Computational craft

1: INTERFERING WITH THE FILE … HOW CAN YOU ALTER/ADJUST THE FILE YOU INPUT TO CREATE A SURPRISING RESULT?

2: ODD MATTER … HOW CAN NEW AND UNUSUAL MATERIAL UNCOVER NEW POTENTIAL?

3: INTERVENING IN-BETWEEN … CAN YOU DESIGN AN 3:INTERVENTION THAT TAKES PLACE PART-WAY THROUGH AN EXECUTION PROCESS?

4: ADAPTATION: CAN THE PHYSICAL HARDWARE OF YOUR MACHINE BE ADAPTED TO CREATE NEW FUNCTIONS?

5: FINAL INTERVENTION … WHAT WILL YOUR GROUP CHOOSE AS MOST FRUITFUL FOR A FINAL INTERVENTION?

Practice-based research publication

My approach began with felting with a felting loom and happy lock machine, where I learned the basics of the craft. However, I wanted to try something new, so I researched the wet felting process. I discovered that I could interfere more with wet felting, so I continued with the technique of blending the colors in the wet felting and manipulating it more, which is incredibly challenging.
I had a lot of failures during the process because the felt wouldn't attach, so I tried with different soaps and discovered that green soap works best because it foams very little. Wetting the surface of the wool can also be a component of this process; if you water it too little, the fibers will not adhere, and if you water it too much, they will fall apart. As I like to call it, I'm creating air pockets. Wet felting was a craft that required a lot of repetition and practice. I questioned how I could speed up the procedure without compromising on the quality of this lovely non-woven textile because wet felting is a long and time-consuming process. And then there is the question of how to use this textile in a practical way.
I've tested a lot of different things with traditional wet felting, like machine-washing it with white vinegar to restore its PH after lathering it, trying to make it fluffier and shrinking it with the dryer, pressing it to form creases, stretching it while wet, and washing it with tennis balls. However, I find it tough to manipulate. When experimenting with colors and motion in wet felting while adding enough pressure to the textile, I learned that layering the base of the fibers could be the most exciting at the initial stage. This resulted in a lovely 'curly' marble look on the textile.

Relevance of Practice-based Research

Self-Formulated Design Criteria

Design a product that is:
- Simplistic and minimalistic
- Colorful
- Convertible in another shape
- Aesthetic
- Wearable
- Made from a natural material
- Durable
- Low production costs
Design criteria for customer:
- Easy to understand for any age
- For people who might have special needs.
- Affordable
- For everyday use

Realized work

This product, in my opinion, is a blend of commercial and social practice. The product has ties to the wet felting technique brought to the Balkan peninsula by proto-Bulgarian tribes during their migration; they are well-known in many mountainous areas, and I drew a connection to the Bulgarian craft with the shadows that mimic mountains in my photos. Furthermore, I chose a colorful palette in the same way that Bulgarians did in the nineteenth century with their felted works. In terms of commercial practicality, I believe this product has the potential to be marketed in retail outlets.

craft research

Felt making was brought to the Balkan Peninsula people during the migration of proto-Bulgarian tribes. They are renowned in many of the mountain regions of Northern, Central, and Southeastern Bulgaria as a traditional part of the highly particular customs of Bulgarian wedding rituals. Felted bridal carpets were still made as a living custom in Bulgarian culture until the mid-twentieth century. In my photography I made a connection to the Bulgarian craft with the shadows that resemble the mountains.
I used blond wool that's been produced specifically for wet felting. Furthermore, I selected a vibrant palette in the same way that Bulgarians used vibrant colors in their felted works in the nineteenth century. Bulgarians are well-known for their functional, iconographic, and technical features., which symbolizes the connection of dive, human, and nature. I designed my product to have an organic look by pushing and moving in an eight movement The fulling process was the most time-consuming but enjoyable phase; I needed to make some alterations for my result because the textile was much larger, then I rolled it in organza and towels in-between a yoga mat to apply pressure. And rolled it with my foot until the desired size and thickness was achieved; this increased the textile's durability by making it denser. I used around 2 kilos of wool to make my product. be pushed further with more research about e.g., embellishments but this was a design choice as I design it to have a simplistic and minimalistic look. Thinking about functionality I think it has the potential to be pushed even further with molding the wet felting and creating the air bubble on purpose. I do realize that this product is on the commercial side of the practice

Abstract

1) Pull fibers from wool and lay them vertically 1 layer and then horizontally the second minimum 3 layers

2.) Place the fibers on a bubble plastic sheet and cover it with mesh and make a mixture with green soap and water to sprak or sprinkle on top of the wool fibers

4.) At first gently press down and make sure all the fibers are wet apply green soap on your hands and make firm eight movements while pressing on the felt. in between check of the felt is not sticking to the mesh if so then be more gentle.

7.)proceed to do a pinch test on different places on the wet felt when the felt is ready it should not have any fibers when pinching it. the nect step is to do the fulling proces ,

5. place an rollable item like a dough roller on top of the mesh and wet felt and on top a towel and rbecause of the bigger size I had to stand on the roll to get it to the desired thickness and to squeeze the soapy water out and get the textile flat.repeat on all sides with a total of 800 times. for the bigger sizes i recommend standing on the towels en flipping it.multiple time this way I could speed up the proces of fulling and make de fabric much denser and make it shrink less than 30 precent.

6.)unroll the towels and check for any weak of flat spots in the textile of needed fill them again roll.

8.) the circle in the middle was too fragile so i had to layer it more, later on happy punched it to make it more firm.

9.)i sketched concepts and selected one of my sketches

3.)blending the colors together and preparing layers

10.) paper model folded

11. pinned the template on the felt and traced the outlines

12.) overlocking the edges

14.) sewing in a lind zipper because of the thickness It was really challenging to sew it I needed to sew with more space in-between.

15.) adding fiber linnen to stiffen up the fabric and ironing it then adding a klick button and cleaning up any thread