Techniques and Materials

I start with a general idea of shape and surface design. Most often my initial design idea survives to the end of the piece, however, sometimes the piece takes off in a direction that is quite different than I first intended and becomes a discovery in shape and surface design as if, in the development, the piece dictates its own identity. These discovery pieces are the most satisfying to complete as they seem to come from some subconscious unity of hand and material.

I construct my fiber work using a traditional coiling method. Coiling is the technique of stitching over a foundation and attaching rows of work together as the stitching progresses to form the structure. Starting from a “button” about the size of a dime on the bottom, the piece is built stitch by stitch and row by row. When the bottom reaches the desired diameter the rows are pulled upwards to start forming the sides.

The two elements used are the foundation or core and the stitching material, in my case fiber rush (twisted paper) and cotton respectively.  The foundation forms the base over which the stitching is done and the positioning of this element dictates the shape of the work. No forms are used in the development of the shape; therefore great care must be taken to assure uniformity.

Successive stitches over the foundation material are made with the stitching material, each row fastening back on a former row to set the shape while adding the variations in color and pattern to develop the surface design.

Generally speaking there are eight to ten stitches per linear inch and a row contributes about a quarter inch to the height or width. A typical piece is made up of thousands of individual stitches.