Further moulage

 

I have experimented with my chunky, hand-knitted latex sample on my head, creating a collar like structure to be worn around the neck.

 

I feel as though the stiff property that the latex has meant that the collar works well and retains it's shape well. I also feel that it would work well as edgings or trims to other garments and would work within my collection of other samples. I also wanted to retain the quality of my samples and photograph them professionally and cleanly.

 

 

Moulage to realise context of final samples.

I felt that it would be important to visually display and represent how I see some of my final knit samples to be used.

 

I feel that creating samples that cover the neck and face would work especially well, relating to my theme of protection (from poisonous gases, radiation etc). I also liked the duel function of the pieces that I have represented on my polystyrene head. Initially, the piece functions as a snood/scarf like garment that can be worn as a high collar. When needed, the collar's draw string at the top can be loosened and pulled over the face, to protect it when needed.

 

I feel that working physically with the knit samples is an effective way of showing the samples as I would want them to be used and I find it to be an interesting alternative to illustrating the final designs through drawing.

 

In this particular sample, I decided to knit a section of drop-stitch in a contrasting colour, to interact with the deep grey yarns. The drop-stitch section meant that it is possible to see through it, providing the wearer with a window that they can be both guarded by and see through. I feel as though the colours work beautifully together.

 



Ideas for domestic final samples.

I also want to use the domestic knitting machine in order to create a set of final samples. I really think that the technique that involves partial knit, knitting some waste, removing it and manipulating the knit by hand and reintroducing it to the machine. I feel as though it links well to my original photographs and the whispy shapes that the ink created as it fell through the water.

The loose yet structured feel to the technique works well with the line information provided by the photographs. I feel that a final sample created from this technique will sit well within my collection and hopefully I can get this done tomorrow. Feeling a little unsure about colour but feel as though this could work with multiple colours as opposed to a block colour.

Getting closer

Today has been fairly successful. After the tutorial I feel that this week needed to be spent on trying to resolve some of my ideas in order to create final samples. I really want this pocket idea to be carried through to a final idea so I have been really persistent and have tried several times to get it right.

I have finally got to the stage where I need to cast off and steam but it is still currently hanging from the bed of the Dubied.

In my previous attempts, the machine had dropped some stitches without me realising, sometimes ladders just appeared out of the blue and it did become quite frustrating. The biggest problem that I have encountered is trying the get the knitting that is at either side of the pocket to be consistent and not baggy etc. Sue suggested that I use domestic machine claw weights closer to the top of the bed to try and weigh it down and luckily that appears to have worked.

Including the two rows of pale green works really well with the grey.

The following image is one of my failed attempts and show some of the problems that I've had to overcome (bunching at the sides etc).

To overcome the issue of the stress that appears to be on the stitches right next to the pocket, I have transferred the last stitches before the pocket at either side to the back and front bed.

Experimenting on the Dubied

Last week felt like the week from hell. I was feeling very unconfident and a bit lost when it came to working on the Dubied machines and I was beginning to avoid even going anywhere near them.

I decided to bite the bullet and explore some of the ideas that Laura and Sue had suggested before.

I wanted to explore the pockets technique and contain a sheet of latex within the pocket, transforming it from conventional knitwear to protective knit.

Instead of having lots of smaller pockets, I wanted to have one larger pocket in the centre of my knit. So, being logical, I decided to scale up the needle arrangement that was given to me on an instructions sheet (see image)

 

As the needle arrangement shows, the low butts are where the pockets are and the high buts are the the knit in between. Logically thinking, I decided to make a large area of 45 low butts, with 45 high butts either side, thus creating one large pocket.

 

My first attempt has resulted in a holey mess (above). The technique itself has worked but the structure looks scrappy and messy and therefore I tried an alternative with the help of Amy. I've taken what positives I can find from this first attempt. For example, I feel that a sample all in this colour is a little overpowering and does not look as tasteful as I would hope, however I feel that this soft lilac-grey will work well with grey yarns.

 

 

It has worked in theory but the shaping isn't something that I anticipated happening, however after the tutorial, people liked it and Laura felt that it was really experimental so I was pleased in the end with the outcome, as unexpected as it was.

 

When I do eventually achieve a good, strong sample with the correct tension, I intend to place a layer of latex that I have coloured with colours from my board inside the pocket. I think I will include a ladder in the pocket so that the contents of it are visible.

 

Second attempt.



Apocalypse Apparel by Minki Cheng

 CSM Graduate Minki Cheng has developed a collection of Apocalypse Apparel for extreme conditions survival for the stylish.

I was a little bit put out when I discovered the collection as it explores many of the things that I have been exploring. However I feel I have worked in a different way and decided to draw on the positives of finding another designer that is exploring similar themes to myself rather than being disheartened.

 

I love the consideration of colour and texture within the collection and I find the way that the aesthetics have been taken into consideration beautifully, yet they have retained their protective function- much in the way that I have been exploring throughout the unit.

Key points- Style vs Function, hardware vs tactile

 

 

 

 

 

Tutorial

In this week's tutorial, it was interesting to see everyone's ideas begin to come together to a more resolved conclusion and it became clear that ideas were flowing now, probably due to the fact that we hand in in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS!

I managed to ask lots of questions about visualisation methods such as illustration and Laura also told me that I could pin my samples to a mannequin in order to suggest how I might apply my samples to garments/accessories which is something to consider.

Laura liked the pockets technique that I had tried on the Dubied. I had altered the needle arrangement and did it in such a way that I had one large pocket as opposed to lots of smaller ones and she liked how experimental it was and suggested that I take it further.

She also commented on attention to detail and how I could make things look more 'expensive'. She suggested including two or three rows of a different colour from my palette on some pieces and I feel that this will work well and will give the samples a clean and refined finish.

I am looking forward to experimenting more with Dubied samples as I feel my confidence is growing and I've stopped avoiding going on the machines.