Final Piece

Using the images in my previous post, which show various shoulder padded clothing items by different designers, I created my own pair of shoulder pads. I used the ideas from my sampling and my sketchbook work to influence my this piece.

This final week was leading up to the production of a collection of samples or one final piece that is based around accessory design; using stitch, weave or both. However, I wanted to be more hands on with the work I was to produce at the end as I felt the machines and looms were limiting my samples. So I used some hand stitches and knots to hold the yarns and materials into place; and I felt this made the final outcome more successful.

Below shows a couple of photographs of my piece from the front and the back.

front view

       back view          

My final piece was created by developing my braided sample. I used longer lengths of thicker yarns and materials, which I then painted with only emulsion paint to make them more supple and easier to manipulate. I made two of these identical to one another, one for each shoulder pad. I then inserted wire into sections of each shoulder pad to give each a stronger structure. Finally I connected the pads at the back by hand stitching (ladder stitch) one edge to the other to hold them together but leaving the back open.

     close up

 side view 1

side view 2

Collars and Shoulder Pads

In this last week we are to look back through all the work we have produced over the 4 weeks and focus our attention on either weave, stitch or collaborate with both.

After reading back through our Unit X brief, I discovered it states that 'the emphasis will be placed on designing for accessories'. For example, cuffs, collars or shoulder pads. I have therefore been researching many varieties of these, a few of which can be seen below.

I really liked this idea above of over sized collar, and I feel it could work well as an accessory piece with my samples incorporated. However, I much prefer the idea of shoulder pads that could then be developed further, as they would work more successfully with my sampling. I have decided to use the ideas from my samples in my previous post. The cement and emulsion will give them the stiff quality that is unique to shoulder pads.

Below shows a few ideas I will work with to inspire me for my final piece.

Cement and Emulsion

Following my crit after Easter it came to my attention that some of my samples were too flimsy and small. My tutor pointed out to me that my work was much stronger when I made samples on a larger scale and didn't hold back with bold ideas. Therefore I proceeded to think of ways to enhance this quality. I turned to using heavy DIY materials such as cement and emulsion paint to see how this would make a difference to my work. I took a trip to a local DIY store and bought both of these items as well as some tough fabric to work with. 

Incorporating an idea from one of my previous samples where I braided lengths of different textured yarns and secured them with a couple of stitches, I created another, almost identical to this but on a larger scale (below), and proceeded to coat it in cement and then emulsion paint to give it rigidity and a neutral colour. I felt that in doing this, it gave a stiff quality that reminded me of some of my paper samples.

By this point I had removed my colour palette completely from sampling as I felt the pieces I was producing worked better neutral; being able to focus more on the texture than the colour. Below is the outcome of the cement and emulsion paint applied to the braids in the above photo.

I discovered that the more emulsion I applied, the stiffer the sample became and the colour became more of a block white than being patchy. I like this quality as when I tried to manipulate it by bending, cracks were formed and small pieces of paint and cement came away which added more texture.

This process is one I will be taking further to a final idea as I feel it has been a success; incorporating the progression work from my sketchbook to create a 'final piece' or collection of 'final samples'.