Through this unit of learning, I have learned a lot. The most important thing for me is to discover a problem I never realized before: I don’t know how to develop fabrics. Because I use to study fashion design, in order to complete the design, I need to do a lot of jobs: research, extended drawing, fabric manipulation, draping, pattern cutting, final illustration etc. Because I did not learn drawing from a young age, so I was not good at it. But I have always been confident in my handmade ability. I can quickly make a corresponding fabric based on inspiration. As many new sources of inspiration as I can make as many new fabrics. When I came to Chelsea and entered the specialism rotation stage, I realized that I had a serious problem. There was nothing else I needed to do besides the fabric at this moment. I was forced to face this problem and found that what I used to be most proud of covered my blind spot.
- If only give me one inspiration, I don’t know how to further develop it after I make the first fabric manipulation. When I told tutor about this problem in stitch rotation and I couldn’t help to be anxious. Because I don’t know how to quickly applied what the tutor told me. Later, during the holiday, I looked for a lot of information to see, and I slowly understood what the tutor meant. Although I am not particularly satisfied with these stitch samples, I have try my best to further develop them.
- I combined elements of shells, Cottages, and maid outfits from previous research. Based on cottage drawing, borrowing the shape of the shell and the black-white color of the maid outfit to complete these fabric manipulation in three rotations. Some fabrics have also added red color, because this black girl committed suicide afterwards. Two pieces of fabric in Stitch rotation were made from a bird’s eye view from the roof of cottage. I prefer my knit and weave outcomes to stitch.
- Because I used to know some basic skills of knitting machine, I spent a lot of time doing experiments to achieve the graphics and fabrics I wanted. Our tutor told us we should integrate the techniques we have learnt, not just simply knitting a piece of fabric. Later, I spent a few more days researching new methods that combined the elements of cottage, shells, and maid outfits and recorded procedures in technical book. The final outcomes are that you can see the black-white color of the maid outfit, the shape of the shell, and the tassels of cottage from each piece of fabric. Some fabrics also incorporate bloody red.
- I’m very excited about Weave rotation at the beginning of the first week. But the pattern was limited to 8 small squares, no matter what interesting graphics I designed, there was no obvious effect. On the weekend I feel a little bit boring about the fixed pattern. So I learn some hand-weave techniques from library and online videos. The works completed in the second week are all knitted by hand on the table loom.
Specialism rotation at this phase is so important to me. Thanks to tutors for letting me discover my serious problem that I have not realized for a long time. Face the problem to solve it. I also try everything to overcome the problem, whether by asking the tutor, going to the library, or learning online. My fabric manipulation skills, especially the design development ideas, have been greatly inspired and improved.