Scarf #6

This scarf is currently still in the process of being made (half way!) and is still on the loom. This will be on going right until the very last second of weaving!

INSPIRATION

The inspiration from the previous warp was an image of the light reflecting from windows of one of the university buildings. I was then inspired by more windows from the Business School building on a sunny day.

It's difficult to see in these photographs whilst they are that size, but a quick zoom into the photos revealed to me the most amazing layering of shadows created by the architectural structure of the windows. This was something that I explored over the Easter holidays through drawing and collage. I would normally have created digital work using photoshop had I had access to the university computers, but alas, I do not own photoshop at home. The fact that I was forced to physically draw led me to create tactile work that has actually proven to be more helpful than I usually find photoshop work. 

DEVELOPMENT

Although the colours for these drawings aren't spot on, the idea of the sheer layers is communicated well throughout this small collection of visual references. I enjoyed using the bold geometric shapes that I have shied away from in the past. 

(Drawings exploring the layering up of thin transparent layers)

Using photoshop I took one of my drawings and one of my photographs to try and help with the design process for my warp. 

I cant express how much I love the above repeat pattern of my painting. It is only a very basic colour palette but I love the bold geometric shapes that have been created and the fact that there are so many different layers creating many different variations of the one colour. If the Jaquqard loom hadn't been fully booked up, I would have used this design to create a digitally designed sample. However I do not see this as a viable option for a scarf, as I cannot control the warp on the Jaquqard and I would not have been able to create a piece as large as I would have wanted to. 

Below is a section of one of my photos repeated in photoshop:

This became my final design for the warp:

I used a silk for the majority of the cloth as this best translated the qualities of the glass windows in my photographs. 

I was very lucky in that I managed to dye up the exact same colours for my warp! However after weaving a couple of samples I realised that I had not considered how fine the 2/120 silk was, meaning that even on plain weave, the cloth was extremely weft faced, and very fine. The fabric felt lovely and luxurious, but the dip dyed pale blue was difficult to see when I put another colour through the weft. 

(basic visualisation of how the scarf may look once finished)

I took another chance and remade the warp, setting me back a couple of days, and this is why the scarf is not finished yet! I am on track to finish on Friday afternoon with about a third of the scarf left to weave. 

This scarf is definitely a womenswear accessory.