Print Project - Continued

Following from my last post, my screen has now been exposed with my design.  I have spent some time preparing the screen to print, firstly by taping up the sides of the screen and then by blotting out any unwanted holes in the screen that had appeared during exposure.

The colour palette that I have chosen is blue and pink, so I began mixing colours so that I could have light, mid and a dark tones of my colours to experiment with.  I’ve added the mixed dye to my own storage pots so that I can continue to use the same tones in future.  Whilst mixing my colours I used some different binders to see how they would affect the dyes, mainly in how transparent they would make them.

In the photo above you can see my newly exposed screen with two of my mixed dyes ready to print.  Below you can see a photograph of some of my experimental test pieces from today.  The processes that you can see in these samples include both heat press printing and screen printing, in some cases both techniques have been used on one sample.

I enjoyed using both the heat press and screen printing techniques together today, I think the two combined gave some really interesting effects.  I think that as I add new shades to my colours, I will be looking for tones that are brighter and more striking.  The pastel colours I made today did give a nice effect and I think they could perhaps work well as part of a design that uses brighter colour too.  

Revived Tradition – Print Project

So I’m just starting out on a new print project.  I’m working around a concept called Revived Tradition; it’s a trend that I am going to use throughout the whole project.  From my initial mark making I could see a link into this particular trend.  The concept revolves around traditional patterns such as plaids, tartans, argyle and checks which I will use to come up with my own print design. I can then use this print design to experiment in different ways.

I hope to change the texture, materials and colours of the print to create different effects.  I plan to change colour variations by using different pigments, dyes and binders. I can use my print design in different ways by using techniques such as silk-screen printing and heat pressing.

I started the project by mark making.  It’s easy to do, making marks with various materials and objects like old cotton reels, floppy disks and scrap metal.  I started just using the colour black to experiment with the marks that I could produce with the different materials.  I moved later on to use various colours and shades to develop ideas further.

Soon I should have the final design for my screen. I also hope to begin experimenting with the colours and fabrics.  I've chosen pink and blue as my colours, but it's going to take some research to see what fabric will work best for me.

Sam

Luminous Light – Knitwear Project – Final

As part of the final project I had to complete 20 fashion flats, a potential customer profile, 2 fashion illustrations and a technical file demonstrating the techniques I’d learnt.  This work was in addition to the knit samples and sketchbook.

I chose 2 designs from my fashion flats and turned them into fashion illustrations.  The 20 flats showed details of garment shapes and included swatches of fabrics and yarns as well as images of the specific knit sample that would be used on the final garment.

Creating a customer profile meant that I had to think about the type of person that I wanted to market my clothes towards.  I took into consideration things like age, income and examples of possible retailers where I could see my designs eventually being stocked and sold.

In the photo above, you can see two concept boards in the top right.  I produced these early on once I chose my colour palette for the project and referred back to them throughout.  The photo shows my base-space shortly before the final presentation to my group and tutor.  You can see my knit samples hanging below the desk, the photo below shows them up on the desk during evaluation.

Sam 

Luminous Light – Knitwear Project - Progress Update

I've been really busy learning how to use the knitting machines to achieve exactly what I want from my samples.  I've been putting in the hours both in University and at home, working on my designs.  At home, I was working on my sketchbook, looking at my images from the campus and creating concepts for how I might be able to translate these into my samples.  

Over time I developed my sketch book with ideas and transformed these into 15 final samples to be submitted.  I worked to construct and create the samples in the studio using knitting machines and new techniques.

Some of the techniques I learnt and tried to implement in my samples included Picot/Holes, Weaving in E-Wrap, Knots, Tassles and Hooking Up (I mentioned Hooking Up in my last post). Below you can see a photograph of some more of my samples.  In this you'll see a number of the techniques that I've just mentioned.  You can see Picot/Holes in the bottom right, Hooking Up in the top right and Knots and Weaving in E-Wrap featured in the top left.

I've really enjoyed learning to use the knitting machines in the studio and it's definitely given me something to think about for future projects! - it's even inspired me to take up hand knitting and crochet at home!  You can see one of the samples in progress below, this one's an example of knots before they were tied.

Sam

Luminous Light – Knitwear Project - First Post

Design Brief

For my first project at University I had to create 10-15 knit samples inspired by aspects of the campus' architecture and structures.  Focusing on these areas, I went in search of unusual or interesting features, specifically looking for textures that it might have been possible to replicate using knit.  I looked at aspects such as metal work, roofing and steps, because of the clear geometric and linear nature of these areas.

The two photographs above show an example.  The image on the left shows a distinct pattern that was found on the back of a chair in the lower concourse and on the right is a photo of a knit-sample that I created in response.  In the knit-sample I have achieved the linear effect by hand manipulation on the knitting machine in a process known as 'hooking up'.

Sam