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Stages of work

Ways of organising and using your work to its full potential:

Carry a sketchbook – keep adding to it. Produce a folder of your favourite images, motifs,  garments and interiors; these can become a very useful visual aid. Produce as many samples as you can, don’t be afraid to experiment with various materials, no matter how silly you think it may seem, and be patient with yourself and your experiments. Don’t rush into the big thing! Be proud of your work, show it to other people and get their opinions. Sometimes other peoples input can lead on to other ideas.

1. Research

First hand – Visit the place!

Second hand – Do some researching from books and the Internet, and from visiting exhibitions.

Your research can include pictures, photos, drawings, sketches and paintings.

Tip: When doing your drawings look for detail – shape, scale, colour etc.

2. Explore and experiment your ideas

Try to apply the things you found out in your research in designing a textile form.

• Look at print, and make your own blocks or buy some.
• Look at stitching by hand or machine, and try to use stitches that relate to your research – shape, size etc.
• Think of what other techniques you could use – knitting, appliqué, crochet etc

.Doing all the above will result in you producing a range of samples.

Tip: Experiment! Don’t worry if your ideas don’t work initially. Mistakes can often lead to some unexpected and surprisingly creative results.

3. Present your ideas

Present your research and samples on a display card, in a sketch book, or stitched on a fabric panel.

Tip: Do what you feel most comfortable with. The research samples produced will allow you to produce endless embellishment and new ideas for a product

.e.g.:

- beading on scarves, beaded edging on clothes (necklines, sleeves etc)

- all over beading on bags, scarves etc

- printing on any item of soft furnishing, or on children’s clothes

- a combination of printing and beading

- all over stitching with beading.

Here is an example of some research ideas stitched on a fabric panel. This example shows how architecture (the Alhambra* in Granada, Spain) can be used as a starting point or point of inspiration for a creative, rich, vibrant and stimulating piece of textile work.

* The Alhambra is one of the finest examples of Islamic architectural forms to be found outside the Islamic world.