Project 9 Stage 4a

Sample 1 (21cm x 30cm max)

Developing design ideas into weaving

This is what I've selected as my inspiration for this piece of tapestry.  It's hard to describe how beautiful this combination of plants is.

The pink plant is an unnamed tree peony that I rescued from death row in a local nursery many years ago.  The orange in the foreground is euphorbia Fireglow and the white remnants of magnolia stellata are in the background.  The bare branches are the stems of hydrangea paniculata.

I think I've set myself quite a challenge but the idea is that it's an interpretation so I'm happy to try.

I made my wrapping and was fairly happy with it.  The range of green is wide to give me lots of texture opportunities.

I started by looking at the main shapes.  I drew and then used my water soluble crayons.

I didn't think the colours would pose a problem but I thought representing the variety of greenery might be harder.  I found I didn't know where to start and soon realised it was because it was far too complicated so I pared down.

I isolated shapes but even so there were far too many so I took it a stage further and cut out most of it.

The long shapes are some tyvek beads to represent branches.  I scribbled on the drawing what I intended to do with my yarns and this became my plan.

Finished but still on the loom.

Basically I'm pleased with the result - with one or two caveats.

I like
the huge range of textures I've managed to get to convey the foliage
my almost circular tree peony
the warp that shows through the heftier yarns
the way I've got good variety by using yarns together
the way it felt exciting
the beads

I introduced extra colour because this section looked unexciting

Tyvek beads - a nightmare to weave in

Lots of texture

I don't like
the way I tighten my yarns even though I try very hard not to
the way the euphorbia motif looks central - it wasn't so on the plan.
the background to the euphorbia looks bland
my technique wouldn't stand close scrutiny in places

My text tells me not to alter my plan but there were points where I had to.  My design placed the peony too close to the edge for me to try a circle so I move it in a bit.  This meant I also had to move the beads.  The fifth, chunky bead had to go as it looked very clumsy so for balance I had to change the position of the others.  The result was a longer piece than I had planned.

Along the way I changed some of the yarns as well. The chiffon didn't work as a woven yarn, the space was too small. I didn't use the pale chiffon or the net at all.  I used twisted threads from the wrapping in a way I hadn't anticipated.  I think it's good to have a plan but you need to be flexible if something just isn't working.

Finished tapestry showing clearly the tension problem is predominantly on the right

I'm excited by the way tapestry offers so much scope but very frustrated and disappointed in my inability to keep a loose enough tension.  If I could master this I would feel inclined to pursue tapestry further.