Hi all,

So, I opened my mouth at the wrong moment, and found myself volunteering to write some articles for Handwoven on the general topic of fabric design.

I'm wondering, if you were reading an article about design in Handwoven, what topics would you like to see? 

(Bear in mind that space limitations are pretty brutal - the most I can reasonably expect to get in is about two magazine pages' worth of text...possibly less.  So don't expect an in-depth treatise...more like a few general nuggets of wisdom, some insight into design process, etc.)

Thoughts?

Comments

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 02:49

lkautio (not verified)

Tien, I would want to see your design ideas.

Laurie Autio

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 09:30

B P (not verified)

Designing a fabric that is "fit for purpose" is pretty important. Any insight or information about that area of design would be useful.

Beth

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 11:07

caloosa (not verified)

I'd like to read about the decision of sett.  Interweave/Handwoven has a guide and it is very limited, and refers only to a balanced lace, tabby and twill sett.  What about warp faced fabrics.  Presumbably one could use the same fiber to weave a jacket or shawl and yet you would want a tighter sett fabric for the jacket. 

How do you sample for that - how wide fo you sample?

Charlene

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 13:06

Michael White

Tien, good luck with this one!!

Two comments-Reading comments from weavers, one of the biggest concerns seems to be how to choose the right sett and fabric for the garment needed.  A lot of questions revolve around the correct fabric for the chosen garment-things like the fold test etc.

2nd. There is still a lot of trepidation about cutting handwoven fabric and garment construction, so anything in that vein might be good.  That said, there is good info in old Handwoven's on this topic.

Maybe a design to finished product review with a lot of tips and pointers.

Good Luck,

Cheryl

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 13:48

Karren K. Brito

In my experience , weavers feel more comfortable talking about technical aspects of the cloth than visual ones.  Yet we are visual artists.  So basic visual design concepts such as how the eye moves and focal point are new and helpful to weavers.

In clothing design the concept of shilloute is central and seldom considered by weavers.

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 14:53

Joanne Hall

I would like to see comments on selecting quality yarns for a project.  I wove a cotton pullover once that I thought would be a nice garment to wear, not just for special occassions, but to guild meetings, etc.  After only three or four wearings, it pilled badly,  I was bummed.

Joanne

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 15:35

debmcclintock

Setting constraints for a project, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. So many times we fall in that design/life trap.
Tue, 08/30/2011 - 16:56

Joanne Hall

Some beginners learn more slowly than others.  You, of course, jumped right in and are doing long warps and complex weaves after just a short time weaving.  But, it can be hard for less talented beginners to understand that it is best to learn some basics about fabric, sett, reeds, beat, finishing, sewing, before they jump into a project that is far beyond them.  So, mentioning the wonderful things that can be woven on two and four shafts is helpful to them.

Joanne

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 16:41

Liese (not verified)

I second Karren's point about visual design but would like to see the discussion get beyond the basics - hunting around can get you some basic ideas but working with them, combining them, that's what would lead to a growth in the artistry of weaving.  Maybe the Handwoven staff can take this beyond a 2ish page article - I gave up on my subsription because of the lack of depth in the publication.

Liese

Tue, 08/30/2011 - 17:21

kerstinfroberg

Deb wrote: "Setting constraints for a project, just because you can, doesn't mean you should." While this is undoubtedly true, IMO the opposite is at least as true: just because you can (for instance make a very complex pattern) it doesn't mean you should... more is not always better!

To get back to Tien's question: how to make use of weaving software to really (really) explore your design idea - IIRC you had several variants of your celtic braid(?), made mock-ups by printing on paper and so on.

Thu, 09/01/2011 - 21:55

Cathy (not verified)

Perhaps the fact that Handwoven has expanded their website could allow you to write a little more indepth than you might have otherwise.  You could suggest a followup or extension of the article could be accessed on their website.

Also, I know that I would find the type of article that Karen refers to very helpful.

Cathy

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