4.4

Taking on board that I have to re create yarn out of different substances using techniques applied before, I have decided to work with used materials , giving them a second life in a different form,twisted with ribbon mainly to show a yarn formation.

Following the assignment instructions I’ve uploaded pictures of the whole process, the whole transformation.

In some cases I have also tried to capture the same object in different environments and see how colour works under different lights:

I’ve stapled the strips
together in order to make them longer and then I’ve used origami technique to twist them.

interesting how colour is perceived when film twists as well as when its photographed on a different surface.

used wrapping film with ribbon to show the transparent *along with* binding effect

used wrapping strips again along with ribbon. With a help of a hole puncher I’ve made holes to feed the ribbon through.

I would see that as a marl-twisted yarn using a ribbon as a bonding element

I’ve removed its ends just to keep the main body of it. Loved the colours! I’ve also found a transparent fruit tray to replicate the glass

cut the tray into strip and by using a hole puncher I’ve fed the wires through

twisted around to give a semi transparent effect

it’s interesting how all these wires merge to form a ”twisted yarn”

I wanted to capture black along with transparent materials this time…

used fence wire this time along with yarn , which I’ve pierced through to waves and a creasing look.

I’ve attached plastic film to add more volume and body onto the wire.

photographed on a natural environment looks like the wire is floating on the grass!

used a semi transparent plastic bag to cover it up and see how the whole concept looks like and how daylight looks through photo lens in a different background.
Works like a colour filter! shows only white.
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blue is the colour that captures my eye here.

used the remaining strips of the plastic food tray and an electric cable:*again, wanted to add volume and texture by using the wire as a base to build onto.*

semitransparent film is always helpful to use

wanted to wrap just part of the wire to see how it looks and how light works this time.

semitransparent along with transparent texture . Light works in different ways!

used black tape to part cover and replicate the black surface on either side of the picture.

Using transparent plastics in different forms (film , bags , food trays) and converting them by binding them together into a yarn formation I’ve tried to replicate the glass and the way light reflects on as required from 3.3.
To my great surprise it also helped me understand how certain elements like wire is perceived (which is the main material in some cases) and how simple techniques like piercing through or binding on different substances transform or hide its properties by making it look less stiff and heavy as well ,as mentioned before ,it’s form has been changed from smooth and shiny into textured and bodied.

4.3

It was time for me to be in ”safer waters” meaning create something out of yarn:it’s something I totally understand and it seems familiar .

I always loved to experiment as well as to create things in a bigger scale.

In this case I’ve knitted ribbon in different colours and sizes on an automatic strapping machine and I’ve use it as yarn to play with, making sure it has a loose reference on the painting I got inspiration from .

Also, to be more experimental,I’ve used different knitting media,media I have never used before in order to see how things work and in a way re invent knitting sequences:

used my daughter’s circular form Kaleidoscope to apply cross knitting technique.

sequin yarn was one of the ends used.
I was quite happy with the marl effect :It can be worn as a bracelet to match the ring worn by the lady on the painting.

Knotting :using different(reference painting inspired) colours made me see how each binding element can ”travel” through this technique.

Set my daughter’s push chair with pegs in a circular form to experiment with French knitting.

I had 5 cm cotton ribbon and after a small survey in the house I ended up using hangers knitting needles: I’ve literally reconstructed a basic flat knitting machine .Fabric looks like an old top, and stitching technique refers on the top worn by the lady with the fan.

knitting machine shape: front and rear bed.

experimented on knotting :top part tighter knots, bottom part slacker knotting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this part!!!

Working with knitting machines on a daily basis, generating stitches and knitting techniques almost ”mechanically” and ”automatically” without putting extra thought onto them ,sometimes makes me disconnect from what I’m doing (the fabric/garment) whereas working towards this assignment and using pegs, hangers or even my fingers, and hand fed yarn onto my ”needles” made the whole process more personal and original. It gave me the pleasure of handcrafting: made me appreciate something I’m doing everyday even more and helped me connect with a skill that has been around for thousands of years allowing me see everything from a different ankle.

Walking around the house looking to find new knitting media was an absolute fun as it made me think out of the box , and even though I know the knitting game quite well , it was like I was reinventing the whole process. This-new-invented media has helped me to knit in larger scale and literally magnify my work where all knitting elements seem zoomed in .

