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.