jon

I've been experimenting with layering parts of an embroidery together. In the code of any embroidery, an order is made that the machine has to follow in order to execute the design. By manipulating this order, I could manipulate the order of the embroidery. The program aims for time-efficiency with its ordering, whereas I aimed to create patterns through layering.

satin stitch (interfering with the code)

The satin stitch is a very intriguing stitch on the machine because it attaches large strands of thread to create a pattern. This is usually done on a small scale to create a very tight, clean embroidery. When it's blown up, extremely large strands are used making it almost feel as though something is being loosely covered up. Before a satin stitch, the machine lays down a base (seen in the last picture). I figured out that this base was 581 stitches and then it would start pulling longer threads for the satin stitch. In the white block sample, I fast-forwarded the program to stitch 581, forcing the machine to skip its base and just cover up a hole in the material underneath.

After what started as a joke (embroidering a bandaid onto a hole in my fabric), I saw the machine creating a kind of net over the hole as a result of the concentric circle stitch. I decided to see if I could perfect this and get a really clean cover over a hole. I experimented with the concentric circle stitch and realized that the threads are able to catch on themselves to fill the gap in the fabric. When this is done repeatedly, the machine embroiders over the 'net' and makes a more stable cover. Another interesting result was the blending of the threads, which led to some very beautiful outcomes. This led me to do some color research on blending threads, contrasting colors, and layering of light & dark threads.

weird materials (odd mater)

I worked together with my group on this project. We combined our different focuses on knitting, felting, and embroidery machines to create a machine hack. Erwann found out that felting two knitted fabrics together would cause one color to be pushed through the other side. We decided to try to control this process even more by using the precision of the embroidery machine to felt fabrics. After changing some needles and messing with some settings, the embroidery machine was capable of felting fabric very neatly. I experimented with more plastic vs more natural materials. I also experimented with single layers of fabric which also created cool results, especially on the inside (usually not seen) part of jeans pants.

3D embroidery (interfering inbetween)

After working with embroidery in 2D for a while, I wanted to see if I could push embroidery into 3D. I started by seeing how the machine would react to me putting in extra materials while it was running (resulting in the first sample). I then started using materials with more structure than textiles. I pushed and pulled my materials and paused the machine in order to fasten them to my base in ways that created 3-dimensional outcomes.

I wanted to experiment with unusual materials. I tried a few samples with plastics, which give a warmer feeling to a rather cold material. I experimented with strips of fabric to use embroidery as a connecting material. I tried to embroider with paper, also using embroidery as a connecting material. I also tried embroidering over a net and found that it would only hold on the sturdy areas. I also tried layering two materials and embroidering over it to create a pocket, using the embroidery machine almost like a sewing machine.

I wanted to try to use folding techniques to create more structure in the materials and make my outcomes more 3-dimensional. By folding loops of fabric and attaching them using embroidery, the fabric can be lifted up. I also used folded fabrics for the visible mending of a hole.