#and I develop strong attachments to embroidery thread

[arovagueness]

[image description: a cross stitched, embroidered agender patch sitting on a blue microfibre blanket. The patch is square, featuring the seven horizontal stripes of the agender pride flag - black, grey, white, mint, white, grey and black - and is finished with a dark green hand-embroidered edge.]

Having taken photos of all my patches for Aro Week, I realised that I should post my non-aromantic patches somewhere! So here’s my agender patch, sewn on 14-count aida. That green on the edging is my third favourite floss: it’s a lovely colour and it sits nicely without my providing additional stiffening to the fabric underneath.

#agender #pride patches #embroidery #crafting #sewing #I've really got to sew all these onto my bag #but that's the least fun part #my other favourite flosses are all DMC variegated colours #so this dollar shop floss is really doing well #and yes I am autistic #and I develop strong attachments to embroidery thread

[elizabethmcphail-4thyear-blog]

Reflection Weeks 2-3

After week 1 we decided to focus creating a piece of clothing which expressed a strong message about women’s rights. We also wanted to test how collaboration might work. So we began by getting all our flatmates together and painting a piece of linen with black paint. We allowed them complete freedom with what they could write it ended up being a Criss cross of different voices on the fabric. We also filmed and documented this experience. We found the painting process to be really rewarding and entertaining. Kate then took this piece of fabric and draped it over a mannequin and created a top. She played with pleating and cutting the fabric to hide and reveal the text and images. From afar the black bold text was very striking and almost shouted the message.

Developing on this idea further Kate then embroidered some of the sentences to see how a different technique altered the message expressed. We found that the embroidery looked a lot more delicate and less in your face as the painting. This could be because a grey thread was used which blended into the background more and the text was a lot smaller. This technique would probably appeal to more consumers as it would allow the user to choose weather or not to talk about the issue whereas the other technique almost forced the issue in the audiences faces.

Beth explored the ideas of How collaboration, customisation and being part of the process can increase the emotional attachment with clothing. Beth also worked on our who what and why as we tried to express our overarching idea in a few sentences. We both decided we needed to do some more research into fashion activism and consumer behaviour. Beth explored these ideas thoroughly and also looked at consumers attachment with the clothes they own by starting a conversation with her peers about what is there most important piece of clo5ing in their wardrobe and why is it important?

Kate also explored the technique of using the laser cutter to create a print. She took some of the artist Josie Mason’s artwork and engraved it onto different coloured fabrics. On some fabrics it was hard to see and more subtle whereas others it stood out and was powerful. The doodle style may not appeal to most consumers as it was very abstract.

We had a meeting and Kate decided to explore a bit of sustainability through zero waste using knit fabric. She cut a head hole and small holes down the side seams so the top could be tied however the user wants. She then used a laser cutter to create the garment. After exploring this idea we have decided we do not want to carry it forward as it does not follow the direction we are heading with our project.

Beth with next start exploring social capital a bit more.

After meeting with Jen and creating a mind map of what our main focus is for this brief we have decided to do another collaborative session. We have decided to focus full on the problems with the fast fashion industry and attempt to change consumer beliefs on fast fashion. We are getting our peers to draw and write all their opinions on the fast fashion industry, then we will take these images and design prints / garments out of them. Beth will film and document this session.

“I am a user centred designer exploring collaborative design, through activism in fashion”.

“ I am a fashion designer exploring textiles / garment design, through activism in fashion and the idea of sustainability.

#studio #part2 #reflect