DISTANT
STITCH
Embroidery
certificate Module six
Evaluation
of wall hanging
The
completion of the embroidered assessment piece for module six is
based on the topic of Creative Conservation.
How
do you feel about the resulting completion?
My
original idea had been to create a piece of work which captured the
power and majesty of the wind farm off the Sussex coast. These
harness the power of the wind to produce a green, renewable energy
source thus reducing emissions of green house gases which contribute
to global warming.
I
am delighted with the finished piece and feel that it has captured my
love of the sea and wind as well as my concerns for global warming. I
am satisfied that the simple shapes I used to represent the sea and
the blades of the wind turbines in my original design have translated
well into my embroidered wall hanging
I
feel that the overall design captures the flow and rhythm required in
the brief. I’m particularly pleased not only with the main body of
stitching and it’s suggestion of the directional flow of water
influenced by the tides and movement of air but also the contrasting
and raised effect of the manipulated and embroidered fabrics which
depict the rising, falling and rippling of the water’s surface.
The
stitching also depicts effectively the patterning of the water’s
surface whilst suggesting volume and depth.
These
not only have a visual impact but also encapsulate the verbal prompts
and verses I used during my research for the project namely ‘I am
the wind that breathes on the sea, I am the wave, the wave on the
ocean’ and ‘The answer my friend is blowing in the wind’.
I
like the simplicity of the steely turbine blade surfaces against the
textures of the watery surfaces and the way the blades appear to
slice through the waves / air which in turn apparently produce
bubbles which led me to think of them as gills breathing life into
the sea and sky.
I
am pleased with the spherical shape in the centre which represents
our beautiful planet ‘hanging in the balance’, I like the
simplicity of the reverse corded piping used here in contrast to the
watery surfaces. The bamboo silk used took up the colours of the cold
water dyes beautifully and gave an ethereal feel to the concept of
planet Earth benefiting from the use of green energy sources.
Conversely
the half spheres appear less refined due to the use of cotton
organdie which gave a rougher finish perhaps suggesting a less stable
Earth state or work in progress.
I
particularly love viewing the wall hanging from the side where the
raised elements and the textural stitching is in evidence.
I
love the combination of the blue, turquoise and paler blue colours
worked to make the most of a whipped stitch and the wonderful
textural effects achieved.
To
serve as a complimentary colour I added a variegated yellow ochre /
orange thread to work the bubbles which picked up on the yellow /
orange areas of random dyeing in the spherical shapes to good effect.
These added vibrancy and energy.
Is
it fit for purpose?
I
feel the completed works well as a wall hanging and clearly
symbolises the concept behind my original idea.
If
you were to make it again what changes would you make to the way you
designed and made it?
I
would perhaps have preferred a space dyed background incorporating a
subtle use of all colours within the body of work.
It
would be interesting to try and make the hanging with freely
suspended elements which would move with the movement of air thus
adding to the rhythm and creating shadows in the spaces behind it.
Timings
Date
research and design started 4.11.2019 Date completed 3.1.2020 [total
no hours = 10]
Date
converting into embroidery and making wall hanging started 18.01.2020
Date
completed 26.06.2020 [total no hours =110]
Costings
A3
wirebound sketchbook £4
Tissue
paper
£1.50
Ink
cartridges
£5
Acrylic
paints
£2.50
Photocopies
£1.60
PVA
glue
£1
Cold
water dyes x4
£15.96
Oil
paint sticks
£1
Iron
on vilene 1m £6
Decovil
heavy
£6.25
Wool
felt
£6.20
Lining
fabric
£5
Chinese
silk 1m £10
Nylon
chiffon scarves £5
Bamboo
silk 0.5m £8.23
Water
soluble fabric 3m £13.35
Threads
variegated cotton 300m x2 £7
Rayon
threads
£13.50
Metallic
machine thread £0.50
Stranded
metallic thread £2.00
Stranded
cotton £2
TOTAL
118.09
STORAGE
OF WORK, MATERIALS, TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
Design
work in progress
Sketchbook
kept up to date with designs inserted, secured flat on page and
protected from direct sunlight and away from dust, spillages
Work
actually in progress stored flat on work desk also protected from the
above
Papers
for design work stored flat and in order for use, away from
direct sunlight
Tubes
of acrylic paints stored upright with lids tightly secured
in cool conditions.
PVA
glue stored upright with lid securely fastened to prevent
drying out or blockage of nozzle.
Embroidery
work in progress
Kept
accessible for continuous work on work desk and away from usual
hazards
Cold
water dye solutions stored away from direct sunlight in
jars with lids securely fastened. Fixative [soda crystals] also
stored in fastened containers ready to add to dyes as needed and then
used within 24 hours.
Fabrics
folded and kept with others intended for use in embroidery
Dry
dyed fabrics away from sun. Store flat or rolled in colour or fibre
order. Acid free tissue paper for storage
Threads
store alongside fabrics in
appropriate colour range and type order including metallics.
When
dyed dry away from sun, untangled and in colour and/or type order
Beads
and shells dyed and dried away from direct sunlight
Sewing
machine Kept
upright on desk in area designated for sewing for
convenient use and to
prevent having to lift heavy object unnecessarily.
Ensure easy
access to plug socket.
Keep
at normal room temp and humidity.
Other
electrical equipment namely
an electric iron. Ensure safe storage in dry place with flex neatly
wound. Protect iron
surface
with baking parchment when working fusible
web and iron -on vilene. I like to
keep
an old iron for this
purpose.
Completed
embroidery wrapped in acid free tissue paper. 2D pieces wrapped
separately in acid free tissue paper. When travelling work rolled in
acid free tissue paper and bubble wrap, 2D pieces wrapped separately
in acid free tissue paper.
HEALTH
AND SAFETY RULES
Electrical
appliances
Keep
a sewing machine upright on a stable surface with flexes kept
safely away from feet to prevent tripping, with use of an extension
lead as necessary. Keep plugs away from wet surfaces.
Use
an electric iron on a stable surface. Store in a secure place
with flex wound safely when cooled
Sharp
objects
Be
aware of keeping fingers away from sewing machine
needle during free
machine embroidery, use embroidery foot whenever possible.
Use
scissors / craft knife carefully to avoid injury to fingers.
Store in secure place.
Store
pin and needles in
allocated containers which can be stored safely
Inhalation
of powdered dyes and paints
Be wary of fly away powders
and use away from wind or draughts
Naked
flames / candles to
melt or dissolve fabrics, be aware of type of fabric and how it may
react to heat. Work in a well ventilated room to prevent inhalation
of fumes. Work on a non flammable surface so
that flammable fabrics can be put down quickly and keep a damp cloth
at close hand to douse any flames. Handle fabrics during this process
with tweezers not fingers.
Care
of back, neck and shoulders whilst sitting at sewing machine,
have machine at appropriate height to promote correct alignment of
back and shoulders. Take regular breaks and stretch / move to relieve
muscle tension.
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