#aquafilm

Layered Tufting with Aqua Film – Experimental Sample

This sample explores layering and free machine tufting using off-white muslin, cotton mesh, sheer organza, and aqua film. It is by all means a work in progress, developed simply to experiment with materials and techniques.

Using the tufting machine, I stitched curved lines in shades of blue, off-white, and shiny deep-blue synthetic threads. These organic lines mimic the delicate veins of a leaf, without following a fixed pattern. My goal was to evoke a feeling of lightness and freedom, with air flowing between the layered textiles.

The aesthetic result is visually engaging, with light passing through open areas. However, the stitching on the edges failed structurally, as the organza puckered and couldn’t support the loose threads. This shows the need for structural reinforcement in future versions.

No artist was referenced directly. This is purely an experimental textile study that will inform further development.

Figures 1,2 & 3: Sample features

I created a landscape silhouette to represent buildings and embroidered clouds above inspired by my primary image of the Aston Village. I don't think this sample is successful because I think it looks unprofessional; I wanted the harsh lines of the buildings to contrast with the delicate clouds above, accentuating the beauty of the sky. However the edges of the building silhouette are distracting because they are uneven and wonky. However, I will improve this sample by layering it upon a sample I created using blue paint to mark make so that the embroidered clouds will pop out, helping to visually present the beauty of the clouds against the buildings.

I cut out sections of purple flower fabric and embroidered them with the intention to replicate grass entrapping and surrounding the flowers forcing their colour and beauty to stand out. However I didn't connect the embroidery enough so my sample will be loose when the aqua-film is washed off. Although I like how I have embroidered over my flowered fabric to show how the flowers are entwined between the grass.

My spiderweb sample is successful because I like its loose and delicate look to represent the beauty of the shape and structure of the spiderweb, that they are easily made but can also be easily destroyed. I am going to layer this on top of another sample or an image in my sketchbook to make it easily visible and represent my hidden beauty narrative as spiders often invade and cover spaces with their webs.

I have been inspired by art by Meredith Woolnough who creates embroidery art on aqua-film inspired by nature. I like her work because it is intricate and highlights the detailed and delicate aspects of nature. I can make samples inspired by her work that would represent my narrative because the delicate threads represent the beauty that is usually hidden, I can show this by partially hiding it under other samples and have it appear underneath.

(Meredith Woolnough,2022)

Within embroidery I used the technique of aqua film to bind materials together, aqua film is a material that dissolves in water and that’s acts as an embroidery stabilizer. I placed my cut outs of materials on top of a sheet of aqua film, then I sandwiched it with another layer. To secure the layers I placed them in an embroidery hoop. Then using machine embroidery, I stitched together making sure they are all linked in between the aqua film. If material wasn’t connected, when the aqua film is removed the material wouldn’t stay attached, When all the material was secured with thread, I then rinsed it in water to strip the aqua film off, when water is added the aqua film turns from a plastic sheet into a gel that can then be scrubbed of by hand. This leaves the pieces of fabric that are attached together with thread.

The session was very interesting, as dissolving fabrics are a fascinating aspect of material binding. Also, the possible outcomes from aqua film are endless, which gives me great scope in developing ideas for my final outcomes. I want to explore these aspects further by looking at other artists aqua film designs and creating my own inspired by a multitude if these.

To experiment with my aqua film sample, I incorporated it into some hand embroidery. I hand embroidered a head, neck and shoulders which originated from a primary source image. I used to blue, purple and pink thread which is associated with bisexual flag and the androgynous personality. I then used a section of the aqua film sample to cover the eyes. This was done to reflect how myself and other queer personalities view the world, in a way that’s unique, expressive and fabulous.

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