PE Evaluation

I feel my project has really developed through the origins unit. In the first two weeks whilst completing my chance cards, I found it quite hard to make myself sit and endure such a large amount of drawing and I felt that such a vague task left me with little direction in terms of a theme or complete project. Fortunately once in my textile world I felt that the tutors supported me and helped me find a theme to develop in my sketchbook, in order to inspire a colour pallet and compositions in my practical work.
I have chosen to narrow down my main area of research to drawings of my environment, mainly focusing on plants, flowers and trees. I particularly find the contrast of plants and built up areas a point of interest and a good basis for my colour pallet.
During this project I have discovered that I probably have more patience for a slow moving production of textiles (e.g. weaving) than for a faster production of samples that has a higher risk of going wrong (e.g. knitting) so in the future I will have to consider which techniques will be most appropriate in the given time scales. I have also learnt which drawing style suits me best, and the importance of a sketchbook during practical work, where I once thought one irrelevant.
I found contextual references very helpful when looking for inspirations, for example seeing the work of other knit and weave artists helped motivate me to find out new techniques to create similar effects. Also to find out how using different yarns can make such a big impact on the composition of my work especially if washed or treated after construction.
I feel I have been using my workshop time very wisely, often enjoying full days in the construct workshops. My independent time has been used wisely for the majority of the unit, I think if I had spent a little more time practicing drawing, I would have found putting my sketchbook together a lot easier. Having said that even when my independent time has been used visiting friends or family, I have always made visual recordings of my surroundings when appropriate to add to my research.
At the start of this project, my thinking was not very lateral. I sometimes found it quite hard to approach tasks. Having completed my workshops and taking inspiration from my contextual references I feel my thinking has become much more lateral, finding creative solutions to tasks set, that suit my way of working best.

Origins - Construct: Knit

These are some of my first knitting samples using a domestic knitting machine. For this sample I used a punch card on the lace setting, and used yarns matching drawings from my sketchbook. 

This sample creates a ribbed effect using the Tuck setting with a punch card. I found it quite difficult finding a simple enough punch card to work on the machine. 

This sample is uses a hook up technique which creates a very nice, bumpy, 3D effect which I feel is very relevant to a lot of my research because of the frequent use of collage that gives an extra depth to my work. 

This is also a punch card technique called Fair Isle, I have used the colours from my drawings and chosen a floral pattern to reflect my research which heavily features flowers and plants.
I have found that I like the using the knitting machines however, using them requires an awful lot of patients especially when things go wrong, and need to remember in future to leave myself plenty of time for such eventualities. 

Friday Drawing Tasks

We were told to bring two different pairs of shoes to draw  in our Friday drawing sessions. We were also told to bring dyed and collected collage papers. 

We were then told to cut out the outline of the shoe and make some collages of the shoes. I absolutely loved collaging  and playing with scale.  

We were then asked to scan  in our shoes in order to make a series of pictures that conveyed narrative, so I collaged two smaller ones of each shoe and and scanned in pictures of them to make it look like a meeting between two mother shoes on the street walking with their baby shoes who play while they talk and then proceed to their destination. 

I really enjoyed this Friday drawing session because I find it very easy to work through collage, this realisation has helped me with completing my sketch book for my textile world.