Macrame on the other hand showed me a different perspective:knot/stitch creation happens rather vertically than horizontally (knitting) and due to the fact that it is knots and not loops gives a different texture and look. Knots cannot be unraveled as loops can , they create a smaller surface but macrame laces can expand and sort of ”interact” to each other with different binding and knotting techniques.

Great experience , great pleasure … looking forward for the next assignment .

4.2

Colour and texture match:

space dye and sequin yarn help the whole re-spinning process and make the new yarn look more interesting

creating yarn using the same fabric gives the whole look a different perspective to me as its like I’m reversing the fabric process.
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Trying to match the following painting , used fabric again with pearls on : makes look more complex.

Various yarns used as bonding elements.

light green sequin yarn to match the greens on my painting complimented with purple tape and space due yarns.

black and brick twisted fabric to match the cols marled with sequin yarn to match the fabric sequins

More free hand yarn creation using artificial feathers

Trying to match polka dot pattern: Using yarn, feathers and straws

4.1

Looking back to my mark making techniques, and following the brief of re creating lines but using yarn this time, I came up with the idea of finding yarns with texture, in order to be able to represent the drawings in a three dimensional form:

mix of eyelash (the one with the long hair)sequin ,tape and mohair yarns

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for my second piece I’ve added more materials: foil and garden wire (green col)

foil was used in two forms : pierced in order to represent the central element or wrapped around yarn: interesting how the texture and look changes.

tape yarn used as a tube where the filling element looks like a electric wire
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*interesting how colour works under different lightning even if it is all natural !*
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repeat using knotting technique with eyelash yarn

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Foil used as a bonding element creating a random design.

Pre-twisted yarns creating curves of 5 cm repeat.

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Random pattern created using pre twisted yarn

1 cm knotting repeat using space dye yarn

Partly unraveled knitted cord wrapped with various yarns and bonded with foil.

1 m long yarn

Paper,eyelash and sequin yarns twisted .

interesting how yarn looks wrapped around paper in comparison to the following picture where the yarn is on its own

I’ve tried to replicate the paper used in the previous project using tube yarn folded several times.

space dye yarn along with single end tube yarn

Mouline yarn used as a bonding element of equally cut sequin yarn ends.

1 m long yarn created.

4.5

Taking inspiration by looking back on my previous work, I have decided to start with this piece:

A monochrome collage with messages I found strong and motivating:

I’ve followed the same process: I’ve captured phrases that mean something to me and then tagged them onto my black and white yarns.

In order to create a stronger bond with my original work I’ve bound a monochrome striped pattern .

because of the feeble nature of my concept , the whole construction changes form when moved .

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Main inspiration of this piece is the environment and how mankind has been using it to make the most out of it, no matter the consequences :On the bottom left corner are explorers,conquistadors,sailing away to find wealth: Destroying nature by exploiting it.

gold plated fabric on the original concept.

*I’ve used a chain as an enslaving symbol*…
A golden chained embellished ribbon pulling a rose and in to my own view is forcing to strangle it (flower’s green leaves have been swallowed from the white ribbon)… Showing how man is trying to manipulate,
and curb the natural world…

*I’ve used gold and white as the background running colours where the red becomes the epicenter of the work.*

Gold touch on the pop pom attached onto the ribbon.
A pom pom to me is an airy, weightless piece of fabric used to embellish garments without adding much onto the shape and texture of them,without changing its form and purpose .
In this case, because of its round shape ,I have translated it as whimsical , shallow minds full of greed and vanity looking for luxury in lifeless things (gold colour) without form and purpose.
Using yellow background ,same as the original concept, creates in my eyes, a significant connection with it.

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On my next story (to be more precise :I find each collage is rather a sum of small tales ) .

It was the multicolour pictures put together along with the DNA spiral and the butterflies that captured my attention.

pom poms again :in this case ,soft ,light and fragile like the butterflies.

yellow background to connect it to the original picture. Extra tassels wrapped around the pom poms in a spiral pattern same like the DNA form.

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Using the following picture I wanted to re introduce the black ribbon as well as the maroon shaped piece on the left hand side under the edge of it.

black ribbon and the detail I wanted to capture

textured segments have been attached in a more free way so they look like they not connected with it. The reason behind it is because I wanted to see how these pieces interact with the main black ribbon and what relation and dialogue starts between them:

when its rolled back looks like its been bonded onto the ribbon

*On the left hand site there is an illustrated cat*‘s head surrounded with multicoloured dots/stones.

trying to capture this element I’ve used a ribbon with pearls sewn on which are now running along the yarn created to represent exactly that feature.

