EVALUATION

This unit has been has a great opportunity to help define my context and working style. Having the chance to experiment with various yarns and techniques has not only made me feel confident in myself but also in my working style and context.

 

Mixing Dubied and Domestic techniques have helped to push my samples in terms of style, focusing on my target audience to design a more interesting surface, which then was developed into a garment. The process of designing and knitting a garment has been challenging, however seeing the end result has made the process extremely worth it. In the future I would be keen to design and knit an entire collection, focusing on refining my target audience and style.

 

In this unit I also aimed to develop my colour palette and add texture in my samples to create a more interesting surface. My samples have taken a more textured approach, and contrasted with a more developed colour palette add a more depth and visual excitement to this samples. As these samples influence a collection of designs, I have also enjoyed designing and illustrating a range of garments targeted at an audience of a certain genre and age. This has been an important part of my creative journey as these illustrations are my path of communication to not only myself but people trying viewing my work.

I feel that this unit has defined me as a designer, from pushing techniques and yarns to dying and designing. I know there are still area's in myself and my practise that need strengthening such as time management and confidence, but I feel I have come a long way looking back on the start of the year.


 

 

CLASHING TECHNIQUES AND TEXTURE

Pictures of last unit

Last unit my samples were a mix of techniques contrasted beside each other in each sample
and were a mixture of dubied and domestic samples joined to one for a dramatic style. By doing so this pushed my samples in terms of working style and placement of technqiue, there fore in this unit I will be designing the same, adding texture to give my samples something different.

I have decided to carry on and push two previous techniques which I enjoyed knitting with, circular and knitting the high butts with lycra.

 

 

Samples from last unit

 

         

 

                                         

 

 

 



VISUALS

Designs influenced by research

 

 

 

 

 

Adding Colour

 

 

 

FINAL DESIGN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In my final design I used alot of fringing, mixing mohair and viscose to create a volumised surface, layering the fringing for a exciting effect capturing movement of bird feathers and exposing texture and depth. The mix between the sheen of the viscose and the matt of the mohair has a high qaulity and edgy look, combined with the ombre dye I feel ties the whole design together.

GARMENT SHAPES

I have began looking at a few simple garment shapes, as my samples are textured and dramatic I do not want to over complicate my designs.

 

The over sized, loose fit of these garments is a style I wish to work towards when designing my garments reaching a trendy and fashion confident audience.

 

The style and silhouettes are experimental and fresh, combing length, fit and layering.

 

STYLING

 

 

 

 



Looking at styling, this will be important for my designs as outfits. Especially when focusing on my target audience.



 

INTRODUCING COLOUR

The colour palette from my last project was strong and successful, but I felt it could have been pushed more. Looking on the catwalk for inspiration  Marc Jacobs Fall 2014 Ready-to-Wear successfully ombre dyed textured pieces in his collection, contrasted on layered knit.

 

 

 

 

Francesca Della Valle

 

 

 

 

 

These designs add subtle but dramatic colour on texture using the ombre method. This is something which i would like to achieve in my samples and designs as i have dark colours, and using a few bold colours will help my design to be visually striking.

Before dying my samples I had a few worries as my yarn is very textured, and naturally felts, however I was pleased with the results as the colour was bold, although the wool had slightly felted. 

 

 

 

 

 
 
COLOUR PALETTE

 

 

I have decided to stay with dark tones infusing bold colours, as they balance each other.

 

TEXTURE

Using the wool roving gave instant volume, however the texture is not as soft or free as in the visuals which I am taking inspiration from. I began to look at textures similar to hair after coming across Lauren Mayhew's collection.

This texture on garments in a mass, looses the fact that it is hair an extension of the body but becomes a free and flowing.

In relation to my own project I began some examples with colour.

 

 

During these samples, I found the hair hard to work with as it constantly became tangled, although the colour took really well.

 

 

 

I moved onto to using viscose felt as it has a hair like quality, softness and was alot easier to work with.

 

 

 



VOLUME - PLUMAGE

MADSDINESEN Fall Winter 2011

I began to look at plumage and mark making, and its connection within in fashion. The depth and volume of the feathers around the neck is interesting and the placement on and around the body is assertive.

Calum Harvey

 

 

Calum Harvey uses a range of mass simple fabrics to create volume in his garments which have instant impact.

 

 

WOOL ROVING

 

 

 Rex Lo

 

 

This design has instant volume and a contrast of textures using natural fibres to achieve dramatic design.

 

 

Mark Fast  SIBLING

 

Scale and effect on the body

 

 

 

 

 

Taking inspiration from wool roving, I created samples on the chunky domestic machine. The roving gave instant volume and much effect. I began to mix different yarns in to change its soft fluffy appearance for a more edgy effect, also thinking about placement on the body and garment style.

 

 





COURTING

The Practise Unit allowed me to be very experimental in my area of practise and creative journey for me as a designer, the opportunities in the last unit distinguished my working style, and context allowing me to make confident choices as a designer in techniques, which I have developed.

I have decided to continue the same concept for this final unit hoping to develop a more daring colour palette and textured surfaces. To do this I have expanded my research to a concept with more expressive visuals, influenced by the performance made by male birds during a Courtship to lure female birds.

 

 

These interesting visuals of different types of birds presenting themselves to others, expose colour, texture and movement are aspects that I wish to capture in my knits.

CONTEXTUAL CONNECTIONS

 

Elena Crehan  Central Saint Martins MA Fall Winter 2013

 

 

 

Introducing new textures to my samples will give a diverse and unique feel contrasting against knitted surfaces. Expanding the resources which I use is something I wish to challenge to create exciting pieces.