Further samples from pattern magic book

Continuing my samples and primary research i had been really inspired by the eyes and gills of the fish from my photos, (primary photo of the sharks from the blue planet above) the movement particularly of the gills inspired me as it reflected the soft fluid movement of the fish while they swam. I then came across a technique in one of my Pattern magic books which really interested me  whilst trying to intrpret the gills and fins. it was called Jabara and involved layering or folding of fabric to create 3D forms similar in shape to the sharks and fishes gills and eyes. it could also be produced and manipulated into many forms like those from the book below.

I was inspired by all theses styles so created my own samples of each, the technique to create them was quite challenging but ones mastered and understood achievable and the results where very nice they where also quite polished looking particularly the far left and the centre style.all are techniques that have challenged my skills and given me skills and knowledge of new techniques i can develop and manipulate for this project and in the future. i have also developed sketches that include these techniques within the designs.

below are my own examples and of these techniques and placements on the stand testing how i could use them or place them on the body.

Further sampling from the Fish

Further sampling from the Fish at the Blue Planet Aquarium, but this time inspired by one of the most elaborate and most inspirational fish there for me for this project. the Photo above is a primary photo of the Lion Fish  a fairly large but quite beautiful fish covered in spines full of venom that it uses to kill its pray. This fish also partly inspired(along with the sharks) me for the idea/theme of elaborate beauty but at the same time dangerous and deadly.
this fish gave me ideas for both silhouette, colour palette, print and fabric textural detailing which i have developed through sketches in my sketchbook. however on this post i wanted to discuss one of the samples i have created inspired by the spines on the fish. below is a photo of the samples on the mannequin testing positioning.

The samples are examples of how i could interpret the spine idea, here i have created the samples from calico and chiffon to test different fabrics and how they might look, they are constructed using thin plastic boning to give them a 3D upright structure which is sewn into place on the sewing machine, i found these quite interesting to produce and the result on the stand is quite effective and works well in both calico and chiffon however if i used this idea i would make them from chiffon even though it is a more difficult fabric because it produces a soft fluid motion when worn and moved in. i would also neaten up the design making them all the same colour, using matching thread and making them larger to give a more polished finish.

I really like how these turned out and look on the stand however i don't want the effect to be too literal to the fish itself so may develop this idea further through development to help establish a final design.

Sampling of Print application using Stencils

Following on from my last post i felt that the idea of adding a print inspired by the modern patterns on the fish would make an interesting sample, that i could develop to use on my piece. however as i had used techniques such as Dry point and Screen printing on previous projects i wanted to test other tool such as stencils and an Air brush to apply the paint/ink to further challenge and develop my skills. as i had already got these tools at home this was an achievable method.first i created the stencils of the fishes patterns using blown up primary and secondary images of the fishes i liked. below are photos of these fishes and the acetate stencils created.

I then cut some sample pieces of both calico and chiffon to test the stencils on, focusing on just two fabrics and designs to begin with and as the design where quite complex and the acetate was difficult to cut through.  below are the results of the not so successful first attempts.

 This process was quite difficult at times as it was time consuming to make the stencils and my first test where not successful for a number of reasons such as, the paint was too watery causing it to run under the stencil, and many layers needing to be applied to get a strong even coat, the acetate caused the paint to run of it as it was plastic, again as a result of the watery paint and the chiffon didn't take the paint well unless it was thicker fabric paint. however once i had gotten thicker fabric paint i found the stencils worked well on the calico fabric and alright on chiffon, however i have concluded that chiffon doesn't take well to applying paints or inks.

better results shown below, some of these samples i have also sewn into using the sewing machine to give an extra textural Finnish.

I like this method and it has expanded my skills and knowledge of print technique application  even though its was difficult at first, and if done well can be a quick and easy , effective method of applying a print as it is fairly cheap and can be produced at home. it is also a method i would use in the future however i feel for this project i would probably use the screen printing method as it is a more guaranteed and less time consuming in some ways application of print.

Further samplings inspired by the scales and Fish fins

following on from my last post discussing the last sample, i wanted to explore the idea of the fins still but as an alternative more 2D shape that could be a textural element in the garment construction similar to the work of the designers i had looked at like McQueen collections.
so i began to experiment with chiffon and looking at how the fins on the fishes had veining in them to allow the fish to move and add this detail using the sewing machine. the result was these layered and varying sized fin shaped chiffon samples.

above is a photo of the sample, i used a combination of black and white for the varying sizes but if i intend to use this sample will use a more complimentary colour from my colour palette. this is another sample that i like but feel could be developed further so will do this through designs in my sketchbook.

At this stage i also developed the idea of the fishes scales further using a similar layering and 2D method as the above sample.

This sample was also created from calico and shows how i could alternatively create the scale effect from a cotton fabric rather than chiffon or Shabori. again i like the result but wish to develop the idea this technique might be interesting with a print on it or other textural detailing to give it more depth ideas i will record and develop in my sketch book.

Further sampling, testing alternative 3D shapes from ' Pattern Magic' book

After creating the previous sample and feeling that the idea may be to reflective of the fins of the fish i decided to try and develop the 3D fin inspired shape again using another techniuqe from my copy of 'Pattern Magic' book, above are photos of my sample. this sample is again produced from calico as the fabirc is chaep and easy to use and similar to the cotton type fabrics i intend to use on my final peice.

The technique is called  Nyokitto and creates a protrusion in a peice of fabric using folds and can be altered to make the protrusion smaller, narrower or rounder depeneidng on the angles and the maker desire with relative ease once mastered.

I quite like this technique and found learning how to develop the sample intersting and a skill i can use in the future and develop further as it was not overly difficult making it realativly easy to insert into a pattern to give a modern shape.

however for this project im not sure it is as challecnging or elaborate a detailing as i would like to use on my final peice so will develop it further through sketches to determine if i wish to use the technique later.

sample inspired by fins shape, develop further later through sketchs, taken from pattern magic book  add image from book
like the idea however other sample i have done i would prefer to use as this is not as interesting as would like.

Further Samplings to create 3D shapes

Above is a photo of another sample i have created for this project it was inspired by the shapes of the fins on the fish and sharks at the blue planet and the 'Pattern magic' books i had discussed using in my previous posts.

this sample was created using calico a cotton type fabric from two pieces and then sewn between a layer of more calico to help it to stand up in a 3D  way. this technique was fairly easy to achieve and i like the finished result it is neat and has an  unusual look.

however i don't want the textural elements on the garment to look to similar to fish as i intend to make a modern yet traditional piece so will possibly develop this idea further through design development and possible further sketches in my sketchbook. i may also test possible placement on the stand to help develop the idea.

below are a few photos taken from my pattern magic book that this idea was developed and simplified from.

 

My results using Shibori

After researching the Shibori technique and seeing all the interesting results that could be produced i couldn't wait to try out the technique for my self, particularly using chiffon because of its light weight quality and easy of manipulation for the process.
 Below are some photos of my own samples.

These samples take inspirations from the fishes. for example the fin shapes, scales and tentacles of the jelly fish from my primary photos taken at the blue planet aquarium.
the results i feel are really interesting and have worked well particularly the scales and fins and the shapes are well held together using this technique. i have also taken them a step further by sewing them between or on top of cotton in a layering technique, creating a further sample that i could add onto my garment if i decide to use the technique.
this idea also relates back to my past designer research where i said that the idea of creating texture in the construction of the garment appealed to me.