HND Art and Design - Wearable Art

My first day at Forth Valley College as a very mature student was both exciting and daunting. One of my classes started with cutting out circles using white cartridge paper????? Then doing some origami, something I had never attempted before. The reason soon emerged; I was to create a wearable art costume made of white paper, relating to one of my favourite cities of choice. 

Half circles used for the bodice.                           Belt New York Skyline; shoulders Verrazano

Skirt was of running figures from the New York Marathon

An ambition I had as an evening class art student was to get work featured in the art corridor. I was delighted that this was achieved in my first six months of college.

Having been an avid reader of Vogue and Wallpaper magazines for many years and a 'dedicated follower of fashion', I never in my wildest dreams would have thought of creating something myself. 

My magazine of choice for many years

My second wearable art creation was based on designs by Danilo Paura. Using recycled knitwear, I cut and stitched together pieces to form a new garment. As it was knits and liable to unravel I had to use a new technique for me -steeking. Steeking is a method of running two parallel lines up the piece of knitwear and cutting in between these lines. Again a new technique was learning to use the sewing machine with thick fabric and as knitwear is stretchy a long zigzag stitch was used. 

I also included some hand knitting into the piece with scrap wool I had in my stash. I was really pleased with the result and was able to wear the piece. This project also gave me lots of measuring and fitting experience which is transferable when I want to make garments in the traditional way with easier to manage materials.

 

My third wearable art project was based on the theme of 'multiples' in Edinburgh. I chose book related organisations - The National Library, The Scottish Poetry Library, Central Library, The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Scottish Book Trust, all located around the same area that Patrick Geddes (1854-1932)  environmentalist, town planner and botanist undertook his development of the old town of Edinburgh. 'By Leaves We Live' was made up of teabags, receipts, felt and found thread. 

  

Felt leaves created using dissolvable fabric and free motion embroidery

Leaves made from store receipts, ink and free motion embroidery

Arranging on mannequin

I entered this wearable art piece, which started life as a concertina book, into a competition run by TreeLink, Stirling. I won a category prize for best needlework and received a tree!

More than this though was the fact it was seen by members of the public outwith college and gained praise. It is currently on exhibition at the Macrobert Arts Centre, Stirling.