City Lit textiles: surface, structure, 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 pattern textiles
• 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 both terms of the City Lit textiles courses we run.
Each term has a different focus.
This term you will be learning about colour and pattern. You will work using a variety of techniques such as print, stitch and mixed-media, collage and drawing to investigate and explore textures, pattern and colour.
Working with the 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?

You will be introduced to and explore methods of creating relief or 3D structures through the use of stitch as a structuring device.
This will include quilting, cording, and layering techniques, exploring the properties of a range of fabrics and threads.
A broad based theme is set each term for you to base your initial ideas, research and experimentation on. More advanced 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 may combine their knowledge with this term’s techniques. Class discussion will revolve around individual project work and 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 samples and developmental design work in sketchbooks will back up either a finished textile piece that could be a practical design or an art textile. 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 in sketchbooks and through samples
• Use a variety of textile related materials and mixed media approaches,
• Identify the properties of material and techniques used.
• Produce resolved work using surface and mixed media approaches

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

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

The course is designed for students relatively new to the area and experienced students who want to use the course for further textile development. Use it 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) you might find it useful to first complete a beginners textiles course, as this will introduce you to the basic principles making it easier to learn further techniques within a mixed ability group.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion.

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

The course will be practical with group demonstrations of techniques at the start of each session in the first half of the course. Samples will be shown to share ideas of the variety of ways you could experiment with the techniques and hand-outs will also be provided.
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. Sketch books or files will be useful for the storing of samples and any research you may do. There will be some set homework for the group, for example, collecting images, planning designs and developing samples.

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?

City Lit Textiles has a different focus each term creating a path of opportunity to develop a personal aesthetic.Please browse the website for our upcoming courses.

General information and advice on courses at City Lit is available from the Student Centre and Library on Monday to Friday from 10:30 – 12:00 then 15:00 – 17:00.