City Lit textiles: colour, print, stitch

What is the course about?

- Investigation, exploration and discovery in textiles.
- Developing practical skills in the use of textile materials, processes and equipment to colour and stitch
- Visual research and developing ideas in sketchbooks through sampling
- Extending knowledge and understanding of textiles as an area of practice.

The course can be taken on its own or, for a varied and structured experience of textiles, you could do all three terms of the City Lit textiles course that run across the year. Each term has a different focus. (Please see VX953 for term 1 and VX955 for term 2 content and approaches).
This term you will be learning about colour printing and stitch. You will work using a variety of techniques such as print, stitch and mixed-media, collage and drawing to investigate and explore textures, shapes and colour.
Working with an initial theme, you will investigate colourful textiles through practical sampling and individual project work leading to finished pieces or a portfolio collection, depending on your personal choice.

What will we cover?

Working with an initial theme you will produce textiles through practical sampling and individual project work leading to finished pieces or a portfolio collection depending on your personal choice.
The focus this term will be on methods of colouring and patterning cloth through simple print techniques alongside methods of bonding fabric and using stitch to join layer and embellish.
Beginners will learn how to silk screen print, cut simple paper stencils, monoprint, use bondaweb for appliqué, use the sewing machine for free embroidery and combine these skills to create compositions. You will learn how to use a sketchbook to record and develop your ideas, develop practical skills using textile materials and processes.
Experienced students will be able to take these techniques and extend their possibilities through further experimentation or application to specific project work. Students who have attended an earlier term can combine their knowledge with this term’s themes
Class discussion is encouraged and, will revolve around individual project work, the work of artists using related methods and, ideas and ways of evaluating and developing work. Outcomes will vary according to the individuals’ aims and experience.
Experimental design work and samples and in sketch books will back up either a finished textile piece that could be a practical design or a piece of Textile Art.. Alternatively, you may wish to produce a series of resolved samples for portfolio use.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Use a sketchbook to research and develop ideas.
- Interpret this research through practical samples.
- Print using silkscreens, monoprinting and blocks as well as direct colour application
- use both hand and machine stitch to appliqué and embellish work
- Produce resolved textile work using various colouring and stitch methods.

More experienced students will be able to:
- Extend the possibilities of these techniques in relation to their ideas.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The course is mixed ability, designed for students relatively new to the area and for experienced students who wish to further their textile development. It can be used to explore and develop your own personal mixed media textiles or to begin to build a portfolio for further study.

If you are a complete newcomer to textiles, (have not used a machine or hand sewing needle before and do not have any art and design experience) then you might find it useful to first complete a basic textiles course. This will introduce you to the basic principles making it easier to learn further textile techniques within a mixed ability group.
Whatever your level of experience you should be able to follow verbal and written instructions, handouts and health and safety information so that you can work securely in the workshop.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The first half of the course will be practical with group demonstrations of techniques at the start of each session. Samples and Handouts will be shared to provide ideas on the variety of ways you could experiment with the techniques.

The second half of the course is for your personal project. You will be given individual help where needed and additional techniques may be added as your work develops. You will be shown how to use any tools and equipment safely in the workshop. Various books and journals will be available for you to look for inspiration and information.
Additional / extension tasks may be set for you to complete at home and outside of the course hours. Completion is encouraged to help you get the most out of the course. Where required your tutor will discuss these with you during each session.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Access to basic materials and resources are available as part of this course. You may need to supplement this with other materials; fabrics, papers, threads etc. to suit specific needs or preference and to provide variation. You should have a sketchbook with you for every session and sometimes you will want to print out images from the internet to build up your research. A camera will also be useful.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

We run a wide range of Textiles courses where you can apply what you have developed on this course such as Textiles: waxed surfaces, Introduction to Digitally Printed Textiles, and Illustrative Embroidery for Textiles to name but a few.
Students wanting to develop their practice further may want to consider applying for the 2 year VX996 City Lit Advanced Textiles.
Please browse the website for upcoming courses.
General information and advice on courses at City Lit is also available from the Student Centre and Library from Monday to Fridays, 12:00-14:00 then 16:00-18:00.