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Looking back on this piece of work inspirited by a pair of electrifying eyes my urge was to represent a delicate feminine nature.

I’ve used a tasseled string and wrapped it around a fragile ,elegant piece of fabric.My intention was to show that this time the strapping around the exquisite piece is not to strangle it but to protect it and let it breath and show its qualities…

Using the same inspiration , similar materials but now with tighter wrapping along with transparent pieces I’ve moved a bit further: What if what is wrapped in, is our inner treasures waiting to be discovered? What if this piece of yarn, wrapped around is our fears, our insecurities our contraction; everything that is preventing , blocking us from showing who we are and what we are capable of?

we need to brake the strings to set ourselves free. to show the treasure inside us…

When I’ve photographed my work I’ve spotted an interesting element :The transparent pieces attached in contrary to the ones used before look lifeless! Colour plays a significant role in our lives!!!

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For my last piece I’ve used the same concept (same collage) but in this case I’m focusing on a different part of my work.

On my original artwork there are whole puncher cuttings represent ideas waiting to shine…

silver pompom represents exactly this suggestion

and the white pom poms , mean to stand for the whole punch cuttings, impersonate the ideas we have

Black lace: a fine and graceful fabric, representing fine art ,wrapped and bonded with what looks like a rough boring knitted piece which is strong and solid : that in my eyes is reality- everyday life (the boring things we do every day, our routine which is keeping us active and alive) .
Art gives a meaning , provides beauty and value but needs ideas (white pom pom string ) and daily routine to have a strong backbone, a support ,or it will collapse!!!

Again, I’ve used the yellow background to create an extra connection with my original work.

It was very interesting to see how materials( pom poms) with similar textures and effects change through the assignment projects by adapting properties from its surroundings.

Yarn is a second nature to me .It is the main tool I’m using to do my job.

Before assignment 4.5 ,only thing I was seeing was thread bobbins, different fibre qualities and colours.By reconstructing and trying to represent yarn as a working material I have realized the potential and the whole idea of not using , but magnifying and focusing on itself and transform it into something new.

I have dived deep inside my subconscious and came out with inspiration beyond my expectations;once again I’ve noticed that you can express yourself with any medium you can imagine of…

REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT 4-YARN COLLECTION

My idea was to create a ”yarn portfolio”: collect pieces I feel they mean more to me , wrap them around cartons and then place them in a folder.

I realized than even though my work was tidy due to the volume of the materials used I couldn’t photograph each page separately.

So, I’ve taken them cards out and I photographed them in natural light:

different yarn making techniques put together.

two hand knitting along with macrame (black-white)

Monochrome yarn with strong (to me) messages attached.

Multicolored pom pom yarn along with black laced fabric. I loved how the top black pearls looked under the sun.
I’ve used a cone to support the card. Interesting how it looks through the yarn hole .

my pearl embellished ribbons :I’ve put them together because there is definitely a connection between them.

I was keen with the idea of putting a yarn made out of wrappings using origami technique next the pearl embellished laces.

last piece is the one that means the most to me… The interaction between art, ideas and daily routine…

My yarn card collection has been re assembled and been carefully filed in my folder back again.

Summary/reflection on assignment 4.

What an assignment that was! Full of pleasant surprises , with my learning curve been broaden again .

When I came across assignment 4 , based on my commercial experience, my first impression was that there is nothing left to learn regarding yarns, colours and knitting techniques.I was proven wrong (again)! By focusing on yarn construction and by re inventing knitting techniques a whole new world of possibilities came before me: old materials re used within a different perspective showing me that nothing is impossible and that imagination can work in several ways and can be expressed with different mediums.

Yarn is the fundamental element of textiles. It has been taken for granted same way like we see bricks when we are building a wall. As my assignment concludes and by looking back on the projects realizing what I was going through when I was working on them I can say I regret that I haven’t showed much respect before ,as the humble yarn in assignment 4 helped me to: reinvent, to notice, to experience, to identify, to sense and feel .

Its been a great pleasure .

I can’t wait to start assignment 5!

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