Monthly Archives: December 2018

December 10, 2018 · 10:58 pm

Reflection on Skanda

I found Skanda was challenging to follow. I recognize that the inserted lists of textile materials and equipment generated a mood through imagery, but the way I just described it here-flat and analytical-is similar to the way I responded.

I wish it wasn’t. Perhaps a second reading would help. I did feel like the reading traced the history of textiles in a rather selective way, but the author seemed more motivate to mystify rather than clarify. Perhaps I was in the mood for something concrete rather than poetic.

Leave a Comment

Filed under readings, reflections

· 1:42 pm

Challenges

I ran into several challenges as I engaged in creating a macrame design. They sprang from being overbooked, having poor time management, struggling with perfectionism and longing to make incredible art.

As a result, I spent too long on every part of the process as well as letting other responsibilities take me away from consistently working on it.

I thought I was trying to embrace enabling constraints, but I still thought about creating something 3D rather than getting on with a 15 – 30cm 2-dimensional design. I also kept starting over and continued to feel dissatisfied with the piece I created.

I worry if I don’t fulfill every ambition for a project that I won’t have the chance to do it later. But I also don’t have the skills, time or tools to create full-scale sculpture at this time.

I am not sure how to resolve these conflicting motivations.

Leave a Comment

Filed under reflections

· 8:53 am

Knotty Process

Knot tying practise.

I don’t love the twine. The fuzzy fibres make the knots difficult to see.

I didn’t make my cords long enough. I experimented with attaching additional lengths, but I wasn’t satisfied with the result. So I started over. A few times. 😛

The end product doesn’t look much like what I designed. I feel like the weight of the cord I used wasn’t sufficient to create the draped look I was hoping for.

The final creation doesn’t have the focal points, but it does contrast a spiraling sinnet of heavier weight, with a lighter open mesh of Josephine knots and a thin drapery of loose ends. I cropped them a little shorter than I would if I made this a again. The knots I used include:

  • Lark’s head knots
  • Half knots
  • Square knots
  • Josephine knots
  • And an experimental dragonfly

I learned a lot, and I feel like I could do some interesting things with macrame if I kept with it.

Leave a Comment

Filed under macrame, reflections

· 8:38 am

Designing My Own Macramé

The criteria for this assignment were to create a hanging sampler of 3 -5 types of knots that measures 15cm x 30cm. We were encouraged to come up with additional ways of self assessing so we could demonstrate in a reflection why the work might garner a particular mark.

I started with some research which I catalogued in Pinterest;

and some sketches

I wanted to focus on design aspects and to create something original. Since I have some art training, I also wanted to push myself by considering what my piece would be communicating.

I decided to attempt creating focal points by having repeating shapes layered over hanging strands that contrasted with an open mesh. I hope to explore the contrasting ideas of bound and free. Colour is also beckoning me. I wonder if I can get some black macramé cord, or possibly dye this stuff.

Leave a Comment

Filed under macrame

December 9, 2018 · 8:03 pm

Knots to try

Alternating Square Knots

Snake Knot

Basically everything on this site

Leave a Comment

Filed under macrame

· 6:11 pm

Macramé

Here are some basic knots I learned in our macramé unit.

The Lark’s Head Knot (instructions)

The Half Knot (instructions) 

I like how it spirals when you do a lot of them.

The Square Knot (instructions)

This one is almost exactly the same as the half knot, but instead of repeating the same steps exactly, you alternate which strand you start with. As a result, a “sennit” of them lays flat. Sennit means a cord made by braiding or lashing. Good word.

You can have fun with them if you leave bigger loops.

The Half Hitch (instructions)

You can do a series of vertical half hitches, horizontal half hitches, or diagonal half hitches. You can even do a sennit of half hitches, which will spiral.

The Cross Knot

This is a cute little knot that is surprisingly tricky to learn. One of my classmates shared a drawing of it with me and we figured out together how to tie it.

The Josephine Knot or Carrick Bend (instructions)

This is one of my favourites. I like how it looks when multiple strands are used. I would like to try and tie this with ceramic cord if I can figure out how to do it.

Leave a Comment

Filed under macrame, stitch journal