Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Approaches Considered By Fabric Manipulation Textile Artists

By Jason Butler


There are a lot of material manipulation approaches that a fashion designer can adopt. Every technique achieves a unique design which puts the end product at a competitive edge. Artists who intend to learn this kind of methods should have enough time and resources needed to get the best out of them. Here are a few approaches considered by fabric manipulation textile artists that one can learn.

Applique. This is a technique that involves sewing pieces of fabric onto one material base to create beautiful designs. One can make the stitches by hands or using a sewing machine. One can adapt different decorative stitches such as satin, buttonhole and zigzag. A designer who intends to use this kind of manipulation technique should consider colors that match with the primary material to make a remarkable design.

Use the smocking process. This is a traditional Anglo-Saxon method that artists have adapted to create a sculptural effect on a cloth surface. One can produce different results such as tubes, pinwheel, square or any other shape. Professional designers can use complex grids and patterns that indicate where one should place the stitches to put different materials. Consider a material that is not too thick and stiff such as linen, cotton or silk.

Patchwork. Patchwork involves using different patches with different patterns and colors to make one big piece. Piece work is another common name used to describe this kind of method. It is recommendable to maintain colors that match with each other to achieve a continuous material color. The difference between applique and patchwork is the use of an underlying material in applique which is different from the mosaic.

Decide to use embroidery. Embroidery relies on the creation of stitches to come up with an unparalleled surface. There are over different embroidery techniques to use, but the most suitable one include the sashiko, Chikankary, Kantha and shadow embroidery. Beginners can adopt simple methods such as the knot stitches, French knots and the bullion stitches that one can even handle by hand sewing.

Acquaint with pleating. Pleats are folds turned against a material. They create impressions that can move to a particular point of a material or through the whole surface. Artists can press the pleats to create a more distinct style or leave the creases to adopt a more natural appearance. One can develop pleats by hand, machine or use patterns based on experience and convenience.

Fabric painting. An artist usually uses special paints to create a design on a material. One can also use the color to add a dimensional effect on the fabric. The best material to use is cotton due to its tight weaves. Make sure that you have quality brushes, paints, and design transfer materials for this process to be suitable enough.

It is evident that one can use different manipulation methods based on the design that one wants to achieve. However, every way requires a particular level of attention to be a master of the specific craft. Therefore, it is crucial to maintain patience and learn a particular technique before proceeding to the other. The best learning technique is by using videos or apprenticeship. Make sure that the sources that you rely on have clear explanations that can help you learn accordingly.




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