I have got a large stash of knitting yarns because I have been knitting and crocheting for years and I can never resist buying yarn. I looked through all my yarns and picked out a selection in all the categories from 100% wool and silk to nylon, polyester and acrylic mixes. The range of yarns available today is vast and ranges from the very cheap to the very expensive. I like working with the more expensive yarns but they aren't without their problems, I find a lot of the Debbie Bliss yarns split when knitting with them. For baby clothes and blankets that are in the wash all the time, I find the cheaper yarns with acrylic in them wash much better and keep their shape better. Modern acrylics can also be soft and keep the softness through many washes.
I have also looked at the more unusual yarns - video and cassette ribbon, wool roving, old tights, t-shirt yarn and plastic bag yarn.
I have also looked at the more unusual yarns - video and cassette ribbon, wool roving, old tights, t-shirt yarn and plastic bag yarn.
STAGE 2 - EXPERIMENTING WITH STRUCTURES
Exercise 1
I made a series of paper weavings. I used an old sketch and gold foil, then tried a piece of striped scrapbook paper with the addition of thinner green strips. I then used a patterned plastic and metallic foil. I especially like this example with the foil strips woven through at an angle. I then tried weaving with ripped strips of fabric adding a few embroidery stitches to hold it together. I like how all of these examples have turned out.
I also tried the same technique using fabric strips. I like the way this has turned out. A very quick way to get a patchwork effect.
Exercise 2
Stick Weaving
1. Using DK in 6 colours
2. Using DK acrylic in single colour
3. Using a mix of yarns and a stripe of a bobbly yarn
Woven (Hard)
4. Black and White plastic cord woven around in a square shape to produce a cord.
Plaiting (Rough)
5. Plaited zips
Twisted Cord
6. Same slub yarn as 7
Plaiting (Soft)
7. Slub yarn
8. Wool roving
Crochet (Rough)
9. Multi-coloured DK acrylic, crocheted into a chain, and then the chain crocheted again into a chain
Macramé
10. Aran acrylic
1. Using DK in 6 colours
2. Using DK acrylic in single colour
3. Using a mix of yarns and a stripe of a bobbly yarn
Woven (Hard)
4. Black and White plastic cord woven around in a square shape to produce a cord.
Plaiting (Rough)
5. Plaited zips
Twisted Cord
6. Same slub yarn as 7
Plaiting (Soft)
7. Slub yarn
8. Wool roving
Crochet (Rough)
9. Multi-coloured DK acrylic, crocheted into a chain, and then the chain crocheted again into a chain
Macramé
10. Aran acrylic
11. Crofter DK - Acrylic/Cotton/Wool mix
French Knitting (Soft)
12. A long piece of French knitting in DK Acrylic, plaited together
French Knitting (Soft)
12. A long piece of French knitting in DK Acrylic, plaited together
Exercise 3
I started collecting ideas onto my Weaving Ideas Board board on Pinterest. For my first piece I used a piece of chicken wire as the base. Using plarn (a strip of plastic cut from a bag) I first knitted a small piece and attached this to the base with short pieces of plarn knotted through the knit and the wire. I then knotted the plarn round the chicken wire. I also wrapped any bare wire with the plarn. I like the way this piece has worked I like the different textures and the open pieces with the bare wire covered in fabric.
The second sample is a piece of open worked crochet that I used as a grid and through which I then wove other yarns and knotted them on all sides. I like how this piece looks but wish I had used some different colours.
Exercise 4
The second sample is a piece of open worked crochet that I used as a grid and through which I then wove other yarns and knotted them on all sides. I like how this piece looks but wish I had used some different colours.
Exercise 4
Inspired by beach finds ...
... I started the grid with four pieces of driftwood which I constructed into a square with string wrapping at each corner. The same string forms the grid in the centre. I have used a variegated blue dk and an eyelash yarn with beads and shells threaded onto them before weaving a section. I added a string of shells, woven in and left to cascade down. I hoped it looked like it had been washed up on the shore with a collection of flotsam and jetsam caught in its net.
Reflective Commentary
Weaving has never really appealed to me before. However after constructing these experimental pieces I have realised that it can produce some surprising results in even in its most simplistic form. I have enjoyed working on these exercises and think the paper weavings have worked out well. I like the way the stripes are formed when the same colour is used for the warp and the weft. I also like the metallic foil added on the diagonal. I like the fabric weaving, a very quick way to produce a patchwork effect.
In analysing the colour, texture and proportion the use of felt pens to match the colours in the images was not accurate at all. I had more success with using acrylic paints in earlier exercises, but I wanted to try using felt pens. I had more success matching the colours on the yarn wraps. I like doing the yarn wraps, I think they are a good starting point and really create a good colour scheme.
... I started the grid with four pieces of driftwood which I constructed into a square with string wrapping at each corner. The same string forms the grid in the centre. I have used a variegated blue dk and an eyelash yarn with beads and shells threaded onto them before weaving a section. I added a string of shells, woven in and left to cascade down. I hoped it looked like it had been washed up on the shore with a collection of flotsam and jetsam caught in its net.
Reflective Commentary
Weaving has never really appealed to me before. However after constructing these experimental pieces I have realised that it can produce some surprising results in even in its most simplistic form. I have enjoyed working on these exercises and think the paper weavings have worked out well. I like the way the stripes are formed when the same colour is used for the warp and the weft. I also like the metallic foil added on the diagonal. I like the fabric weaving, a very quick way to produce a patchwork effect.
In analysing the colour, texture and proportion the use of felt pens to match the colours in the images was not accurate at all. I had more success with using acrylic paints in earlier exercises, but I wanted to try using felt pens. I had more success matching the colours on the yarn wraps. I like doing the yarn wraps, I think they are a good starting point and really create a good colour scheme.
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