Final Product

Process

Abstract:

At the start of the term, I was in the group that had instructions in the fabric station. At first, I was quite interested in the knitting machine as it was new to me, and I saw some potential in using different colours and stitches. I experimented with it for a while until I was shown the felting loom. During the class, I tried to make a pocket using a fabric that did not felt between 2 layers of fibres. I was drawn to the idea of being able to connect 2 fabrics using only themselves, so I started to felt knits together using the felting loom and the Happylock felting machine. I experimented with fair isle knitting as well and combined it with felting on the Happylock to felt in specific places, this allowed the colour of the back fabric to come out through front. As part of the computational craft assignment my group decided to put a felting needle in the embroidery machine. We experimented with felting fibres and knits through canvas for a bit. After the mid-term I carried on with the felting needle in the embroidery machine and experimented more with knits and different fabrics. I started exploring what products I could make out of this technique and if I could make the results more three dimensional. I thought about chairs, stretchers, pebbles, but ultimately decided on a cuddly toy due to being able to exploit the soft fuzziness that is achieved from the felting process and being able to stuff it with the off cuts.

Design criteria:

1. Must use a unique or relatively unknown technique
2. Technique must be used for more than aesthetics
3. Final product must be playful
4. Final product should use waste materials in some way

Experimenting with multicoloured yarn and different tension settings

Experimenting with fair isle knitting with preprogrammed patterns

Making my own fair isle pattern using the computer

A 3d print of a 3d scanned knit

Felting a pocket out of fibres on the felt loom

Felting knits together

Felting the loose strings on a fair isle to make a fuzzy pattern

Felting scraps together and then playing naughts and crosses

Close up of fuzziness from felting 2 knits together

Putting a felting needle in the embroidery machine

Allows to felt very precise shapes

Felting to quilt as per teacher recommendtions

Making and stuffing a pocket

Design ideas for final product

Trying to stuff it

Trying out faces

Choosing to use "mercerized cotton" because it it soft and strong