Textiles

Textiles
Let's have fun!

Sunday, July 18, 2010

What are textiles?

The slide show below will give you an idea of where fibres come from, and how they have changed over the years. Slide seven (7) has some direct links for you to explore further.

What are textiles?
View more presentations from LorettaKreis.

Wet spinning





Stages in dry spinning.

Loom weaving.  Cardboard Loom
Reference
taylli | July 18, 2008

Friday, July 16, 2010

Elements and Principles of Design

The design formula
 A harmonious design may be achieved when the elements and principles of design work together. When they don't work together, a design can appear peculiar or difficult. The following design formula shows us how a harmonious design can be achieved.
Elements + Principles = Harmonious design.
The elements of design.


The elements of design are:
  • line 
  • direction
  • shape
  • size
  • colour
  • value
  • texture
  • Line & Direction:
    A line is a series of points joined together. When we draw a line, we start at
    one point and finish at another. Lines may be long or short, straight or curved.
    They may be thick or thin and they may run in different directions. Lines can c
    reate illusions and symbolise meanings.

    Direction of these lines is also a very important element of design because it
    can also create an illusion.
    There are three main line directions- horizontal, vertical and diagonal.

    Wavy lines symbolise softness

    Thin lines seem delicate

    Thick lines appear bold

    A down turned line looks sad

    An upturned line has the appearance of happiness

    Horizontal lines generally increase width

    Diagonal lines from the shoulder to waist cut height


    Vertical lines increase height, giving the appearance of thinness

    Shape
    A shape is formed when a line begins and ends at the same point. Shapes are
    unlimited and can be created in numerous forms. Shapes can also symbolise
    different meanings.

    For example:
    ·         Flared, full hemlines cut height and can camouflage a large bust or wide shoulders.
    ·         Straight skirts give an illusion of height and therefore taller proportion.
    ·         A narrow, rectangular silhouette is slimming.

    Pantone 
    Portions reproduced from "COLORS FOR YOUR EVERY MOOD" with the permission of Leatrice Eiseman.
    Red: feel the excitement
    Pink & Rose: soft and innocent
    Yellow: energy and life
    Orange: radiant and hot
    Blue: eternal blue
    Green: deep forests and wide meadows
    Purple: passion and magic
    Brown: earthy and real
    Black: sleek and sophisticated
    Gray: quiet gray
    White: clean and pure
    Colour
    Colour is a wonderful element of design. In many cases, colour is the first thing people notice when looking at a design. Colours can be used to symbolise different meaning and are classified into three groups.

    Primary

    Red, Yellow and Blue are the primary colors.
    These are the three basic colors that are used to mix all hues.


    SECONDARY COLORS

    Orange , Green and Purple are the secondary colors. 
    They are achieved by mixing two primary colors together.

    TERTIARY COLORS

    Tertiary colors are more subtle colors that are achieved
    by mixing a primary and a secondary color. 

    OPPOSITE and COMPLEMENTARY COLORS

    Opposite colors are diagonally opposite one another on the color wheel.
    You can work out the opposite color to any primary color
    by taking the other two primaries and mixing them together.
    The result will be its opposite or ‘complementary’ color.



     ANALOGOUS COLORS

    Analogous colors sit next to one another on the color wheel. These colors are in harmony with one another.
    ·         White and lighter tints of colour make small shapes look larger.
    ·         Warm colours (red, oranges, and yellows) make a shape appear larger.
    ·         Black and darker shades of colours make shapes look smaller.
    ·         Cool colours (blue, greens, violets) have a slimming effect.

    Student exercise in blending and matching colours. 
    Print pages off in black and white 
    Students  will be asked to use the colour information above to mix and blend colours.
    Give students a print off of one of the designers, ask them to read the description of colours outlined by the designer. Follow through and create the colours of the outfit. After they have completed this activity show students what the colours should look like. How close were they to the designer?




