As the deadline for our exhibition piece is rapidly nearing I have been focusing on making and embroidering my 21 pockets – making reference to the research suggesting that the average 30 year old woman in the UK owns 21 bags.
One of my most successful pocket designs was inspired by a historic pocket design on the V&A website using a combination of green threads which sing against the background of the orange of the Sainsbury’s plastic bag:
I have embroidered a number of other pockets using applique based on my original drawing of knitted plastic bags, and machine embroidery using a combination of colours on my top and bottom threads to create a richer affect (not really coming through in the photos unfortunately). I also loosened the bobbin tension to create whip stitch and ensure that the bottom colour came through the top.
As a jumble of pockets:
In more order:
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January 19, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Fiona D
they are looking great – I like them in the orderly fashion. Are you embroidering them all?
January 24, 2008 at 8:43 pm
knitpurlandstitch
I have embroidered and embellished about 15 of the pockets, 4 with traditional designs, and the rest with appliqued patterns inspired by my original drawings of knitted plastic bags or including receipts, bar codes and product labels. I have updated the post a wee bit to elaborate…