I thought in the last few days before Halloweave begins, I would start this thread to discuss our favorite design tools.

What do you use to gather inspiration,  choose colours, make your draft, etc.?

Comments

Mon, 09/28/2015 - 11:41

jmbennett (not verified)

For a soy silk painted warp I am beaming, I decided to purchase color aid papers. Which led to this discovery I am interested in trying-Josef Albers Interaction of Color app for Ipad which Yale University Press released to mark the 50th anniversary of the original text book.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/interaction-color-by-josef/id664296461?mt=8

Would love to try it, if I had an Ipad :(  

However, I do love the Grid'N WeavIt software.  

 

 

Tue, 09/29/2015 - 03:56

Guiding Myth (not verified)

To get ideas I usually look at weaving magazines, drafts, internet weaving photos, fashion magazines, any kind of fabric.  I usually make scarves, shawls and wearables.  A couple of years ago I was inspired by some necklaces to design a scarf.  There is so much inspiration everywhere!  Sometimes I start with color - and sometimes I start with a weaving draft.  Sometimes I start by wondering if something is possible and then work on doing it.  

When I feel the need to look for inspiration I look at old weaving magazines or books.  The important thing is to play!

Stephanie S

Tue, 09/29/2015 - 21:34

Artistry

I agree with Stephanie, the important thing is to play! I like to take photos of nature, moss, rocks, flowers, butterflies etc. i then get out my color aid papers ( a high quality colored paper that comes in a set of over a 100 colors I would guess, or colored pencils and water colors ) and sort out the colors of the photo I really like. I start cutting out strips of colored paper remembering color theory and proportion of size and color, and work until I either have a pleasing stripe or block sequence ( designing for the floor loom, tapestry process is diff. For me) I also choose tints and tones of the colors in the photo. I then go through my yarn stash looking for colors and TEXTURES. Oftentimes I don't have the right colors but I can get the right colors. I also start thinking about weave structure .

i also go to as many museums as possible and study how artists use color! proportion and texture. I also find inspiration from old Chinese vases, Native American Craft and art and Pacific Northwest cedar boxes dancing blankets and drawing style.

I could go on and on, interesting topic!

 

Group Audience
Designhaus 2015