Comprised of 28 small figurative felt sculptures.
I use the wet felt method to create these little figures
Two large figurative sculptures suspended
Both pieces together in the gallery
My art work is for sale and I also welcome commissions.
Please contact me for further information.
Molly
The scope of textile design is awesomely endless!
Adding to my inspiration board this month will be a visit to the V&A Balenciaga Exhibition – Shaping Fashion
I have never used procion dyes before and have decided to dye and print my fabric for a range of jackets with an Asian ottoman theme.
Researching I have found some good tips for using dyes thickened with sodium alginate to paint or print onto fabric by Alyson Provax
Alyson Provax – printmaker and experimental dyer in Portland, Oregon. Her prints are available through Uprise Art, and her work will be shown in Variable States: Prints Now at Upfor Gallery in Portland this spring. Find her at alysonprovax.com
Pattern design – thoughts
Materials and equipment
Everything is ordered and will be ready to go by next week – watch this space…..
This beautiful Ottoman entari is in the archives of the Clothworkers Centre, London and I had the chance to examine it closely and to make notes about its size and construction.
The main fabric appears to be of cotton with stripes of soft yellow motifs and darker black floral motifs woven into the fabric on a cream background, further embellished with hand embroidered chain stitch flower and leaf motifs in several shades of green, blue, soft brown and pink/red.
The lining is a deep blue fabric with a woven floral pattern
Scalloped edges are embellished with a gold coloured braiding
Garment measurements:
The sleeves are over long and shaped beautifully towards the cuff
Neck line detail – a scalloped edge and no buttons or evidence of closure
Finishing – to finish the edges of the entari I could see that the top striped fabric was hemmed at the edges – turned in together with the blue lining and hand stitched. The braiding was then stitched along the edges of the top fabric. I could not see any facings or interlinings.
Braiding is attached to the top striped fabric along the scalloped edge:
The Clothworkers Centre, London
Childs coat V&A Museum, London
http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O85101/kaftan/
16th C Ottoman children’s kaftans V&A museum
The V&A collection of children’s kaftans were worn by Ottoman princes who died in childhood. These luxurious kaftans were placed over the graves of the deceased children and preserved in the imperial tombs. In 1595 the nineteen younger sons of Sultan Murat III were executed on the orders of their half-brother Mehmet III on his succession. The killing of younger heirs of the sultanate evolved to prevent any struggling for succession (interesting that this is also practiced by male lions that kill the cubs when taking over a pride). This cruel practice was never repeated after 1595.
Weave and fabric construction
‘Lampas’ weave – 4:1 satin with a 1/3 twill. Silk warp and weft with a third element – a metallic silver wrapped white or yellow silk weft brocade. Loosely silver wrapped white silk yarns allows the white to show through the silver highlighting the metal – yellow yarn peeking through the sliver lends a gold hue to the resulting brocade. Fabric width: 66cm – 68.5cm
Yarn colours
Predominantly white and red with touches of blue and yellow. Green was rarely used as there were no natural green dyes – green was produced by over dyeing yellow yarn with a blue dye. Red is used for the warp but never the weft – why?
Textile patterns
Pattern drawing for the children’s kaftan
Kaftan pattern pieces V&A clothworkers centre, London
PDF: Wearden J. The Royal Garments, fabric, design, tailoring.Ottoman kaftans from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Traditional Turkish Ottoman motifs are unique to the history of the Ottoman Empire and have been used to decorate many words of art and clothing including fabrics, tiles, ceramics, carpet and decorative arts since the 13th century reaching their zenith in the 16th century. The motif designs include stylised flower and fruits such as the carnation, hyacinth and tulip.
Embroidered textiles were an integral part of Ottoman daily life, used for home furnishings and clothing. Textiles played a role in daily activities and were used as gift-wrappings, room decorations, daily linens, and clothing. Embroidered textiles were also used for more ceremonial purposes, such as weddings, births, and circumcisions. Handmade textiles were symbols of status and illustrated not only the wealth of a woman’s family but also her skill as an embroiderer.
Carnation
The carnation symbolises spring, new birth, renewal and a marriage between earthly gardens and the flower filled fields of Paradise. The popularity of the carnation pattern originated during the 16th century from the ceramic workshops in Iznik. These workshops produced decorated ceramics and tiles for the Ottoman palaces and mosques. The carnation was grown in abundance in the countryside surrounding Iznik. The design was used widely on tiles, ceramic products such as plates, bowls and flagons, and also in the pattern design of fabulous clothing and home textiles.
Tulip
Hyacinth
