Prompt 2 – A Material Study
As soon as this prompt was described as working with a material that we were unfamiliar with I knew I wanted to work with my sewing machine. I’d used it a handful of times prior for some projects but never fully “got it.” I’d not learned the little details that allow more talented individuals to sew fluidly. I was excited to start logging some hours on my sewing machine and really getting to know how it worked.
After an evening of fighting with the machine, trying to see what was wrong. Stephanie Ostler, a fellow MDes student, and talented seamstress came to have a look. Unfortunately, the machine was broken, and I was headed to Kelowna that night to stay for the next 4 days. The first 5 days of my sewing daily practice would be without a sewing machine.
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Headlights of other cars on the drive loomed like the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg.
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In Kelowna I messed around with the needle and thread I brought, saddle-stitching a patch onto a pair of jeans and looking for inspiration.
When I returned to Vancouver, I booked a consultation in the soft shop where I got to meet Jen Heibert and I was FINALLY able to get started. Jen possessed terabytes of knowledge about textiles I couldn’t even fathom. Learning from her, and at the recommendation of Stephanie, I began to just mess around with the machine. Sewing different types of stitches and playing with the tension on a piece of cloth.
From there I began to experiment with forming shapes at the recommendation of Cameron.
I began with a couple of basic cube shapes; stuffing them to help communicate the form achieved. Jen pointed out the similarities between textiles and paper and how using the pliable quality of both; 3D objects could be achieved without cutting.
I then went on to look at spheres. Jen recommended a book that was a guide for sewing stuffed animals. From that book, I sewed 2 spheres using 2 separate sewing patterns. The first was a simplified version of the way soccer balls are made, and the second was the same pattern used for tennis and baseballs.
While this seems insignificant, it made me realize how the inspiration for the use of textiles can come from anywhere. Any practice that concerns itself with turning 2D materials into 3D objects can be applied, in some way to textiles.
Finally, I began working on an idea I’d had for some time. Making a whale chalk bucket.
The project was honestly pretty basic but went through all the steps for working with textiles.
I started with figuring out the pattern for the material, which I began by overcomplicating.
And then simplified. You’ll notice how faithfully the design project parallels reality.
Then cutting out the fabrics and assembling the pieces. The materials were chosen on whatever the fabric shop had kicking around. I wanted the fabrics to be fairly durable as it’s not a piece that is handled delicately, but since it was mostly a fun, slightly silly, project. It was important that they looked the part. The outer body was made out of two tough woven fabrics, while the grey inner pockets were made out of a soft knit fleece. A rivet for the eye completed the project.
The final product had a large zippered pocket for chalk, a smaller side pocket for your phone and keys, flippers that served as a brush holder, and was named Walton.
But alas, like Moby Dick, this whale got away (spoiler alert for that novel from 1851). Walton was a gift for my then girlfriend’s birthday. I can only hope he performs as intended, and lives a happy life.