design disruption

I feel like I am in a bit of a rut?
You keep using the same colours?
Using the same techniques?
Wondering about new yarn options?
Everything is getting a bit 'samey'?
How can I disrupt my design approach?
How can I move toward creating something different?


The above questions cropped up for me a few months ago when I thought that I was selecting and purchasing all the same colours, textures and fibres; but wasn't trying many new options.  I had plans and projects and these all seemed okay but I had a craving to challenge myself with something different, especially when it came to colour.  Disruption can have a positive impact on your creative practice by helping to introduce new patterns and approaches.  However, it isn't an easy option, it requires a bit more thinking and, most importantly, the willingness to react positively to change and the unexpected.

My method of disruption started by ordering a selection of advent fibres and joining a fibre club.  By allowing someone else (the fibre maker in this case) to make the decisions on fibre and colour I was taking a chance on what would arrive at my door.  Spinning these fibres is first decision I made in the process.  I started by spinning one fibre in a variety of ways (straight, fractal, etc.).  I also began to combine different tops together to add variation, spinning them in different sequences to create different colour variations when plying.  I tried not to think about it too much but just spin by instinct.  Once I had a complete skein I then moved on to using my digital skills to identify key colours and palettes (see the image above). This technique was adopted after viewing a SweetGeorgia session by Felicia Lo, I took her suggestions to follow through with the use of digital technology to help me identify colours and palettes to aid my design development once the colours were spun. Using Adobe Capture I was able to highlight the key palette and identify the main colours.  Then I was able to create a design using the colours.  An example of this is seen in the images below associated with a tapestry weaving design.

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I have found that this has been a good method of disruption and has worked well to develop ideas for a series of works both for knitting and weaving.  Taking me in directions that I may not have travelled naturally but all the while developing greater breadth and depth to my personal development.