About me
I am primarily a woven textile designer, but I love to dabble in anything textiles-related. I am based between Lancaster and London. Being able to learn so many new techniques and processes is my favourite part of being in this stage in my career. In every project I undertake, I try at least one new technique.
I love the mathematical nature of weaving. As soon as I first sat down at a table loom and started weaving, I was hooked.
Through studying BA (Hons) Textile Design at Central Saint Martins (CSM), I discovered my passion and skill for weaving. This discovery also brought me a connection to my home and my ancestry. I am continuing to learn about Lancashire and Yorkshire’s connection to weaving. There is a beauty to being involved in traditional crafts with such a rich history.
The structure and the nature of my course at CSM have allowed me to become accustomed to a fast-paced way of working. My studies and various work placements have allowed me to gain confidence as a designer and trust my ideas.
Exhibition
My work was a part of the “Design and Make” exhibition held by CSM Textile Design, in the window gallery at Granary Square.
Our tutors, Caitlin Hinshelwood and Derek Lawlor, hand-selected the pieces to be included. The first piece I exhibited is a woven sample featuring pleated stripes and hand-dyed warp and weft yarns. The second sample featured is a printed textiles piece combining heat press and screen printing.
Both samples were from my project, where I drew inspiration from local Lancashire folklore and created my own fairy tale based on my surroundings.
A day in my life
Video by journalist Meg Wordley of me talking through a day in my life at Central Saint Martins.
Join me as I spend the day working on one of my year 2 projects. I show the techniques and equipment I used for this project. I speak about some of my experiences at UAL and how I have been challenged and encouraged to act sustainably in my practice.
The video featured on Shift London.
Experience
Standfast and Barracks
As a part of my internship at Standfast and Barracks I was able to observed the operation of rotary, flatbed and digital printing processes. I job shadowed designers, colourists, marketing and sales teams. I also assisted in the set up of exhibition displays for the Decosit trade show in Brussels.
I carried out a research project to a set brief. This included using the extensive internal archive amongst other resources to create mood boards. I digitally created repeat prints from archive wood blocks and recoloured them using Photoshop. I then used this research to create collages and a final large scale painting. This was all then digitally printed onto fabric.
Woven Studio
I spent three months working for talented textile designer Laura Miles as a Textile Design Intern.
I did general studio upkeep and set up warps for arm looms. I was given the opportunity to design numerous woven samples for high-end fashion clients. Having so much time to spend weaving on the loom was very rewarding. I was able to try several new techniques, including hand-painting warps on the loom.
I was able to gain insight into Laura’s selling process, and how she travels to Paris and New York to meet with fashion buyers, as well as job shadowing her online meetings. Not only was I able to observe how a sucessful hand woven sampling and digital consultancy business is run, but also how Laura’s own fashion brand works.
Tibor
With my knowledge of industrial weaving from Tibor Mill, I am now able to better understand how my handwoven designs can be applied to industrial weaving. I was not only able to see how large-scale weaving works, but also see the bespoke side. It was amazing to look at some of the samples from Tibor’s extensive in-house woven textiles archive and how designer Rebecca Skelton workes with these samples.
I was able to expand on my knowledge of textiles sales, but this time with an interiors context. I was taught about the industrial dobby looms including how to use the knotting machine, how to knot by hand, counting and adding headles to the shafts and threading the warp. Also, all about the finishing process and how much of a crucial role it plays in the finish and feel of your woven textiles. This definitely influences how I finish my hand-woven samples based on what qualities I want to achieve.
Colour Works
The main takeaway I have from this internship is learning about the natural dyeing process. Ginette, the owner of Colour Works, showed me the wide range of colours that you can achieve with natural dyes. What I found really interesting was that every colour combination of naturally dyed materials always seems to complement each other. I like the unpredictability of natural dyes.
I absolutely loved learning how to process, card and spin fleece into my own yarn. It is rewarding to see the whole process from fleece to fabric. Spinning yarn also gives you a whole new way to experiment with colour with dyed fleece that you blend whilst on the wheel.
I was also able to take part in a workshop, so I could help teach local children the same processes.
Farfield Mill
Being a Project Weaver at Farfield Mill has given me the opportunity to make self-led designs. I was able to make final products such as a scarf and a rug. Also, the number of different looms at the mill meant that I could switch the looms I worked on.
It was so special to be a part of somewhere with such a rich history in textiles. The mill was built in 1836, originally spinning yarn and weaving cloth. I had the opportunity to weave on heritage looms in the same mill almost 200 years later. Farfield Mill is now a creative hub with a wonderful community of weavers, which I had the privilege to be a part of.
I was able to demonstrate weaving to members of the public and even get them started weaving on a table loom.