Inspiring Prints: Fabric Rehab

Fabric Rehab

 

Acid colours, seemingly inspired by childrens' books and the seventies.  They appear to use no more than 8 colours per print.  I enjoy the lack of outline in a lot of the prints, definition created by colour and texture mainly. The drawings are also from an odd perspective, flattening them and giving them a childlike quality. This is something I want to experiment with in my own drawings.  This gives a softness to a bold design and actually draws more attention to the beautiful colours.  The chosen subjects for Fabric Rehab seem to be nature, people, houses and everyday things.  Their designs are composed of simple shapes layered over one another, at interesting angles (mostly regular with the odd one out of place).

My favourite is the Ballerina print, one for subject matter (dancing is close to my heart), I also enjoy the fun, non-conformity of the print such as the non-traditional ballerina outfits and candy hair colours.

Placement and Shape

Been designing various shapes of embellishment that reflect my theme of sea-life and coastal textures, such as scallop-like edged pieces and fish scale surfaces. I have then created the base fabric and started to experiment with shape by pinning pieces onto a mannequin.

I've decided I really like cluster embellishments on shoulders such as suffolk puffs or stiffened fabrics, so that the accessory appears dramatic almost costume like. After experimenting with using printed fabric (representing a shirt) and embellishment on top, I have decided that printed shirt is perhaps suitable as a partner for smaller pieces of decoration but not some of the more sculptural samples.

I also like the effect that an embellishment can create by almost dripping down the front of a garment or draping like a collar-reminds me of my pictures of lime on cliff fronts (see textures at Seaside entry).

The placement of decoration on the back of a garment is also interesting to me, although I think I should focus my concentration on front placements for this project.

Print Development

I started developing my printed fabric into something more textured relating to my drawings. I started by embroidering circles with a freestyle foot using a short zigzag stitch. I used various polyester and silk threads to tie in with the background print.

I also experimented by adding in other pieces of textured fabrics that I had previously dyed with dysperse dye. These fabrics included vintage velvet from the 80's (sourced from my loft!), poly-satin with an ingrained flower print (charity shop fabric bin) and vintage lace and curtain netting also sourced from charity shops. These were all sourced for their interesting textures.

I then used a soldering iron to burn various areas of my polyester base fabric away creating a lace like cut out feel. Afterwards I decided to add clusters of pearl beading and sequins.

Stew Gallery

Went to visit the 3rd year's mid-year show. I was amazed by the level and variety of work. My favourite collections are the ones photographed below.

Katie Carson's shirts were interesting because of the photographic elements combined with digital print, creating depth. The other two collections were based around quaint imagery, line drawings, humour and colour. These are all things close to my designers heart!

Storming my Brain

Material Processes I want to experiment with in BA6

Types of embellishment:

• Digital print (photographic backgrounds possibly) 
• Machine and handstitch
• Sequins/beads/metals etc
• Experiment with embellisher machine
• Burning
• Melting

Possible materials to source and use:

• Ropes (as seen at Premier Vision 'Trends')
• Metal from cans
• Polyester for melting and sublimation printing
• Continue with bath mat experiments
• Wire
• Polyester threads
• Silk threads
• Metallic threads