The Cocoon

The Cocoon will emerge from a torn bedsheet. A cotton sheet made soft and with use and washing for more than a decade.

The idea to repurpose the sheet as a kimonoish robe came from Spirit Cloth - Jude Hill's blog as well as the Instagram account @ragmates2020 where like minded people are showcasing their work.

I'm no dressmaker so the kimonoish robe is the result of research on Pinterest.

The king size sheet allowed me to get the kimono as a single piece garment.

I couldn't wait to attach a couple of patches.

A rust dyed patch was the first addition. I attached it to the base fabric with my interpretation of sashiko. The second patch was from an experiment with bleach. I did blanket stitch around the bleached out splotches.

There is no plan as far as placement of patches, it's just whatever strikes me at the moment. So while planning the next patches I decided the sleeves ought to be symmetrical. The rest of the robe will be asymmetrical. That's the plan at the moment.

Started attaching other bits of fabric. The patches overlap and I do running stitch, almost like darning through the patches and the base fabric.

This project of The Cocoon really ties in well with my effort to adopt more sustainable living practises. To reduce the consumption of resources, and see the potential of reusing and recycling things and materials which I already possess.

I'll be looking at Kantha, Japanese boro and Sashiko for inspiration. I want to embellish the Cocoon with things in my environment -  the flora and fauna. I hope I can capture the balance and harmony of the natural world which surrounds me and constantly inspires and leaves we wondering and delighted.

Embellished textile fragment

The embroidered piece Specialisation is for Insects has undergone changes and been transformed into a patchwork embellished textile piece.

Buttonhole wheels embroidered with space dyed embroidery thread. Eco dyed cotton fabric. Dried pomegranate peel laid on the cotton fabric and rolled up and tied with cotton twine. The bundle was put into water in a cast iron vessel and the water was brought to a boil. The bundle was left to marinate in the iron rich water for about a day. The edges are bound with tussar silk. The string couched onto the fabric at the top of the piece is the twine used to tie up the bundle for dyeing.

Detail of the buttonhole wheels.

 Happy Diwali everybody. I hope to have some photographs to show you some of the festivities in the neighbourhood.

Fibre to Fabric - An exhibition at Madder Moon, Singapore

On display at Madder Moon, Singapore are my embellished fragments. This is a group show of fiber artists from Singapore and India. 

Delighted to be exhibiting my work alongside such talented artists.

I chose to represent the cultural mix of people of different diverse ethnic backgrounds through their proverbs. The ethnic diversity of Malay, Chinese, Tamil and many more makes Singapore such a vibrant lively place.

Patchwork, applique and embroidery went into making this piece. The material used is tussar silk. 

A Murukku is a savoury crunchy treat which is usually in a spiral form. There are a number of different types made by Tamilians who hail from the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. So I've embroidered names of the different types of Murukku in the Tamil script.  

There are Singaporean proverbs too I discovered. 

       

A Malay proverb. Tussar silk, patchwork in a boro style and embroidery.(This piece has been featured in the Straits Times Life, 27th September 2013 - An Hour@ the Museum)

Fiber to Fabric opened on  24th September and is there to view at Madder Moon until 5th October.
Do drop in if you are in Singapore and want to be culturally enriched!

Madder Moon
16 Ann Siang Road,
01 -01 Singapore,
Singapore 069696

Phone + 65 6225 2435

More pics of the show here on Facebook.