Chapter 12. IDEAS FOR DESIGNING A FUNCTIONAL, THREE DIMENSIONAL EMBROIDERED ITEM

For our assessment piece we have to make a 3D embroidered item. On speaking to Sian at summer school we thought about a shrug but on working more with the Pel’s Owl idea and looking closer I have noticed the wonderful collar the owl has and decided to explore the idea.

I’ve recorded my musings and experiments on working sheets as I go.

We started by looking at 3D shapes and those inspired by the animal images we collected earlier in Ch. 4. and made some 3D shapes out of cotton fabric.

Having decided on the collar I knitted one in the shape I feel may work.

I made a small paper mock up of the collar to show its possible dimensions:

And the contrasts in tone provided by a reversible collar using my patterned papers:

I decided to take the circular 3D shape and take this forward into developing the collar.

Use your decorated papers to create two or more of your design ideas on the flat surface of these 2D pattern pieces. Pin these together to see how each 2D surface links together. How will this look when it is forms 3D form? Will the pattern on each surface link together across the joins in an interesting way

I now  need to make a full size paper template and arrange my papers on the 2D shapes to give the effects I’m after for both the right side and the lining. The lining is important as it will give the contrast provided by the turned back collar:

I have to take my decorated papers to create two designs based on my design ideas.

I now need to make a full size paper template and arrange my papers on the 2D shapes to give the effects I’m after for both the right side and the lining. The lining is important as it will give the contrast provided by the turned back collar:

First design:

How the patterned papers pin together to show how they meet at the centre front:

How the collar contrasts with the rest of the collar:

And the reverse:

View from the back:

I then discovered that my paper template made up in calico was problematic! Time to think again……………………………..

Design two – the same process:

I now need to decide which design to take further

I think I’m favouring design 2……

Think again – I’m not keen on the stripes……..

Could I use the pattern from design one

How the collar will look [paper sample] right side:

and from the reverse side:

Ideas for inserting ‘feather’ shapes into main body of collar:

All for now until I hear Sian’s comments