Wrap

The new prompt on “No Rules Textile Society”

Every six weeks the No Rules Textile Society has a Saturday Zoom call during which a new prompt for the next 6 weeks is revealed. Every “No Rules” call is inspiring, these calls are particularly so as members react to the new prompt. The call announcing Wrap as the new prompt was no exception; books containing techniques were held up, ideas shared, techniques and materials discussed and examples, or samples admired.

I try to look back at what I might have created in the past that links to the prompt. I was delighted and surprised to find several pieces, particularly the two below. The first dates back to 2000, the second to a more recent “No Rules” prompt, Dots. Both of these have possibilities if I change the materials and their context.

Thinking about reworking older pieces in a different context is always interesting. Over time tastes in colour, fabric and thread change as these are used and replaced. The cloth I worked onto was a small square of silk which already had a pattern woven into it before I decided to use it as a background is probably long gone.

Trying to work out how I made the first sample almost 25 years ago has taxed my brain a bit. I’m still not entirely sure what is at the heart of the wrapped crosses, or whether the wrapping is stitched, or possibly worked as half-hitches.

The more recent pieces are much easier to work out. The same thread is used for the core as the wrapping, the wrapping is done using the couronne stick shown in the picture to form and shape the loops.

What really interests me is the connection between these two pieces. I hadn’t noticed before that the crosses and circles share similar elements. I’ve piled the wrapped elements on top of each other in both pieces. I’ve been considering how I might bring these up to date, it seems I now have my answer. It’s time to look at my current selection of materials and set to work.