GROUP TUTORIAL

After my tutorial I was given a few elements of feedback:

1. Look into the restrictions of typical knitting.

2. Knitting with new materials such as electrical wire.

3. working with handmade needles - large hollow metal so can knit on a large scale with wire (cannot knit with wire on any other needles than metal as it would damage them)

4. My buildings could do with more character. They look very similar. Although this is something I would like to look into maybe for other cities, I feel the uniformity of the buildings is right for London as it is how I view it. Cold hard, unwelcoming and same-y. Everywhere looks the same to me.

5. Look into combining wool with wire, for coloured structural knits.

KNITTING WITH WIRE

Using my previous work knitting with different materials, I figured wire would be the best medium to try attempt to knit 3D as it is strong enough to hold it's shape but malleable enough for me to knit with.

I'm not entirely pleased with this as because I had to use such fine wire, it isn't as rigid as I'd like, it curves depending on the stitch, and feels fragile (stockinette stitch is weaker when used here).

KNITTED CITY

Once I'd knitted all my pieces I and layer them out it seemed a bit out of place without having a full band of sky and pavement.  Although I used the same pattern and number of stitches for the sky and pavement the pavement came out about 5cm too long for the piece, I therefore had to recalculate and start again.

I used an invisible stitch on the back to stop it looking like patchwork. I really like how it's turned out but feel it looks a little flat and too simple. It might be more interesting to try and push this into 3D.

Approx 48 x 20 cm

It looks a bit more 'done' when cropped

RECREATING LONDON

I've been looking into ways of recreating London. Starting with basic intarsia:

Trying to keep the detail of windows and building colour meant I was working with too many colours that I could work with comfortably. The thought of then adding texture was too much for me. I decided to knit the buildings as separate squares. I'm therefore only working with two colours at a time so can pay more attention to the texture or the patch. Unlike the previous joined work that appear misshapen. This should come out as a relatively even rectangle as I've planned the sizes of the patches to fit together.

RESEARCH

I came across this article in which a groups of elderly women spent years knitting their village. You can tell the difference between the attempt to portray buildings when done here by hand or by machine knitting such as the work of Annette Streyl.

PATCHWORK PAINS

I think it's best I give up on trying to do the wall installation. It was a fun way to begin but is taking much longer than expected. I've also looked into all the techniques I want to now and think I should begin using what I have learnt these few weeks to start creating my response work, starting with my trip to london.

Here's what I have in regards to the wall hanging and where I shall be leaving it:

Approx 45x45cm

Approx 32x25cm

Approx 18x12cm

SIMPLIFYING

Original sketch of London

I cleaned it up, straightening the edges, making it more sharp and angular.

Using my lightbox I simplified it further, stripping away obvious detail 

I started blocking it into colour, with the intention to knit it. However this was proving time consuming and difficult. I abandoned it, as if it was taking this long to draw I could only assume how long it would take to make appropriate to knit, knit and then assemble.

I added colour digitally. I wanted to limit myself to black, white and blue (unfinished)

I ended up putting this piece to one side as I was beginning to get obsessed with finding someway to use it that it was distracting me from looking into other more viable areas.

BRANDING, BRANDING, BRANDING!

Since the 17th we've had 3 Professional Practice lectures and the thing that's sticking in my head is the branding side of things. I need a logo. Or at least a little drawing of myself that goes in the profile picture section of my blogs. I've seen a few of these and think they work so much better than an obscure drawing. They give viewers a sense of the person creating the work. I did a few rough sketches and narrowed it down to these 3:

I played around with the idea of adding knitted texture to them as I feel this best represents what I do now:

I think using the knit texture only really worked here when it was being used to represent clothing, and that for the 2 without clothing, the best images are those that have just been cleaned up on photoshop and no textures added.

LONDON VISIT

Tate Modern 

It was interesting to see the various use of fabrics, taking them from the traditional use and working them in new ways. Also the use of wire wool as a fabric substitute. Furthermore the scale of these works also take something away from the material as the larger a piece is the more it becomes a structure.

Paul Klee Exhibition

Paul Klee - Architecture

Paul Klee - Aquarium

This was such a large exhibition it was interesting to see the transition in his work over time, especially in terms of scale. From surprisingly small work to very large pieces. His work was very textural with his pieces 'Architecture' and 'Aquarium' standing out to me. Aquarium for its use of colour and texture and the movement of the piece and architecture as I feel it relates to where I want to go. The cubist nature of the piece would lend itself to knit. 

The City

During the day, London is a busy city. The colours are muted and it looks very built up. However at night it becomes a display of colourful light. Maintaining the busy feel but in a more fun manner.

KNITTING MATERIALS

Patching up and old blanket left me with lots of strands of fabric. 

I figured I could join the leftovers together and knit with them.

I also cut various scraps of fabric into strips to knit with to see the 

outcome with different types of fabric.

Braiding my mums hair at the weekend made me think of

knitting with hair. I found it a lot messier to knit with as 

pulling at it caused strands to snap.

CHANGING COLOUR

An image of the back has been included to show the wrapping of wool.

Horizontal colour change is the easiest as it just involves tying on a new colour and cutting off the old so you are only ever working with one colour. 

Vertical colour changes are slightly more complex as if the intervals are at more than 2 stitches you have to remember to wrap the colour not in use to keep the tension. 

Working diagonally is similar to working both horizontally and vertically. You have to remember to wrap the thread but once wrapped you only work with one thread as there are separate chunks of colour.

Perfect circles are very difficult as 1 stitch down is not equivalent to one stitch across so different horizontal and vertical measurements have to be taken into account.

