Hand embroidery week 2

I missed the Tuesday lesson due to health reasons so I started to do more samples based on the first weeks techniques however once I caught up I found that the technique we had been taught was the open button whole, I completed my technical file sample however this technique wasn't something that I enjoyed and so didn't pursue any further.




I decided to look back at my photographs to give my sample more context, I came along this road markings and it inspired me to create this sample. I used a clear plastic and used my needle to make wholes in it which gave the textural effect of gravel, I used French knots to act as the smudges on the road and used a running stitch to give the sample a vertical direction, this gives the effect that the line could continues almost like a pathway.

I looked at the Boyle family's work to inspire my photographs as a find it inspiriting and to me easily relatable to stitch for example here the road markings could represent running stitch and the white speckles on the ground could be French knots.

This is part of the 'London Series' group of works by Boyle Family. It is an exact, three-dimensional replica of a kerb from Addison Crescent in West London. The artists chose this area to replicate by throwing darts, at random, at a map. The work was made by spreading a plastic substance called Epikote on the ground, which lifts up all the surface debris when removed. This was then given a fibreglass support and painted. Working in this way and recording whatever is within the chosen area, removes the aspect of subjective choice and reduces the conscious, decision-making process.
http://www.nationalgalleries.org/collection/artists-a-z/B/4553/artist_name/Boyle%20Family/record_id/2040




I continued to sample using the same ideas of my previous work I introduce other material such as in this sample a sweet wrapper. For this sample I used a white silk organza and which thread the organza aloud the thread to show through the surface and the loose French knots create a cascading organic effect. Although there is very little on this sample I feel there is a nice composition to it however this could be improved by adding another technique such as a running or chain stitch.

As I really enjoyed working with French knots I looked for more circular forms in my drawings and photographs, from this I experimented with cutting circles out and then spoke to a tutor about this and as a result got inducted onto the eyelet machine this machine creates whole in the material, I used the biggest eyelet and was advised to use a heavy weight or stiff material as this would all the circles to completely cut out where as with a thinner material it may only cut part of the circle.



I used two different types of linen to create these samples. For the first one I individually made the wholes in the material I then cut out a section and appliques it onto a silk organza to add another factor to the sample. The contrast of light and heavy weight material works really well however this could real benefit from some hand stitch and so I plan to add a running stitch winding through the circles and scattered French knots to imitate the shapes.


























 I used a coated linen and folded it I then used the eyelet to pierce a whole through the layers to create a circular repeat pattern, I feel this is successful sample as it shows clear links to my drawings through the shapes and use of repeat. this idea of repeat is something I plan to use in future. For my final third week samples I plan to continue with the theme of circular forms and to create a set of samples that work together