Project Evaluation

This project has really challenged me... it has helped me discover that working within set boundaries can lead to outcomes not thought possible. At the beginning of the project, whilst I had a vision of what I'd like to end up with (folk art theme), I couldn't see how it would fit together - a v-neck t-shirt, some woven cloth and weaving warp yarn. It could have been a mess.

Instead, I researched and discovered some interesting things about Sortino, where my Nonna and Zias came from. I didn't know that a historic necropolis was just outside of the town or the amazing wildlife that surrounded the hilly area. I'm sure I saw it all as a child, but it has a different meaning for me now.

How could this landscape form part of a recycled t-shirt and bring my past and my future together? Through learning embroidery techniques I was able to explore a range of different surface designs. I enjoyed the experimentation and don't want it to end here.

I think the research of my motifs was strong, but I wish I had a chance to explore them further in stitch. I loved the embroidery techniques and feel that I am now quite good at some of them.

I would have liked to research slow design further and find more examples of businesses following these practices. Using only secondhand materials was a real blessing, as it made many of the design choices for me and I was left to work in a more practical way.

I enjoyed sewing the components of the t-shirt back together and I won't be as afraid of following my own designs rather than a set pattern. I feel that my sewing construction skills are alot better than I thought they were. So I'd like to explore this further.

This t-shirt may be finished, but I think the research of Sicily, the stitch exploration and the sustainability process are only at the beginning.

Fabric Croquis/Concept Explorations

My three croquis for this project consist of a Sampler, an Emblem and a Pattern design. Click on images below for larger versions to see more detail.

The Sampler croquis is made up of various motifs, including from left to right, top to bottom: an orange, a bunch of grapes, a pomegranate, 12th Century Italian border designs, my name, a folk flower motif and a Sicilian donkey cart. For this croquis I explored applique, couching, crewelwork and embroidery. I used fabric, wool yarn, bamboo yarn and cotton embroidery thread.

The Emblem croquis is an orange tree motif which has the names of my grandmother and two aunts at the bottom. The tree is made up of a running stitch with the oranges and leaves made using a chain stitch. The 100% bamboo thread is left over from the weave rotation and gives good stitch definition.

The Pattern croquis consists of Jacobean couching with thick wool threads, some smocking techniques and different attached pockets with a variety of stitches. I have played with the surface of extra t-shirt material and woven cotton to see how the two can be combined and how the thread effects them differently.

I have enjoyed making these croquis... if anything it can be hard to know when to stop!

Concept Board Rough

Valued Textiles

What makes clothing valuable... certainly not the cost, but the meaning you associate with those clothes. Whether it's a favourite memory from wearing that clothing or a gift from someone you love... here are my favourite things:

What was the last item of clothing you bought? wore? made? swapped? inherited?
I bought a black felt wool jacket from Bul (Brunswick St) only a few weeks ago. I loved the shape of it - slightly A-line - and as the weather was still cold I thought it would be a great replacement for another black jacket I have owned for many years.

What piece of fashion and textiles do you treasure the most?

There are a few dresses and shirts from when I was 4 to 6 that my parents bought for me when we travelled through Europe. Rather than collecting souvenirs we collected clothing! My mother tried to throw these out a few times and I finally took them and have had them sitting in a garbage bag in the top of my wardrobe. I don't think I can bear to give these away...

I love them as they are such a part of my childhood and I remember wearing them so fondly. I also love the folk art, handstitching detail they have.

What do you wear/use the most?

Jeans... I wear jeans to university almost every day. I never wore them to work. So maybe they make me feel like a student. They are also very comfortable for the long days of knitting, weaving and printing.

What will you probably never wear again but can’t bear to part with?
That would be those childhood clothes. Everything else I am very diligent at sending off to the charity shop once I have finished wearing. I don't like my closet to become overloaded with clothing that doesn't fit or I don't like. So I do a clean up every 6 months. I find the recycling of clothing very liberating.


Do you have an example of a garment that you use/wear in a way that saves resources and provides you with satisfaction?
I have started to avoid buying leather shoes. I am not quite vegan, but close, so don't like the idea of leather shoes, handbags and accessories. In trying to find a replacement I came across Melissa shoes which are cruelty free and are made from eco friendly materials that can easily be disassembled and recycled with no waste made during their production. They have a wide range and it's nice to support a company that are doing something right.

Design Intent

Slow design, minimising waste and looking back to look forward are themes I will explore for my craftLIFE project. I am following in the footsteps of my paternal Grandmother, two Aunts and my mother, to understand how a humble T-shirt can be transformed into a beautiful and treasured object.

My Grandmother and Aunts came from a small town in Sicily (Italy) and though they have now passed away, I have memories of knitting, sewing, crochet and storytelling from them. Through my Australian mother, I developed a love of craft and fabric. Both sides of the family have made wonderful objects from their own hands and have used materials in clever and thrifty ways.

This project will celebrate my craft heritage as a tribute to these women and this will be done through exploring Italian folk art themes with crewel work and embroidery. The T-shirt will use the principles of slow design to decorate a T-shirt to my own specific history. I will minimise waste by utilising materials and trims that have been acquired by me during previous craft projects and using what I have inherited. I will encompass the thrifty spirit my ancestors have used to get by for necessity or to pursue their crafty passions.

Sustainable Design Approach & Practice:
• Slow Design
• Minimising Waste
• Looking Back to Look Forward

Key Designers:
• Project Alabama incorporates localism, slow design and looking back to look forward by utilising local crafts people to embroider and embellish women's clothing with a natural, organic feel - http://www.projectalabama.com
• Megan Park  mixes the ancient traditions and craft of hand embroidery and beading (through skilled crafts people in India) with modern shapes and fabrics to create unique women's clothing. This ties in slow design and looking back to look forward.
http://www.meganpark.co.uk

craftLIFE Theme & Inspiration:
Expanding on the BABushka theme to focus on my Sicilian heritage and draw upon folk art techniques and imagery from my childhood, motifs will include Sicilian donkey carts, oranges, tomatoes, olive trees and flowers.

Design Direction & Interpretation for a Personal T-shirt Concept:
As a child, I had many pieces of clothing collected from travelling to Europe with my family. As it was the early 70s, much of this has folk art imagery from the places we travelled to. I have cherished these items, even after I outgrew them, for the memories they recall and their uniqueness. I would like my T-shirt to recall this same feeling of nostalgia and wonder.

Materials:
• Source used T-shirt from secondhand store.
• Cotton fabrics previously purchased and not assigned to any personal project can be used for embellishment (appliqué or cutwork).
• Wool and cotton threads for embroidery – some yarn has been collected by me from previous knitting and embroidery projects, some yarn has been inherited from my Zia Maria and some yarn has been saved from weaving looms (from weave rotation).

Techniques:
• Embroidery
• Crewelwork
• Hand finishing