Here is a topic web followed by another with a more specific slant which hopefully I can develop further with all sorts of images and material related to it, to go on to work in fabric and stitch.
Now for the one with a more personalized slant based on the specific area of Household Linen:
I have highlighted the personal interests in a cloud effect.
Cotton: A personal perspective: Research for design
I am fascinated by the versatility of cotton and the chance to work with it on this course.
The seed was planted on a visit to the textile area in the Manchester Museum of Science and Technology. Cotton has such interesting history with cultural and global aspects.
I'm particularly interested in its use as 'household linen', in the past, present and possibilities for the future; taking 1950s - 2040s. I'd like to start with my memories of uses in my different homes. When considering futuristic elements I am drawn to Roger Dean's designs and philosophy for living spaces, and 'George Clarke's Amazing Spaces' on ITV4, and would also like to link with the past, looking at Victorian homes, comparing them with today. I have started an A3 size zig zag book to record cotton use and changes in laundering for each decade 1950s to 2040s.
I have no personal links with mill towns or areas where it is grown, but there are other personal loves and links to cotton:
- Interior design (something I'd have loved to do)
- Love of books (having had a lifetime working with them)
- Idea to research possible family links on my father's side to an old Victorian mansion in my village, where my grand father was head gardener, and maybe an aunt worked as a laundry maid
- Idea to research the family tartan on my mother's side
- Geography (love travelling and visiting Historic buildings)
- Gardening (try to grow my own cotton)
- Weaving (I have fond memories of a dear lady who taught me the basics)
Printing techniques
Natural fabric paper making
Laundering: sorting, washing, drying and airing items - different tools, machines and facilities
Related to family we do not seem to have any heirlooms, maybe I could start a family tradition, interlinking my homes on the Wirral with North Wales?
Reflect on the history and geography: including India, mills of Cheshire and/or North Wales
I'd also like to try growing cotton, recording the plant's progress and trying the different processing techniques, exploring different spinning, weaving and fabric production on a domestic scale.
Bearing in mind I may be unable to generate enough raw material then I'd call upon UK sources with reference to Cheshire or Lancashire mills, using products from suppliers such as Empress Mills, Rochdale and Cotton acres, Wiltshire.
So where do I go from here? I have started collecting references, cotton fabrics and threads, photos, useful websites, and some actual items. I am looking forward to designing and constructing samples and making finished pieces, starting with the zig zag book in Khadi paper (100% cotton rag) and all is on-going.
