We all know how much of a commitment it can be to create a textile piece, whether it is a practical garment or an artistic hanging. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if there was a way we can experiment, practice and create WITHOUT such a large commitment? Wouldn’t it be also helpful if there was a method to break down the steps needed to produce the beautiful things we want to create?
Fortunately, there is! A way to research, practice and play. Sampling!
Sampling for design allows us to work in the craft area of our choice regardless of our knowledge of that craft area. The method is always the same, creating a piece of cloth or fabric that represents a larger whole.
Through sampling we show the type of fabrics which we want to use, demonstrate how colours and different materials and trimmings will look before making a greater commitment. Sampling also gives us a way to see how colours and patterns appear on actual fabric, rather than on a paper or digital design. It might go without saying but fabric is a great deal different to paper or digital!
It is ALWAYS an enlightening process to extend your knowledge of different tools and materials, sampling allows us to dip our toe in the water and give a sense of progress as we compare our different samples using a new tool, technique or material.
This research can also extend into deliberately working in the style of other makers, we all know looking and reading is a lot different than actually doing! With both tools and materials, style and technique we can learn AND document the constraints that govern our craft area how these can work with design concepts.
Sampling for research allows us to move from knowing these issues to experiencing these issues in the work undertaken. This experience allows us to understand the visual language we’re working with, and, through repetition and exploration, the visual language becomes intuitive in our use in our craft.
Nothing stands still! Developing knowledge of our tools and materials is critical to our creative development. Sampling for practice allows us to build that experience and hone our skills over time. But beyond practicing skills, sampling allows us to make connections across different craft areas and lets us build overlapping awareness across those different areas. With this practice we can begin to go beyond understanding the visual language of textiles and develop our own visual language.
Sampling allows us to explore design concepts in our craft areas as well as develop our very own way of working with textiles. This lets us find our own unique voice within our craft’s visual language.
All this sampling builds to the point where we are not only able to break down the creative steps in creating our projects but also ensure that we can create unique cloth that has our own unique voice!
Sampling for Design