Unit X - Reflection

Unit X has encouraged me to have a better understanding of taking risks and challenges in experimenting different materials and techniques. It developed my understanding of digging out the meanings behind my samples. This unit also gave me a freedom of discussing my projects with other students and tutors, which not only helped me to prove my project work but also determined me to give a better reflection in my writing work as well.

Thread wrapping  

Whether it's about collaborating in a team or working independently, I think in this unit I have improved a lot because I think I had a better understanding of choosing a theme in unit x.

However, I think this time I have used laser cutting and hand embroidery more than machinery work. In addition, I have tried to develop into one design by using it in different ways - to see the different outcomes of one pattern in different ways as shown down below.

Experimenting different materials by layering them onto each other.

The image on the right side is a back side of my sample. I have done pfaff machine embroidery on this sample. In comparison to the front side, the backside of this sample piece fascinates me more, as it gave me a grid with splashes of green coloured thread on to a white surface. Then, to develop this I have attached some tiny bricks to resemble a brick grid.

The outcome of our group work
'Masonry'

At the beginning of this project, I thought I might be using more green lichen colour from foliose and fruticose colour, but somehow, I ended up in doing more grey and blue lichen colours from crustose lichen. I think this colour pallet maintains a balance with my group colour pallet.

As a group, we all made a booklet for our exhibition and then layered out our samples onto a board, which went quiet assembled together. I think we all have come-up with some interesting outcomes, which included weave, print, knit and embroidery samples.
It was interesting to see the final board; starting from tile and brick making heritage crafts, we all ended up making something different to each other with completely different research and themes, but still linking it with 'Masonry'.

In the beginning, my plan was to experiment with the combination of Cornelly machine and Pfaff machine more than hand stitching, but unfortunately, I have not used Cornelly machine, as I did not feel like using it at all. I am still happy with my samples and the materials that I have used, but still, some of the samples looked unprofessional, but at the end, it is all about trying different things and figuring it out what works and what does not?

I think for the next time I will try to focus on fewer materials and, then I should expand my ideas by using fewer techniques, which will make my work more productive and unique. In addition, it will help me to develop my own style of working.  

As I was having some difficulties in working out the visual research. Therefore, during the final crit day, I looked at different student's sketchbooks to get more ideas of arranging my sketchbook. In conclusion to this, I have found out that I should put more visual research than the writing/research pages, to make my sketchbook look more organized.

Also, I think in this unit, the idea of giving a presentation to a different textile group, 3D students group and different tutors, has pushed me forward to explain my work and, to get advice and ideas from different people around me.

Down below, I have shown an overview of my whole project.

Content 

Concept 

Materials and process