Wallace Sewell

I was very busy last week as I was down in London doing a weeks placement at Wallace Sewell. I had a fantastic time learning how a woven textile company functions day to day whilst taking part in processes as well.


For those who don't know who Wallace Sewell is here is the link; http://www.wallacesewell.com

They are an amazing inspirational company who produce and sell lots of lovely scarves and interior products. I was inspired by Wallace Sewell throughout University and still am, it was fantastic to have an opportunity to be there and watch how everyone works within the company.

From fraying edges of scarves, to sewing on labels, to packaging, to posting. Going through the processes made me realise how much time and effort goes into each step and how small things make the end product even more special. 

I met such a lovely team of people whilst spending time at Wallace Sewell and they were so understanding and informative. An absolute fantastic experience.

IKAT Lavander Cushion

A cushion inspired by natures light and shadows in gardens and landscapes. Without holding this cushion for yourself you would never have guessed the aromatic smell of lavender essence that has been partially placed inside the pillow. 

Ikat and double cloth are two techniques which i explored at university and this cushion epitomises the results you can achieve. 

To start with I did not like this sample but when i started to bleach out the intensely dark colours a light shone from the fabric I was creating which inspired me to progress with the idea of light and dark; thin and thick; Opposites attracting.

This fabric is so soft to touch as I used cotton yarns and they cover the wool thick weft yarns in a plain woven effect that was actually set as double cloth but when weaving one on one it creates an inspiring effect of speckled light shining through the darkness.

  

Weaving Ideas and Next Warp

Things I tried in my test warp were Ikat ideas painting on the warp threads, bleaching colourful yarns out to make them look faded and different pegplan patterns to test what things work or go with what I am trying to achieve.

Bleaching (Above)

 Bleaching and painting ontop of (Above)

Using Ink and water (Above)

Based on my more developed samples which I will post a few of my favourites later. My first warp had too much grey as it was making some of my sample ideas look dirty and not visually appealing. So this time I have decided to go with something a bit more colourful but with some white yarns to make it clean, modern and fresh.

All Images & Designs (Copyright © 2014 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

University Project

My test warp I have produced for Uni. Inspired by landscapes and gardens. 

Warping up on the Warping Sticks, 3 L's.

Stretching out the Yarns and measuring at the bottom the calculated weaving length and top adding on 2 inches to that figure.

Wrapping it around the beam keeping the tension tight.

 Threading through each yarn so you can make patterns by lifting different sets of threads at different times.

And every weavers joy. Ready to weave!

This stage is the most satisfying because you have worked so hard and now its finally done, you can start producing interesting fabric now.

All Images & Designs (Copyright © 2014 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

Facebook Page

If anyone who likes my blog could like my Facebook page that would be great. 

Thanks,

Hannah :)

https://www.facebook.com/HannahsBotanicals

Model Photo-Shoot

This is the first model photo-shoot I have done and edited. All accessory items made are for sale.

(Copyright © 2014 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

Light and Nature. 

Artistic properties when combined can create intriguing observations. Like taking inspiration from nature and what colours to choose or to use in a particular design. 

The photography helps me express how I see the items I have made been worn. 

Thanks very much to the model Florence (my lovely sister) for helping me achieve some photos of woven products I have made.

First Hand Woven Item on 8 Shaft Loom

This is the first sample I made on my 8 shaft loom. It took me a while at the start to get used to how it works as it is a lot different to what i'm used to using at uni.  I experimented using a few different patterns such as twill, plain weave, wrapping pink raffia around the Ends(threads) and using raffia in the weft. I folded it in half joining it together then turned it inside out and attached a finger knotted piece of lace to add an elegant touch for the handle.

First Warp for Hand Loom!

I was extremely excited at the start of the summer holidays to receive a hand loom from one of my mums friends which I am very grateful for. 

I started doing calculations for warp ends and deciding what kind of draft I was going to do and how long I was going to make it.

I asked my mum first if I could hammer long nail pegs into the outbuilding door (she thought I was mental but agreed anyway). I created and measured a Warping Frame with 6 pegs on the left side and 5 pegs on the right creating 3 and a half Ls but not in the normal measurement as 1L (correct me if I am wrong?). My 1L measures roughly about half a metre.