FINGER KNITTING

I tried finger knitting as I thought it would be a way to create large items. However as it can only ever be 4 stitches wide all you get is a long knitted strip. I first attempted it with standard wool, but as you can see the outcome looked like a blob of spaghetti.  I tried using chunky wool, which worked a lot better in terms of overall appearance, however it's still not useful for the task in hand. Perhaps later in the project if I need to wrap something in knit or create something long and thin it could be used again.

Reverse, although this is the back, I actually

prefer it to the front as I like how entwined 

the wool appears (it's somehow not as 

gappy as the front).

Using thicker wool, front side

STAMP MAKING

While I was knitting the textured squares I wondered how they would translate to a 2d image. How would you draw them? I decided to make stamps to see the pattern they created, and used this print to devise a drawn recurring pattern.

LOOKING AT TEXTURE

During the last project I covered basic knitting patterns. During my MP I want to focus more on texture and colour, bringing a lively element to my knitting. If I'm to focus on abstract knitted sculptures, understanding more what can be achieved by knitting in terms or surface and colour will benefit me.



examples of my textured patches  >

KNITTING IN THE HOME

I want to begin with something fun to let me explore knitting more fully for the first few weeks. To enable me to explore textures, colour and materials more fully. To begin with, to show the effect knitting can have on a space, I've decided to knit squares exploring my chosen areas. I will then stitch these together to creating a backdrop for my lounge. It's a simple start but hopefully it should give me more of an idea of what I can create when I come to visiting my chosen areas. It also allows me to completely engross myself in making for the first few weeks, allowing my ideas to develop from the act of making firsthand.

SYNOPSIS OF STUDY

Following the feedback from the previous project I shall be further investigating the process of knitting. Focussing on the knitting surge that has occurred in the last 5 years, my aim is to bring knitting out of the previous assumption of it being a pass-time for grandmothers. Bringing it into the more contemporary art world. As it's in the forefront of my mind that for the professional practice unit a portfolio is needed, I want to make sure the work I produce in this project represents the kind of work I'll want to be showing to potential employers. I therefore want to make a portfolio of work covering all areas, 2d, 3d and potentially a short animation to show how versatile knitting can be.

To incorporate both 2d and 3d factors I aim to visit various scenic areas. Looking mainly at natural and then potentially man-made areas to create a series of images responding to the environment. I will then use these images to produce a series of knitted items influenced by the area. The main influence for this manner of working is Kaffe Fassett who uses the scottish landscape to inspire his knitted garments. I may also incorporate a yarn bombing type approach to this unit providing the area allows for such a way of working.

Living in bournemouth luckily there are many places of natural beauty close by, not only along the coastline, but rivers, forests and cliff faces. If I choose to look at the man-made, again it offers some attractions, such as castle ruins, however in terms of vast industry or building work I think I would have to look further a field. Therefore to begin with I shall be responding to natural stimuli as I will be able to rely on the surrounding environment and so should be able to get more work done, as travel won't be an issue.

Although this is where I want to take my work, to begin with I want to enjoy the process of knitting, showing what knitting is capable of. That it can be fun, young and vibrant. For the first few weeks I want to just have fun with knitting, looking into methods, texture and colour whilst experimenting with scale. Hopefully in doing so I shall accumulate a range of vibrant, fun, pieces that I can then choose with which process to continue down my chosen path with.

In terms of having a final outcome, I don't want to envisage this project as having a definitive end, I will therefore be working towards a series of images and sculptures that work well supporting one another with have the prospect of continuing indefinitely.

Alongside this project I shall also be working within a small group with the intent to produce a zine based on paper craft. We have yet to decided a theme. I feel this although a small project will be helpful towards professional practice, demonstrating my ability to work constructively as part of a group and also showing elements of my skill outside of knitting.

GROUP TUTORIAL

After my tutorial, it was suggested I look at glitch knitting and/or abstract knitted sculptures. Looking into glitch knitting, it doesn't really seem like something I'd be interested in. The reason I knit is because I am a hands person, who enjoys the process of making by hand. Even if, like knitting it is a long repetitive process. Glitch knitting requires, an item to be made by machine knitting via knitting pattern software. The only human interaction is the creation of the glitch. I am much more drawn to the idea of 3d abstract knitting. Towards the end of my pre-major project I started creating 3d knits representing actual objects so am aware of the time and skill needed. I also enjoy the qualities given to knitted items when they can be handled as an object that exists without needing to cover something else.

OUTSIDER ART

I watched a programme today called Turning the Art World Inside Out. It was all about Outsider Art. Although they gave no description of what this could be defined as, the programme appears to be based around those classed as mentally ill, or unstable producing art. The entire programme is on youtube in parts. I found this programme very interesting especially in terms of what art is classed as valuable. Many of the people shown, are unable to communicate efficiently, yet are fully engaged when it comes to creating art. It is also apparent that they are dong it purely for the art itself, not for how it's viewed by others or for how much money it could be worth.

KEEPING ON TOP OF RESEARCH

I like having somewhere to have a mood board type approach to my research, to be able to see everything en masse. So for that I have a Pinterest board, have a look.

PRE-MAJOR FEEDBACK

The overall feedback seemed to be that the most interesting elements of my pre-major were those that involved working around machines. This work with technology allowed the audience to come up with their own conclusions regarding meaning and intent. My character designs however weren't deemed as an effective solution to my work. Looking back it does seem to be a bit of a tangent and furthermore they are quite generic, due to the simpleness needed for knitting. There are already a lot of plush toys out there. It was mentioned that I need to be more ambitious and critically engaged. Hopefully I will be able to amend this in my major project by reflecting more on my work and looking to others for feedback to get more diverse opinions.