Exercise 2.3 Drawing with stitch onto paper

Here the aim of the exercise was to build the exploratory approach to design development using stitch to draw onto prepared papers.

Starting my development process: revisiting the drawing, doing another detailed drawing while thinking about the kinds of stitches I could use to recreate this; using the scrunched paper that had been coated with glue in order to 'set' the creases; using a strand and knot style of stitching to create the 'net' effect; stitching sample viewed with light from a window behind and reverse of the sample.

Using paper that had a lamination of glue applied lent more structure as the creases stayed raised in place and made the base layer more stable than it would have been with the low quality reused packing paper used. I might try sewing on the other side of the paper next time as I am not sure I like the shine effect that is creates.

Chose to start with hand stitching, in order to work more slowly and deliberately, letting the sample develop, so that I can observe it as it happens.

Same drawing as starting point, this time thinking about a different way of representing this with stitch, using a red knitting wool that has been looped to create a bobbly boucle effect, contrasting with a greenish grey silk and linen embroidery thread to echo the way the red and grey lace patterns interact on the drawing. The reverse of the stitched sample was also interesting, showing a more restrained version of the front of the sample. Folded paper links with the geometric pattern of the drawing.

Using a graphite stick drawing as starting point. Interested in how to capture the three contrasting qualities of line: smudged graphite stick shading, zigzag shading and sharp lines that are outlines of letters. Use my sketchbook drawing to help analyse my orginal drawing a bit more, think and plan out the stitch work, separating out the visual elements of my original drawing, thinking about how I could translate this, deciding on what is possible and what I should try in stitch.

The black line of stitch to capture the letter outline is more successful when I use a longer stitch, as the thick linen thread has a coating which makes it more likely to protrude from the surface, forming a curve, when the stitches are shorter. A longer stitch lies flatter to the surface, which achieves the effect I am looking for here.

Combination of graduated grey silk embroidery silk thread and thinner polyester machine thread to indicate the zigzag shading of the original drawing. Used what I had learnt previously with the linen thread to create a raised effect, in order to echo the curved lines of the original drawing. Used my sketchbook to resketch part of the drawing, concentrating on how this could translate into stitch.

Interesting how the strong stitches intersect with the more subtle creases of the scrunched tissue paper glued onto copy paper base.

Other stitching samples inspired by the feathered rope sketch include: double strand of 4-ply mixed fibre knitting wool, stitching across the dips to evoke the multidirectional strokes of the original drawing; hand stitching using raffia to relate to the rough texture; free machine stitching to bridge the gaps created by snipping into the brown paper; free machine stitching in the openings only in paper towel base.

Exploration of the original drawing using hand stitch: delicate base paper of pleated tissue paper, using black cotton thread; base here is moulded into grid shape, thread here is jewellery cord. Juxtaposition of scale here is interesting to me, and the way the thickness of the thread either helps or hinders its ability to lie flat or in a straight line.

Explorations of this drawing in both machine and hand stitch. Here I photocopied and enlarged my drawing in order to explore the shapes in detail. Threads included a fine machine polyester thread and various thicknesses of knitting wool to explore the shapes and textures evoked by original drawing.