Constructed Textile Techniques
Most people think of fabric as something you buy.
I think of it as something I can invent.
Instead of starting with commercially made fabric, I build my own from loose fibers and tiny scraps. The finished textile becomes the raw material for artwork, sculpture, wearable art, greeting cards, and whatever else the project requires.
Every piece is completely unique because no two combinations of materials and stitching are ever exactly alike.
What Makes Constructed Textiles Different?
Why I use this technique
Sometimes I just can't find what I need, so I have to create it.
And sometimes I just can't bear to throw away all those tiny little scraps, so I find a way to turn them into something beautiful.
And there are so many ways that I can use this fabric. I can leave it as is and create delicate, lacy scarves. Or I can add wire to form rose petals. Or I can incorporate aluminum screening so the finished piece can be shaped. Or I can add it on top of a base fabric and then cut it out into different shapes to create greeting cards. The possibilities are endless.
Is this knitting? Wait, what is it?
People looking at this fabric have no idea what it is or what it's made of. The first thing they often ask is, "Did you knit this?"
My answer is always, "No, I sewed it on my sewing machine." Then they have to look closer—and usually they want to touch it.
This is fabric that I create myself from bits of yarn, thread, fabric snippets, shredded paper, or almost anything else I think might work. These materials are stitched together with layer upon layer of thread until they become an entirely new textile.
The result is a one-of-a-kind fabric that can be used in whatever way I can imagine.
Featured Artwork – By Any Other Name
This rose became something much more personal than I originally expected.
It now serves as a tribute to a dear friend who loved red roses...
She wanted her ashes scattered in a place she loved. As part of her celebration of life, her friends and family gathered on a whale watching boat to say our final goodbyes. Her husband gently placed the urn, decorated with a single red rose tied with a red ribbon, onto the waves.
The next day her husband was walking out on the beach and saw something red in the sand. It was a single red rose with a red ribbon.
This piece was made in her honor.
Gathering the Materials
All of my constructed textiles begin with the same basic building blocks: some sort of yarn, thread, or tiny scraps of fabric.
For this rose, I used all yarns because I wanted a very specific texture. It needed to be soft and smooth but still have some texture to mimic a rose petal.
How This Piece Came Together
Creating the Petals
The petals need to be made to a specific shape. To accomplish this I used two sheets of a water-soluble stabilizer cut to the rough shape of a rose petal. Then I sandwiched the randomly placed yarns between the two sheets and pinned everything in place.
Stitching Everything Together
As with much of my fiber art, this technique involves lots of stitching. The entire rose petal needs to be densely covered in thread. This stitching is what holds the yarns together to create a unique textile.
Adding Structure
Since this is going to be a sculpture, each petal needs an armature. In this case, it is wire stitched around the perimeter of the petal.
Once the wire is stitched in place, the entire piece is soaked in water. The stabilizer completely dissolves, leaving behind a newly created textile.
Assembling the Rose
Once all of the petals are created, they are assembled. Each petal is shaped using the wire to hold the shape.
Looking Closer
Here's a closer look at the center of the rose.
Constructed textiles let me create exactly the material I need for the story I want to tell. Sometimes that story becomes a delicate lace scarf. Other times it's a life-sized rose, a butterfly with sculpted wings, or a greeting card made from hand-created fabric.
Every project begins with the same question:
What if the perfect fabric doesn't exist yet?
What This Technique Taught Me
The Stories This Technique Tells Best
Just because the material I need doesn't exist doesn't mean I have to abandon the idea.
Sometimes I just create the material first.
And now I don't have to feel guilty about hoarding all those tiny little scraps. Someday they might become a rose, a butterfly, or something I haven't imagined yet.
Constructed Textiles Gallery
Explore More Techniques
Every story asks something different of the artist. Sometimes carefully layered fabrics are the answer. Other times the story calls for thread, sculpture, wool, or even a textile created from scratch.
Continue exploring the techniques that help me tell stories through fiber.
