4.4: Deconstructing Colour as Yarn

In this exercise, I had to look at the coloured stripe design relating to the transparent still-life I created. I then had to develop ideas and apply methods of deconstruction and reconstruct them into yarn concepts. With these colour palette in mind, I gathered some materials that reflect these colours that I could manipulate and take apart in some way. I found some coloured fabric, ribbon and string. I also had the idea of using a plastic wallet for the yarn concepts as it is transparent.

The ribbons I found was semi-transparent so I thought that would be good to represent the colour palette. I used this transparent ribbon cut in half and a strip of green and yellow fabric. All of these frayed after cutting them. I used the rope-making technique and twisted them all together. I tried to make the ribbon go around the fabric to make the colours dull and it did exactly what I wanted it to do.

The next one I made was using the different coloured fabrics again with some ribbon that translated the blue tones in the palette. I used the plaiting technique and tied 6 different strips of fabric and ribbon together.

I tore more strips of fabric up but some different colours this time to explore a different palette. Using a black semi-transparent ribbon, I wrapped this around the strips of coloured fabric and just tied the two ends together so it almost looks like the colour palette strip design.

I wanted to experiment a bit more so I cut up some strips of the plastic wallet and pulled some string apart to single strands. I used two shades of semi-transparent blue ribbon with the plastic wallet strip and laid them next to each other. With the string I tied knots in three places going down the design. You can’t really see the plastic wallet in the final design and it didn’t seem to make anything change colour but it was good to have it to reflect the glass in the colour palette.

The final yarn design I made was another plait but this time using a strip of the plastic wallet. I tore bits of coloured fabric up and cut some ribbon to make it fray and then made a plait with all these pieces. Some of the ribbon wasn’t long enough to go all the way down so towards the bottom it became fewer colours. It was a pleasant turnout to see the colours fade away.

Again, I enjoyed this exercise as I stepped out of my comfort zone and used materials that I wouldn’t ever use like the plastic wallet.