    Texture
    Texture describes the way something feels, such as soft, hard, smooth or rough. It can also describe the way something looks, such as shiny, crumpled, bubbly or dull. Texture adds a three dimensional effect to designs. Texture can also create illusions. For example, smooth, shiny textures can appear bigger, newer and more expensive than rough, dull textures. Texture can also be used to change a person’s appearance.
    ·         Clinging fabrics emphasise rounded curves and bumps.
    ·         Shiny fabrics reflect more light, so shapes look larger.
    ·         Heavy textures add bulk, and increase apparent size. So do stiff, furry, shaggy fabrics.
    ·         Dull matt fabrics slenderise, as they do not absorb light.
    ·         Lightweight, fine fabrics do not increase size as much as those with a lot of bulk.



     



    Balance
    If a design is balanced, it is said to be in a state of equilibrium. Overall, it has a harmonious effect. Designs can be balanced symmetrically or asymmetrically.
    Symmetrical balance occurs if one side of a design looks exactly like the other side. This creates a formal effect.
    Asymmetrical balance occurs when one side of the design looks different from the other side. This creates an informal effect.
    Symmetrical 

    This shirt is the same on both sides.
     Asymmetrical
     Notice this design is slightly different from one side to the other.

    Rhythm
    Rhythm is a continuous flowing movement. In design, rhythm moves the eye from one point to the next. Rhythm deals greatly with the elements of line and direction.

    Proportion
    Proportion involves dividing a design into parts and deciding whether a harmonious effect is created or not.  Proportion in clothing design is to create different illusions on different body types.
    Emphasis
    Emphasis uses the elements of design to draw attention to a certain area. Emphasis means ‘focal point’ or to draw attention to an area or away from an area. Shapes and colours are often used to emphasise parts of a design.

    Repetition
    Repetition means over and over again. One or more elements can be used in the same design. This can create a uniform look or a busy look, depending on the designer’s intentions.





    Japanese Fashion goes beyond the norm when it comes to


    combining their colours.


    Have a look at the video and slide show below.




    Basic Handstitching







Thursday, July 15, 2010

Parts of a sewing machine












Familiarise yourself with these parts of the sewing machine, it is very important that you are able to recognise all of these parts.

Below is a description of what these parts do.

The Parts of a Sewing Machine Defined                                                                                                                                     

Bobbin Case

    The part of the machine that houses the bobbin.
Feed/Feed Dogs
    The metal teeth that stick up above the needle plate. They move the fabric forward as it’s being stitched.

Hand Wheel
    The wheel on the side of the machine that can be turned manually to adjust the height of the needle.

Needle Bar/Needle Clamp
    The part that holds the needle.

Needle Plate
    The flat surface below the needle that the needle goes down through when making a stitch. It can be changed for different stitching jobs. Also called a throat plate.

Presser Foot
    The piece that sits below the needle and holds the fabric down as it’s being stitched. It can be changed for different stitching jobs.

Slide Plate
    The cover that opens to allow access to the bobbin.

Spool Holder
    The spindle that holds the top spool of thread.

Stitch Length Regulator/Selector
    The mechanism that allows you to adjust the length of your stitches.

Stitch Width Regulator/Selector
    The mechanism that allows you to adjust the width of a wide stitch, such as a zigzag stitch.

Take-up Lever
    Part of the upper threading sequence, it helps control the flow of thread. It’s the part that goes “up and down” as you sew.

Tension Disks
    Disks that the upper thread is placed between that regulate thread tension.

Tension Regulator/Adjuster/Dial
    The mechanism that allows you to adjust the tension of your upper, and sometimes bobbin, thread.

Thread Guides
    Part of the upper threading sequence, they direct the flow of thread.

Throat Plate
    See Needle Plate.

Fun Projects

Here are some really great projects that you can do at home. You don't even need a sewing machine with some of them.

Zippered Pouch

http://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/zippered-pouch


See Zippered Pouch and 1000's of others - or share your own on Cut Out + Keep






Felt making (beret)