At this point within the project I was trying to see how I could bring together my material exploration, thinking about how the forms I've been using could influence my work. Thinking about how tension and ceramics could be used to influence my machine knitted shapes, I sketches some ideas, thinking of the theme of repetition that I had been experimenting with. However, the feedback I received was that it looked like lampshades and I was prompted to think of other ways this knitted shape could be presented and other ways I could bring ceramics into the work.
Formative Review 1 Feedback Summary
The first formative review expressed the need to resolve my work using the objects I already have, using space to work with tension and different materials on a larger scale to see what works. The work above was a centre of the feedback, it seems very random compared to the work I had created thus far. The ratio of the ceramic to knitted material was very low and wasn’t pushing my hand knitting ability and maybe my work can illustrate objects that go from textile to clay. I need to bring in my process on the knitting machine into my work, what are the sounds and the flow that comes into my practice? My research was also lacking and more references are needed, I also need to bring in connections within my work and research.
I used the technique of elongated stitches within machine knitting in order to express the sound around me in the moment. Going off of the volume around me in the moment, the longer the stitch, the louder the sounds around me. I liked that the colour contrast really showed how the stitches get wider and narrower throughout the piece. Although introducing the mohair-like yarn in the second piece gave a different texture, I don't think it captured the sound as smoothly as the cotton yarn did, due to the cotton yarn being consistent throughout the piece.
Object and Tension Experimentation
Within this experimentation I set out to use the objects I have made so far to create work that I can draw inspiration from.
Day 1
Using the materials I have, I gradually added more objects to create 3 different pieces, each getting bigger.
Summary of audio within video:
I used longer pieces of yarn to add tension to the knitting which therefore scale up the yarn. Attaching ceramics to the yarn distorted the knitted material in different angles.
I found that lighter ceramic sometimes moved when I added more ceramics to the knitting and weighed it in a different direction.
Even though attaching ceramics onto knitted material wouldn't have that much of an effect, the length of the yarn creates more tension.
The act of wrapping and winding the yarn around the ceramic and vice versa felt like an experience in itself. I tried to attach the yarn in a way that was secure whilst ensuring I was delicate with the yarn and not yanking it in a direction but having a balance of tension between the yarn and the ceramic within its space.
Summary of audio within video:
I found that putting the knitted piece higher on the wall meant that I had to use longer pieces of yarn compared to its lower counterpart.
I liked that the work took up space and there felt like there was connection due to using the same ceramics.
The white yarn was difficult to see within the room.
I enjoyed experimenting with connections at different points, using the ceramics for both ends of the yarn and also overlapping the yarn going in two different directions and seeing what was possible.
Summary of audio within video:
I am now using three machine knitted pieces within the experimentation. The balancing of the machine knitted work on the yarns felt precarious. I used chairs to prop up the ceramics which did create height for the yarn to balance the knitting.
Putting the third knitted shape on the floor felt more intentional as I used the different levels to fold up the shape on the floor and manipulating it to move up.
I prefered the knitting at the floor level as it gave it a better angle and allowed another chance for it to connect with the other elevated knitted shapes.
Day 2
My goal for this day is to create tension based objects but mid air.
Summary of audio within video:
Attaching the machine knitted shapes to the wall using yarn instead of attaching the shape itself to the wall made the knitting more dynamic.
During this session I thought about the use of the yarn and the weights. Are they disrupting the flow of the knitting or am I influencing the curve of the knitting?
I liked how one of the weights was curved and seemed to be emulating the curve of the knitting it was attached to via the yarn.
Thinking about the ways the yarn is secured to the wall, could I use wall hooks or another attachment?
I didn't like the mid air piece of knitting as it didn't look intentional especially due to it looking quite limp and not stretched in any way.
Thinking about the different angles, what can the viewer see when underneath or head on to the installation?
Summary of audio within video
I liked having the knit and the purl side of the knitting as you can emphasise both stitches.
The yarns can influence each others movement, once one yarn is moved, the rest of the yarns and weights move as if part of a system.
I really like the vertical yarns coming down in a straight line instead of the slightly angled yarn to the weights at the bottom.
I wanted each shape to look different, emphasising how each one could be manipulated to create a range of shapes.
The weights are important in order for the knit to be manipulated. I did slightly influence some of the shapes in order for them to be less curled than if I had left the to just be influenced by the yarns.
Sound could potentially be used within the work, especially when sat underneath it.
Day 3
Today's goal is to create using a different corner and think more intentionally of where I'm putting the weight and how I wrap yarn around the ceramic objects.
Summary of audio within video:
I wanted to be more intentional with the way I wrapped the yarn around the ceramics as well as the points of contact that the yarn meet with.
I tied the long pieces of yarn to the ends of the knitted shapes.
Some pieces were more above the ground than others and moving the long pieces of yarn affected them the most.
How will colour affect the way the installation looks. Navy blue and white yarn can blend in with the white and black wall.
I liked the knitted piece at the bottom almost jumping off the floor as it is suspended above the ground.
Day 4
Today's goal is to create using larger knitted shapes by attaching the knitted shapes together.
Summary of audio within video:
I connected the knitted shapes together so that I could experiment using larger knitted shapes.
I continued experimenting with yarn wrapping by wrapping two colours at once and resting ceramic on the long pieces of yarn, as well as continuing to be more intentional with where I wrap it.
I connected the both shapes using a long piece of yarn, not completely relying on the wall and the weights but relying on each other.
Formative Review 2 Feedback Summary
At this point I need to make a lot of my final pieces and need to ensure that this is done with time to spare while my work also looks continuous and resolved. The context of the work needs to be shown more clearly and there needs to be a purposeful connection between the knitting and ceramic, ensuring the threads continue throughout the work in a way that looks purposeful. Balance and suspension is an interesting part of my work and still needs to be emphasised.
After experimentation with the installation art, I knew that I wanted to design shapes specifically for winding the yarn around the ceramic, taking inspiration from the yarn winder machine that I was using myself. I also did research on colour for the machine knitted shapes and brought in inspiration from the knitting machine, bringing in a hint of red against the cream which matches the colour of the knitting machines themselves. Bringing the experience of machine knitting, using the tension of the yarn and ceramic weights that emulate the actual weights and tension while using the machine.