Pattern Pulp

Book Review: Drape Drape




While the crafting of flat patterns in fashion design lends a feeling of architecture to the creative process, draping becomes a sculptural activity. An art form in and of itself, draping requires working with the fabric, directing its flow and coaxing its shape with your hands. Taking a draped piece and translating it into a pattern always yields interesting results and is not always for the faint of heart.

Where the Pattern Magic series left off, guiding readers in creating feats of extreme shapes in fashion, the Drape Drape series continues, sharing the patterns behind the sumptuous, sculptural designs. The original Drape Drape, now in English, offers 17 fashionable and achievable designs and Drape Drape 2 is on the way with 14 more designs for tops, dresses, skirts, vests and jackets. The books offer easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions and diagrams that guide the reader through the draping process. Each book contains two folded patterns at the back.

These books provide inspiring ideas and highly practical techniques for anyone wanting to learn about the art of draping. Before you know it, you’ll be looking at fabric and clothing in a whole new light.

Imagery via Exhibitions International & Lula Louise

 

Textile Infused Homewear from Walter G.




Not long ago, I got an email from a good friend in living in Sydney, letting me know about a new home wear line that recently launched.

It took a quick perusal of Walter G‘s collection to know that the product was special. Made in India and Australia, with touches reminiscent of Paris and Japan, these simple, yet textural collages are beautifully applied to home wear.

Founded by longtime friends, Lauren Bennett and Genevieve Fennel, the collection is a reflection of their travels and a desire to infuse color into the Australian home.

The line includes pillows, ottomans, lamps shades and textiles. One of the most interesting parts of the site, second to the product, is the collection of artisan bios behind the craft. Have a look– you’ll learn how the process comes together.

All photos are from the Walter G’s site.

 

Coping Mechanisms for a Creative Heart




Amber Jean Young recently graduated from San Francisco Art Institute and is breaking out in the art scene with a solo show, Letters Home, at Michael Rosenthal Gallery.

Her knitted, stitched and crocheted 2D and 3D works explore interpersonal and familial relationships, as well as personal history. Investigating coping mechanisms and the complicated emotions such as disappointment and failure that arise through loving others, her work is punchy and “cute” with a cheeky dose of kitsch.

Young describes the utilization of “cute” in her work as being aimed at people’s tendency to make light of subjects and events that are painful and private. She believes “cute” is a dynamic esthetic because it is sad and funny, pathetic and bold. While the show recently closed, you can lean more about the exhibit here.

Imagery via San Francisco Art Enthusiast

 

Olimpia Zagnoli




Olimpia Zagnoli’s illustrations share the contradictions of being colorful while understated; simple while bold; retro yet modern; and innovative without being ostentatious. Witty and whimsical in design, the Italian illustrator’s work has been exhibited in several magazines, newspapers, book covers, posters and exhibited in galleries around the globe, with clients ranging from the New York Times, the New Yorker, The Guardian, Adidas Originals and The Rolling Stones, among others. Her portfolio of work is truly stunning and ever-expanding.

Olimpia is always looking towards the future, eager to branch out and try new things including an interest in doing work in fashion.

Textile Inspiration & Plate Illustrations




For those of you on holiday last week, welcome back! Today we’re featuring the after to this before post from May. Remember the plate face collection and Pebeo pens? They’re these amazing markers that let you draw and paint on ceramics and pottery. So…from the collection of thrift store plates, here’s what I came up with.

I find when I’m searching for inspiration for patterns or textiles I often start by looking at objects rather than the actual patterns on things. I love to find (or make) a collection of objects with a similar purpose or hand that I can group together to discover a new shape or texture. Here’s my most recent inspirational collection.

Coverage by Kimberly Hall

 

Friday Quick Links!




1. Art to inspiration with Smita Jacob via Artsy Forager
2. A look inside the factory of The Link Collective via All the Mountains
3. Distinctive textile designs in the Ermie collection via Miss Moss
4. Perfect beach ready DIY bag via design*sponge
5. Loving Kendra Dandy’s punchy prints and patterns via The Jealous Curator
6. Share the summer vibe with your computer with this background via The Fox is Black
7. So many possibilities with these modular tiles via Simply Groove
8. America style classics via Colossal
10. Eighty-four miles of string make up this installation via booooooom
11. Rock these DIY floral sunglasses on your summer adventures via Honestly WTF
12. Digging this fireworks shot via Design Crush

Contributed by Emily Gup

Tracking Repetitive + Awesome.
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