unit x final outcome and summery

 

Final Pieces

 

 

 

 

 

 

I decided that for my final knitted piece I would use Blackpool tower as the main source of inspiration in both colour and structure. My outcome pieces have strong links and connections to the illuminations, using the colour pallet I was able to introduce the same element by introducing  multiple, gradual colours into my design and applying this to a knitted piece for a horse/donkey bridle. Archives taken from Blackpool, the Manchester Slide Library and personal photographs relating to the seaside resort, initially inspired this idea and was the golden thread throughout this journey.

 

 

After researching tassels, trims and fringes, I decided to apply this to the edge, when thinking of a passementerie design idea still using the same colour pallet however this time instead of a gradual Concentration of colour this time i mixed the yarns.

This was a new technique that had to be tested before hand usually when inserting eyelets, firstly you create a hole and then insert. However for me this wasn’t the case, as I intended to inserted the eyelet into the end of a hook up, each one had to mirror the other and measure to a size 22mm fitting the equipment and creating a tubular design outcome.

week 5-6 unit x

 

A New Direction 

This Photograph above left I had taken, as the sun illuminates from behind almost acting as a backdrop, for the intricate structure of the Blackpool tower. I love the fact that the sun shines in the day, piercing through the tower casting shadows and shapes, making it a powerful structure. On the other hand for some this structure can appear over powering and a little drab. The colour for me wasn’t what I had imagined or what I intended to use. It was a disappointment  to see, as on so may postcards, the tower is a bright cherry red and when presented in front of it appeared to be more of a burgundy in colour than red. After sampling a knitted pieces I found my choice of colours to look dull and uninviting so changed my pallet. 

 

photograph taken in the same spot as above however after dark.

 I found at night the Tower is still as much of a dominant structure and tourist attraction, however much less dominating and visually beautiful, light up with a rainbow of bright, vivid colours. This is just the type of colour pallet I intend to use for my horse/donkey bridle.

 

 

I intend to include some form of neon light within the knit sample by creating pockets and inserting them this will hopefully bounce off the reflective yarns and materials within my samples and produce a glow resembling that of the tower.

 

 

using a tension of 7 and E-wrapping multiple colours I was able to create this knitted piece using the colours taken from the illuminations however for me still wasn't bright enough. Therefore I then continued on with the knit and later weaved in glow sticks impersonating influences taken from the Blackpool tower.

 

 

 

 

 

Photographs taken of knitted pieces, taken in the dark and worked with on Photoshop in order to get the effect of it illuminating imitating that of the tower. I plan to use these C.A.D designs in order to progress on the knitting machines with my design ideas.

week 3-4 unit X

Blackpool Inspirations and research

 

This circular cage design, created for the Blackpool Illuminations I felt was fitting when looking at photos taken of Blackpool's tourist attraction horse and carts. The circular shape, 3D element and the fact it lights up are all going to be introduced into my knitting when thinking of Passimenterie I intend to create an edge for a bridle or blanket for either a horse or donkey fitting in with the Illuminations based on light, reflection and the circular shapes. I will do this by introducing lace holes, punch cards, tassels and a bright colour pallet on the industrial knitting machines.


figure 1. photograph of Illuminations worked on in Photoshop

 



2015 visit to Blackpool 



 

 Week two and my journey so far has intrigued me to further research into looking at archives and the history of Blackpool, looking at slides from the Manchester slide library that date back to the 1900's as a starting point. Inspired I am able to look over personal photographs and try to portray what Blackpool means to me and my family. Finding links and traditions that still are practiced to this day such as visits to the tower, horse/donkey rides and the illuminations. Therefore I have decided to use this as a source of inspiration when thinking of Blackpool and looking over slides the Tower keeps appearing in each Image therefore, I think it is important to include this. Maybe by using the metal material within my work or taking shapes as a form of inspiration from the structure of Tower such as crosses from the metal frame in order to create a mesh looking effect within my knit. 





Idea to incorporate into design fringes and tassels.



 

After a visit to a donkey sanctuary in Heaton Park I was able to visualise my knitted piece and decided to research fringes and tassels, as these animals have quite large foreheads therefore I need to bare this in mind when thinking of an edge as the size needs to sit correctly on the head without impairing the animals vision.  





fig 2. left is a slide from Manchester Slide Library dated 1900s

fig 3. right of this picture is a photograph taken in 1967 of my mother riding a donkey.

Notice the Headpiece on the donkey my intension is to create a knitted piece that will sit on top of the head as this one in the photograph does however it will brightly coloured fitting in with Blackpool illuminations and created on the knitting machine using a variety of materials and yarns. 

Week 1-2 UNIT X – Knitting area- Blackpool

Blackpool Inspirations

Week 1-2 – Knitting area



fig 1. Mood board Blackpool Inspirations

Artist found in Blackpool’s lighthouse Ian Whittlesea triggered initial idea to create a piece based on light. Focusing not only on the illuminations but also taking into consideration other sources of light and intern how that reflects. I plan for my final knitted piece to include some reflective yarns in order to incorporate this idea.  I also plan to incorporate the brightness and range of colours taken from Ian’s colour pallet however plans to find a source of original inspiration for myself.

 

Figure 2. Four Season's Illuminations inspiration for knitted piece
 

I have started to look at this project in a more sensitive way and began to incorporate how i feel about the seaside resort, as it focuses on emotions/ feelings by looking at the facial expressions. The weather reflects that of how you feel about Blackpool on a nice sunny day its the place to be. Therefore I plan to extract this circular shape and include it into my knit in the form of experimenting with lace holes, punch cards, hook ups and weaving into the knitted pieces.



fig 3. Glitter ball South-Shore

Observational Drawing outside Blackpool lighthouse of the Glitter Ball left me wanting to introduce reflective yarns into my work, also inspired me to look for circular shapes. I came across a child's Ball/toy machine, that for me fit perfectly, now armed with this photograph I was able to extract areas and create designs for a knitted piece, to which I plan to then in some way incorporate into a passementarie design which will be then placed onto either a horse or donkey somehow.