Research for Social Knitwork outdoor installations, March 2021
I'm setting up a series of outdoor participatory installations in Bath for the month of May 2021 as part of Social Knitwork at The Art Cohort, so I wanted to check how different materials survive outside for 4 weeks.
I was also invited to submit a proposal for a Call Out for a Sculpture Garden so I have also researched materials for that. See 15.2.21 Knitting with monofilament and Cocoons; knitting with monofilament, Feb 2021. I have researched various other materials for outdoor sculptures and installations as well:
10.2.21 Labels for an outdoor installation
21.1.21 Suppliers of natural fibres
20.1.21 Dissolvable thread
20.1.21 Natural fibres and decomposition
20.1.21 Why use natural fibres?
I was also invited to submit a proposal for a Call Out for a Sculpture Garden so I have also researched materials for that. See 15.2.21 Knitting with monofilament and Cocoons; knitting with monofilament, Feb 2021. I have researched various other materials for outdoor sculptures and installations as well:
10.2.21 Labels for an outdoor installation
21.1.21 Suppliers of natural fibres
20.1.21 Dissolvable thread
20.1.21 Natural fibres and decomposition
20.1.21 Why use natural fibres?
Trial 1: Strands of 100% wool
I normally knit with Cascade 220. It's 100% pure wool and comes in a range of fabulous colours, It's aran weight. I have used this for one of the trial installations as it's possibly what I'll be using for the growing indoor installation at The Art Cohort and I think it will be good to have a clear link between the main, indoor installation and the outdoor ones. One of the reasons that I use this yarn is that it felts easily and well. I think the strands will get tangled, but I'm not sure that they'll felt over 4 weeks. The colours might also fade.
Multi coloured strands of wool, 7.3.21
7.3.21
Method of attachment: I tied each piece of yarn with 2 simple knots so that each piece provides 2 uneven lengths of yarn.
Movement: The strands move freely in the breeze. With just this many strands, the effect is lovely, and definitely eye catching.
Colour: I used multiple colours, which is very effective. It's bright, cheerful, and eye catching. It's also what I have! Does this colour palette need to be the same as the indoor installation at The Art Cohort?
I think it's like a dynamic, colourful drawing in space.
Method of attachment: I tied each piece of yarn with 2 simple knots so that each piece provides 2 uneven lengths of yarn.
Movement: The strands move freely in the breeze. With just this many strands, the effect is lovely, and definitely eye catching.
Colour: I used multiple colours, which is very effective. It's bright, cheerful, and eye catching. It's also what I have! Does this colour palette need to be the same as the indoor installation at The Art Cohort?
I think it's like a dynamic, colourful drawing in space.
14.3.21
I've enjoyed seeing the flashes of colour of the lengths of wool moving in the wind from my kitchen for the past week. Their movement makes them especially eye-catching. We had several extremely windy and wet days, which is good, as who knows what the weather will be like in May?
I've enjoyed seeing the flashes of colour of the lengths of wool moving in the wind from my kitchen for the past week. Their movement makes them especially eye-catching. We had several extremely windy and wet days, which is good, as who knows what the weather will be like in May?
The strands of wool have become tangled together and around the branches of the tree. It's much more like a web now. It still moves in the wind though, so it's still eye-catching. .
I've added a few extra loose strands. I imagine they'll be tangled by next week, but we'll see.
The colour and surface of the yarn has barely been affected.
The colour and surface of the yarn has barely been affected.
7.4.21 The strands of yarn have become extremely tangled and would be very difficult to unravel at the end of the project. I have decided to use ripped strips of cloth instead. See 6.4.21 Materials for Social Knitwork
Trial 2: Hand-knitted wool
7.3.21
For the second trial, I have installed some samples of hand knitted Cascade 220. It's a slightly random selection of samples which I had already, but I want to see what happens to them as well when they're subjected to the weather for 4 weeks. I'd actually prefer to save my knitting time for the large indoor installation, but thought it would be useful to see what happens to the knitted wool. I think it's more likely to felt than the loose strands, over time, but maybe not over just 4 weeks.
For the second trial, I have installed some samples of hand knitted Cascade 220. It's a slightly random selection of samples which I had already, but I want to see what happens to them as well when they're subjected to the weather for 4 weeks. I'd actually prefer to save my knitting time for the large indoor installation, but thought it would be useful to see what happens to the knitted wool. I think it's more likely to felt than the loose strands, over time, but maybe not over just 4 weeks.
7.3.21 Observations:
My garden is quite sheltered, so we might have very different results if we choose very exposed sites for the final installations.
I have a large bag of loose threads of Cascade 220 from my many years of knitting so we could use them.
My garden is quite sheltered, so we might have very different results if we choose very exposed sites for the final installations.
I have a large bag of loose threads of Cascade 220 from my many years of knitting so we could use them.
14.3.21
The pieces of knitting have been stretched and tangled with one another and the branches. Apart from that the surface and form seems unchanged.
The pieces of knitting have been stretched and tangled with one another and the branches. Apart from that the surface and form seems unchanged.