Module 5 - Resolved sample

I finally finished my piece for this module. As Siân suggested I made it longer by adding a piece of scrim I had hand pleated. It was just what it needed. In those pleats I inserted the same silk ribbon strips I had used before, leaving the ends lose. It was in fact difficult to decide how to make the end. I also added a little piece with a flat texture that would wrap around the spool.

I wanted to make a long piece that should reproduce some kind of bandage on a spool with reference to the idea of nature mending/healing itself. The fabric used is rusted scrim. I deliberately chose only one kind of fabric as I didn’t want the piece to be too busy. The strip is composed of different patches all sewn separately on a piece of lightweight cotton that was dyed in black tea with rusty objects. Those pieces were then sewn together with a stitch that tried to reproduce a mending stitch. I also added more stitches in the background to add more texture but also to link the pieces together. The threads used here were a fine Japanese knitting cotton/linen thread that split when stitched thus adding to the “rustic” feel of the piece, as well as a simple DMC embroidery floss in a rusty colour.

I decided to concentrate on pattern using circles (spirals) and strips, varying them in texture and size. To reproduce the strips for instance I applied wrapped pipe cleaners or the silk yarn bits. The pleats were made with the same idea in mind. The different patches are based on the paper samples and the according textile samples. However, I also went with the flow and was open to adapt the patches so that they would fit and add to the movement in pattern of the piece.

The whole piece has a very soft touch and it was a pleasure to handle it.

The spool was made out of 2 layers of Polymer clay that had been painted and rusted. In fact I couldn’t find a rusty spool here so I had to make one myself.

I put my heart and my soul in this piece and I really love the result. I think there’s nothing I would have done differently. Although I had spent many hours hand stitching, I never got bored (and I get bored very easily one I know the outcome of piece). I can truly say that I grew with this piece and that I can identify myself with it.