Sunday, May 26, 2013

Fiber Art And Its Numerous Techniques

By Esther Salazar


Fiber art is one type of craft which uses different textiles in making artistic pieces. Textiles that are often used in this craft may include fabric, silk, wool, cotton, yarn, and some synthetic fibers. The primary focus of this craft is the manual labor involved and the materials used in creating a piece. These works can be found in many places nowadays.

There are different sources of fiber which include plants and animals. Silk for example is taken from silkworm cocoons. Cotton can also be found in cotton seed pods. Sheep hair is used to produce wool. With technological advances today, synthetic materials can be produced such as plastic acrylic. These are used for various applications.

These materials undergo specific processes to make clothing or cloth. Apart from cloth, these can be made into many different items or craft products. Decorative pieces can be made from these materials. Most of them are used in homes or displayed in exhibits and art shows. Several techniques are used to produce these decorative products.

Quilting is one popular technique in this craft. This is basically the process of making a quilt which involves sewing several layers of material together to make a thicker material that looks padded. This technique can be done by hand or with the use of a sewing machine. This also includes designing to create certain patterns that make the material look more decorative.

Another popular technique is knitting which uses thread or yarn to make cloth. There are many different styles for this technique to produce certain patterns and textures. Like quilting, this can be done both by hand and machine. This method can make clothing using various needles and yarns. Final pieces can come in different colors.

Rug hooking is technique which uses yarn loops. These loops are pulled to make items such as rugs and also wall hangings. In most cases, wool strips are the materials used in this technique. The designs can vary a lot from simple geometric patterns to much more complex ones like animals and flowers. Nowadays, designs are commercially produced as decors and collectibles.

Braiding is another technique which is done by intertwining three strands of material together. As a result, the braided material looks long and narrow. Most often, a braid would look flat but more complex types made with more than three strands would look different in terms of pattern and structure. Braids are used for hairstyling, rope making, and other kinds of artwork.

Felting, on the other hand, is done by condensing, matting, and pressing woolen materials to make felt. This is a kind of cloth that is non woven and comes in various types. There are soft felts and tougher types that can pass for construction materials. These are available in various colors and sizes. These can also be formed into different shapes.

Many artists all over the world are known for their works in fiber art at present. Some of them are known for using certain techniques and certain materials. A lot of people have also come to appreciate this craft. There are individuals who avidly collect works to use at home as most of these pieces are great for decorations.




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