jan'stextileblog: Part 1 Surface Distortion Project 2 Tearing and cutting Exercise 2

Exercise 2 Cutting edges

Using A4 printer paper I followed the instructions for Exercise 2 and cut the paper into a series of evenly spaced strips down one side. As suggested I made small slits along the uncut edge and pushed the strips through the slits. As I did this I decided to cut the slips at different heights along the edge. I did this in threes so that the first strip was pushed through the lowest slit just a little so that a long loop was left. The next strip was pushed further into the next slip higher up leaving a shorter loop and the final strip pushed through the highest slit and pulled through to make a short loop. I continued along the piece of paper in this way. I liked the edge that could be made with the loops and that the length of each loop could be played with to made a different edge. I liked the flexibility of the paper when cut like this. I liked the reverse side of the edge when the paper was bent and the different length strips inside wove over each other.
I again used A4 printer paper to cut a fringe down each side of the sheet with the strips 1cm in width and 10cms long. The uncut centre being about one and a half centimetres in width. I decided to join the fringe edges together with thread and began by sewing through each strip about half way down the strips. As I went along I then decided to sew through the strips near to their edge and then reverted towards the end back to the middle of each strip. The sample could then be twisted. I pushed down on the sewn fringe and liked the area where I had sewn halfway down the strips because of the 'V' shapes that formed along the strip edge. I liked the combination of the harshness of that shape with the softness of the rolls that were made from the strips as then were brought together from the centre to the sewing edge.

Using cartridge paper that I had applied tissue to and painted and sponged paint onto the reverse side I cut a fringe on one side of 2cm width strips and a fringe of 1cm strips down the other side. I cut slits into alternating 2cm strips and threaded through alternating 1cm strips. This I think worked well giving a slight twist to the piece. It was sturdy and was easy to manipulate. I like the crispness of the piece in look and handling. I also like the effect the colour gives. The brightness of the lightly sponged underneath to the textured deeper colour of the green top. I think this is because it allows the twist and the method to be shown clearly.

I then decided to use a material that was softer but still paperlike. I had some kitchen roll that I had mopped up paint with and had cleaned print linocuts with. I liked the effect this gave and decided to cut fringes along either edge of 2cm width strips but cut on a slant. The kitchen roll could be manipulated well but to keep the manipulated strips in place I used thread to sew along as I folded the strips over. I decided to use thread because the kitchen roll was too fragile to push strips through slits and because I wanted to incorporate stitch. I like stitch and paper. One side I folded over continuous strips and this made a nice soft curled over edge. The other side I sewed alternate strips over. I do not like this side as much as the other because i don't like the look of the unfolded strips against the folded ones. I think this is because of the width of them making them look cumbersome.

The decided to use a fabric but wanted to manipulate something substantial so I cut fringes along a length of vilene that I sponged with acrylic paint leaving a 1cm uncut area in the centre. The strips were cut 4cms wide along one edge and 1cm wide along the other. All the strips on both sides then had a slit cut into them toward their edge. I tried to thread through the thin strips into the wider strips but this was unsuccessful. I think this was because they were all too short being approximately 3cms in length and it just looked messy and would not stay formed. I decided I needed something more substantial to thread through each strip. I had dried some lavender last year from my garden and had kept the stalks as well as the seeds. I threaded the strips with the lavender stalks threading 3 or 4 strips at a time onto one stalk. I did three then threaded one stalk through the remaining strips along the length of the piece.

I really like vilene and lavender stalk sample. I am pleased with the way it is being held together but can be twisted and manipulated in different directions. The lavender sticks are firm but delicate and I like the combination of the thin sticks with softer wide strips of the vilene. Again I like the firmness of the vilene although it is soft to handle.