After warping 320 Ends (threads from one cone), it was time to take it off (I hate this part with a passion as the fear of tangling all the threads and having to start again is not an exciting thought, I want to get weaving now). I took the threads into the back garden and tied the wooden stick at the back with wool and stretched them, as you can see bellow. Two bricks I found lying at the back of the garden helped stretch the threads whilst I untangled and spread them out. Remembering to measure 2" extra at the top (16") and then measuring the dimension of the fabric at the bottom (14"). 

After sorting and tidying the threads you pick it up and wrap it around the reed you are using. Which is a satisfying feeling (nearly there!). I loved the texture of the wool whilst wrapping it round the reed it felt so soft and cushiony.

The draft I used for threading through the heddles was a block draft; Shafts:1-4 x 20, Shafts: 4-8 x 40, Shafts 1-4 x 20. And then threading through the reed 2 Ends (threads) per dent. Time to weave now, woo!

Pictures of fabric I have made on this loom into purses and other items are coming soon!

KnitWeave Necklace

A necklace that is inspired by flowers and nature. Woven on my hand frame loom with knitted strands which i did on a domestic knitting machine. creating bold green and orange strikes with moments of colour space gives the manipulated knitted flowers room to breathe round the necklace. Joined together by a lovely wooden heart shaped button.

Autumn/Winter Bracelets

Woven Tweed base with hand felted flowers stitched on top.  

Raffia woven in the weft and cotton threads as the warp. Stitched on top of soft felt gives a contrast of soft and rough textures. Also the colour contrast makes this bracelet stand out.

Flower pendant bracelet with a woven strand manipulated and tied in the centre to resemble a flower. 

Farblinien Purse

Farblinien Purse. I call the purse this because it is the German translation for lines of colour. This is ultimately what the purse is all about at first glance. Complexity of lines broken up with colour and fragmented stripes, this makes the purse pleasing to the eye as the lines are not bold stripes it allows you to look into the design and see what it is all about: following the directions the purse takes you into.

I made this purse with a zip, which was not that easy to sew in. I broke my sewing machines needle twice, which was not very pleasant. After the second time i decided not to try it again and hand sew the zip in instead. Which will be stronger as the stitches tension is not too tight or too loose it will not break as easy; this adds to the homemade factor as well. Whilst I was sewing "The Great British Sewing Bee" judges were constantly in my head, talking about neat, even stitches and even tension. Therefor this purse is well stitched.

(Copyright © 2013 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

Mini I-pad Cover

 The process of making a mini i-pad cover. It took me about 30 minutes to come up with a design for putting all the pieces together and to iron and cut them. Then the sewing together stage starts.

A deep dark green felted fabric lining to protect the Mini I-pad whilst in your bag. A chocolate brown (back of case) fabric with a green spiral fabric flap for closing the case to keep it secure.

The woven fabric took me about a day to make (I did take breaks in-between). Overall I think this process is very worth it and the end result is home-made, origional and good quality.

(Copyright © 2013 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

R^3

(Copyright © 2012 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

R^3 = Reduce, Re-use, Recycle. This purse covers it. The yarns used for the warp were little strands. The fabric woven in-between is 2 shirts and some jean scraps of fabric I had lying around. It is very interesting how it held together quite well with a purple shirt lining on the inside. A good example of what you can make with fabric and yarns you hardly use. 

Forest Purse

Inspired by the brown surroundings of bark and natural wood with hints of green and bright lifts of summer sun shining through the the glistening leaves. With a brown earthy wooden button adding to the ambiance of this purse. The fury texture of Mohair yarn gives the purse a contrast against the rougher strands of crocheted Raffia which is intertwined in this woven purse.

(Copyright © 2012 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

Gi Melin Crochet Hat

I crocheted a hat for my boyfriend as a hand made Christmas present. I was quite impressed when I was making this! My first crochet project. And has definitely enthused me to crochet more often. All i did was look up a few things on crocheting hats on youtube and a quick basic instruction on how to crochet and i was off; crocheting a hat with a pattern in my head. Freeform crochet i think you call it. Very fun and easy to do. Definitely beats knitting in straight lines. Inspired by the greens and blues in lord of the rings. Hope the wearer enjoys this present as much as I had fun making it.

The Three Purses

(Copyright © 2012 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

One for Ewin, One for Jess and One for Suzi.

These were purses I made as Christmas presents for my flatmates. The reason as why I am posting this now is because they have opened them and it is after the busy but wonderful time spent with family and friends.

