. The information about soil types and their effect on the growth and existence of plant species interests me and I wonder if I need to know more about the taxonomy of a plant and which molecules actually dye the fibre. Does the carbon content of peat affect the colour outcomes? My samples certainly show that the colour from the leaves does change over the seasons of its growth into a mature plant. Is this research file that I have built worthy of collaboration with perhaps a biochemist and could it help to inform fibre samples from archaelogical finds.

The unit has also helped me to consider the potential and success of different fibres and fabrics that are available. For example the Wool Brocalo has a scrumptious texture but can only be use with shibori, the wool delaine is good for pleating and to use wax resist I need a relatively smooth finish for crisp lines but interesting results can be discovered by a freer application with different tools.

I am excited by what could come next. The nettle research will continue as long as new variants are available. I want to use all the resist methods tried so far ie ; wax, shibori, clamping and pleating experiment with combinations eg pleating and then waxing. The scarf idea with clasp making doesn't appear on any of the searches I have done so there are many designs to develop both based on a scarf and based on a 'cape'. The clasps also connect with the work I have done making my Tjanting tools and I have ideas for shapes based on a spring.

Roll on September!! And thank you nettles!

Adendum to New Ideas

The pleated samples shown in the previous Blog have helped me to move on in the area of my practice relating my naturally dyed fabrics into objects. It started with thinking about the scarf that was transformed by pleating and actually became more efficient as a warmer for your neck. So I started to research scarves

Love the idea of 3D layers of fabric.

I can see this shape with pleating on the shoulder.

and experiment ( with the help of daughter and friend!) with the fabrics I had pleated.

I am now thinking about ways to clasp the designs as well as ways to use the natural dyes to give a range of colours and patterns based on the images of water. The clasps could be from junk shops but could also be designed and made in the workshop by yours truly.

New ideas

This is just a blog of images after an afternoon in the workshop using the naturally dyes fabrics
with the pleating machine.

 I used a wool scarf and want to experiment with clasps etc to create neck warmers!

I was thinking about the photos of ripples and reflections.







Then a friend asked me to make a book cover for her daughter so I used the waxed patchwork of mark making and found that the wax residue in the fabric results in a better finish,

I decided to use my digital machine to embroider a personalised border with Laura's name.

 

The weld has been harvested and is drying in the shed ready to make a new dye bath soon.
The nettles are full of flower so I have used them for a dye bath so that I can compare the colour with my other samples.
Think it will soon be time to evaluate!