Properties & Qualities
Application
Sample Making
Qualities
Colourful Textured / Tactile
Colour
Blue White Violet
Sample Information
Date of creation
Designed April 2021, Framed Piece created July 2022.
Dimensions
8 x 10 x 1 inches
Weight
712 grams
Culture & Context
This piece is inspired by bees incredible ability to see the world through ultra violet
(UV) light. This reveals hidden UV patterns on flowers and in other areas of nature to
help attract the bees. Using the iridescent ever-changing purple yarn I have tried to
recreate a similar idea through the reflection of sunlight revealing different hues of
purple depending on where it is shining on the material. The honeycomb weave
structure is also inspired by the bees honeycomb structure from their hives. This
strong and thick structure is hollow and has many different functions and qualities. The
woven structures very similar to the bees structure which is why it was used.
Mimicking the structure yet still being different.
Process & Production
The process of this material was hand weaving the honeycomb structure on a 24 shaft
ARM Touch60 Loom using all 24 shafts. A pointed draft was used to create the
honeycomb with a warp width of 12” and sample length of 12” also. The warp has 60
ends per inch. There is a lot of time spent on setting up and calculating the woven
structure as well as the actual weaving of the sample. Once the weaving is complete
the sale edges are stitched and secured before mounting them onto the canvas for
framing.
Recipe Details
24 shafts using an ARM Touch 60 loom.
Pointed draft was used with a warp width of 12” and sample length of 12”.
There are 60 ends per inch (epi) for the warp and a weight of 150g.
Warp yarn : ice-blue monofilament polyester yarn from dead-stock yarn from Botony
weaving mill.
A honeycomb structure across 24 shafts was the structure used, the largest
honeycomb structure possible with this set up.
Weft yarn : a super fine iridescent purple yarn (82% polyester iridescent & 18%
polyamide).
Once weaving was complete, sample was removed form loom and edges were
stitched to secure before mounting to canvas to frame.
Credits
Craft Maker
Amy Kerr (AK Textiles)
Library Contributor
National College of Art & Design Ireland
Photographer
Colm Kerr Arc Studios Ltd. & Amy Kerr