I tried to reflect their colour choices and personalities through them. One very pink, girly, subtle and soft like cashmere. One very green and nature like with orange flickers of bright surprise. And another complicated but very colourful and interesting. I hope they like them along with the chocolate from Hotel Chocolate.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.    

(Copyright © 2012 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

(Christmas Cards I made for family and friends)

Barcelona Inspired Weaving

Above is a picture of my favourite samples. I had quite a few favourites but these are the ones I was most impressed with. The shapes and balance of colour as well as their hand was undeniably lovely to touch made with a viscose multicoloured warp in three different sections. Mainly loose weft satin and a circle design I came up with myself. Sometimes with my weaving plans I find it a hit and miss game with how I work out in my mind what the final result is actually going to look like. However, I L.O.V.E the colours I have used in this project. Compared to previous projects I have done this colour choice is very unusual and different for me as I normally stick to using more earthy colours. This project gave me a breath of fresh air, exactly how the trip to Barcelona went during the Summer. An inspirational place to say the least!    

My mood board and Concept Board are above. As I mentioned previously I was inspired mainly by the Catalan architecture and plant-life in Barcelona, the bright yet subtle colours Gaudi uses in his work to create suggestions of abstracted nature and movement of what happens around us. Then developing that feeling into a fashion fabric for Spring/Summer 2013, which I found very exciting! I just wanted to keep making more designs; sadly to say my time towards the end of this project ran out very quickly. Below are my books and more samples. I tried to take my main inspirations and create my own idea of movements of nature and architecture. (Another thing which I would try to leave more time for is my sketchbook as I enjoy doing that part quite a lot). 

Overall I would say I definitely spent a lot of time on this project but it was well worth it. I wish I could have spent more time creating fabrics! Lots was learnt from the experimentation of my first warp to my more developed final planned warp. My experimentation was with bleach and silk paints and using Raffia as yarn (anyone who knows me knows I love to incorporate actual natural substances in my designs). However I didn't take it forward but maybe I will for my next project, who knows. This project has expanded my knowledge and understanding about the mechanics of a loom and what does what, how big a design actually comes out, what certain shafts do when pulled through a different way, more knowledge of understanding what a Pegplan can do for designs. Complex beginning; hopefully I will be able to grasp the next project with a more confident approach to planning so I have more time to create.

(Copyright © 2012 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

Weave Test

I have not posted much since the end of summer. Will try to take more pictures of my Uni work and post them up here. Recently finished the dreadful warping up process. I made so many mistakes and so many ends still keep breaking. The project at the moment is colour and weave effects, (pics to come soon).

I have been so busy since the start of Uni so here is a picture for the meantime of something i am working on at the moment;

A test sample. I tried to make a slight checkered pattern with this one, which was not the origional test. I painted on the warp threads a pattern before weaving it by hand to see if the pattern would show. If you slightly squint your eyes you can sort of see the spiraly black image. Think i am going to make this piece into a purse. Still debating it as i like when it is spread out. I was folding it in different ways the other day and wrapped it round my phone. My phone looked really cosy! Might try making some phone socks. This piece feels so soft and smooth, it is a delight to touch.  

Barcelona Bag

I made this bag mainly to use as my hand luggage for my holidays in Barcelona with my boyfriend Sean. I love the fabric on this bag especially the orangey, green patterned upholstery fabric from an old sofa my mum had. Along with other fabrics I got from Libertys in London and some patchwork fabric from Mandors in Glasgow (this screamed patchwork me together!). My first attempt at patch-working fabrics together for a bag. It was quite hard trying to understand how to patch them together. Next time will sew them more strategically together. I love this bag, it makes me feel like I am in another country by just looking at it.

(Copyright © 2012 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)

Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining

Every Cloud has a silver lining. I find the front of this purse fascinating and it definitely reminds me of purpley blue storm clouds crashing together in the sky forming a strong bold contrast. Even though it can be quite depressing when it is raining and stormy; there is that moment when the clouds boom together giving you that feeling of excitement and for the fortunate people who are inside during that moment a satisfaction of warmth of contentment which is portrayed in the raffia and the silver threads henceforth; Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining. The Rain will soon stop. The clouds will soon move. And there soon will be a ray of sunshine at some point.

(Copyright © 2012 Hannah Bramall All Rights Reserved)