Week 9

9 ~ Fiber Etching

| Natasya Adistana

Technique

Fiber Etching. It is removing parts of velvet to create pattern with transparent-like effect.

Material(s)

  • Velvet (mixture of protein- and cellulose-based materials)
  • Fiber remover liquid

Tool(s)

  • Screen print stencil OR brush
  • Iron

Process

  1. Steam-iron the back of the velvet
  2. Place the screen print stencil on top of the velvet
  3. Pour fiber remover liquid onto the edge of the silk screen frame
  4. Sweep over the screen until the etching liquid is evenly distributed onto the velvet
  5. Leave the velvet to dry for 24 hours as the liquid will burn the cellulose
  6. Iron the velvet to remove the burnt fibres
  7. Wash to stop the process

—Photos

Tools
Process
Pretty sample
My sample
My sample

Reflections

It was an expensive material to begin with, but the result was worth it. I have no idea why my velvet become ‘fried’ and it the burnt and brown left over was not removed even after several washings. I though of bleaching it but it would be bad if the velvet will create holes, so I left it the way it was.

9 ~ Bleaching

| Natasya Adistana

Technique

Bleaching. It is using bleach to remove the layer of colour in dark-coloured fabric.

Material(s)

  • Cotton fabric
  • Bleach

Tool(s)

  • Spray bottle OR brush
  • Pattern stencil (optional)

Process

  1. Fold/twist/manipulate the fabric into desired shape OR place a stencil onto the fabric
  2. Spray the fabric with bleach
  3. Wait until the wanted result is achieved
  4. Wash the fabric to stop the bleaching process

—Photos

Folding the fabric
Process
Bleach can be sprayed stencil to create pattern as well
My Sample
My sample

Reflections

It is a simple way, yet need to be careful when the bleach touch hands/clothes directly. The base colour of dark-coloured fabric can be different even though the dark looks the same. Sometimes, it might be necessary to just wait a bit longer and wait for the bleach to spread more but if gradient effect wanted, it might required quite fast to wash and stop the process. It is a fun method where trial and error can result in unusual design.

4 ~ Thermoplastics

| Natasya Adistana

Technique

Thermoplastics. It is to reshape thermoplastic materials by boiling it.

Material(s)

  • 100% polyester organza
  • Mould (water and heat resistant)
  • Elastic bands
  • Aluminum foil

Tool(s)

  • Pot
  • Stove

Process

  1. Wrap the mould around the organza and tie tightly with an elastic band
  2. Wrap the whole organza with aluminium foil
  3. Submerge the aluminum ball into pot of boiling water for 45 – 75 mins

—Photos

Some details
Attempted to make a rose-like shape
Before wrapping with aluminium foil
Before wrapping with aluminium foil
Boiling process
After boiling
My sample
My sample
My sample

Reflections

It was really pretty and I like the texture and feel of organza. It created interesting shape. However, I should say this method is not as simple as it looks and might result better (similar to imagined) for those with more experience.