Chapter 4 –Cut and Fold Design shapes

 

Cut and fold designs from folded black paper squares

A                          B                 C                       D

 

    E                          F                 G                       H 

 

    I           J            K

B, C, D and F have two lines of symmetry. A, G, and H have one line of symmetry and the remainder are asymmetrical .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Designs cut from folded, coloured paper squares.

I have mounted my designs onto individual squares of card. This means that I have a ‘pack of design cards’ and  can select one to develop into a fabric and/or stitched sample. This has already worked  for me, I have developed several bonded fabric samples with the selected  design card in front of me. I enjoyed this chapter and made lots of design cards. I have experimented with colour combinations and subsequently  arranged  the design cards in related colour schemes. Some designs are more successful than others, I feel this is sometimes related to the colour combination and just a change colours would make it work.

The cards are either 10 x 10cm or 12 x 12 cm.

 

   

A                                            B                

 A – two symmetrical shapes  overlapped  to give asymmetry         

B  -   layers of symmetrical shapes rotated and layered asymmetrically               

  

    C -  Layers of symmetrical shapes rotated and layered asymmetrically over a negative space                                                  

 

 D + E   Negative window pane spaces over asymmetrical cut designs                                                             

F   Complex star design         G – Interesting   spaces

                                                                               

I H  + I - Positive and negative star shapes. I have used both these designs in bonded fabric samples but changed the colours.                                        

 J                                          K

  

L

J + K+ L - More star inspired designs.

I have already developed H, I, and L  into bonded fabric samples.                                     

 

 M                                          N

 

 O                                           P

M +N + O + P – are all asymmetrical layered designs. The negative spaces are very varied and interesting. I think translating these designs into fabric would be challenging.

 

 

 Q  - an experimental design I made from left over cut pieces and scraps of card.

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Post Script – three of the above design cards developed into bonded fabric samples. I dyed and/or printed all the fabrics.

        

My work place with me working on my bonded samples

 

                            

Chapter 3 Design Development - Stars

 

Design Development Sheet A

Based on Star Shapes

Design inspiration from Chapter 1 used  to Develop Sheet A

  Design Sheet A (i) Counter-change 1

I like this star shape with it’s negative space but it will be too large to use for subsequent designs.

 

 

Design Sheet A (i) Counter-change 2

This star with its negative shape is a more practical size to use for my designs

Design Sheet A (i) Counter-change 3

Another interpretation of my star with its negative shape, this is very subtle and could be useful later in a fabric design

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Design Sheet A (ii) – Positive and Negative. My chosen stars enclose a negative square shape. The design also illustrates interchange of colour, because the stars are alternate hues of pale and dark turquoise

 

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        A         B           C

Design Sheet A (iii) Symmetry and (iv) Asymmetry

(iii) My star shape A has two lines of symmetry

(iv) Two asymmetrical  arrangements B and C of the star shape

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 Design Sheet A (v) Distortion

My star shape drawn onto t-shirt material and subsequently stretched and distorted in an embroidery frame

 

 Distortions 1 and 2

1. Original shape and distorted shape inside a diamond

1. Original shape and distorted shape inside an oval

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Design Sheet A (vii) Repeat Pattern

My star shape inside a diamond and arranged to make an edge to edge repeat pattern.

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 Design Development Sheet B

Sheet B(i) Scale- using large and small versions of same star shape. (Basic shape 6x6cm)

 

Sheet B(ii) Scale- large and small version of same star shape used to make a repeat pattern

Sheet B(iii) Scale- the larger version of my star shape making a border around two sides of the repeat pattern above.

I feel this design is too ‘busy’ there is not enough background showing to give contrast and emphasise the design. I don’t think the complimentary colours work.

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           A         B           C

Sheet B (iv) Linking Border  (v) Linking two different star shapes

(Basic shape 8x8cm)

(iv) A + C Negative star shapes linked in two different ways

(v) B – Negative as well as a  positive shape linked

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A         B        C        D

Sheet B(vi) New shapes from old

A – Original shape (8x8cm)

B, C, D New shapes made from cutting up original and rearranging cut pieces.

I think design C  would  work well in a cut and layered  fabric sample, I like the bronze with the two turquoise hues.

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 Design Development Sheet C

Design inspiration from Chapter 1 used  to Develop Sheet C

Sheet C(i) Star shape with complex counter change design

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A                  B             C       

Sheet C(i)  - (A) Basic star shape (B) Star cut into quarters and shown with alternate colours and (C) Colours in opposite spaces

(Basic star shape 12x12cm )

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Sheet C(ii)  Divide and separate, chosen unit of the star (bottom left side)  used to make a new design

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C(iii)  More patterns with chosen design unit

A – Repeat pattern              B – Symmetrical pattern

 

c – An overlap pattern          D– An interlocking pattern

Both the above give the impression of solid shapes

 

E – A random  pattern    F – Simple symmetrical star 

   

G +  H – Complex symmetrical patterns with interesting negative shapes

I found this exercise fascinating, I was able to make so many designs from one unit. The above are just my favourite samples. I decided to display these designs on a plain background because the subtle bronze/turquoise colours of the units did not display well on a patterned background.

 I tried this exercise again and explored a different star shape, the results are below.  

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Another interpretation of Sheet C

 

        A                                 B                               

C(i) Basic star shape (B)  +  Star cut into quarters (A)

( Basic shape 10x10cm )

 

Sheet C(iii) Units of the star shape used to make new designs

   A                                            B

     A + B Patterns with wonderful negative spaces

 

   C – Repeat pattern              D – Overlap pattern

 

E  - Pattern with ‘movement’     F – Opposing movement

G – Random pattern                H – Interlocking pattern

I - Complex Star shape with counter change

Several of these patterns have a very Art Deco feel.

‘A’ could possibly make a good frame for a bonded and/or embroidered  fabric sample

I enjoyed this chapter it showed me how it it possible to develop a simple element of a design into many interesting and more complex designs