Saturday, November 03, 2007

Another whimsical 'dressel'.
This one stands 18" high and 11" round. Made from cotton fabric, enamelled copper wire and silk thread.
1949: a day out in Blackpool

I remembered to take photos at various stages this time.

I used a cardboard tube, the sort you get inside a roll of carpet.
Covered it in pelmet vilene, held at the join with double sided tape, so that I would have something to stitch into to secure the top pieces.
I then covered it in a white cotton fabric.
The 'rolls' at the bottom of the dressel were made from polysterene tubing covered in white cotton.
Machined as tight as possible with excess fabric left in place so that the fabric looked bunched up between the rolls.

The next section was knitted on the knitting machine using a 0.20mm enamelled copper wire with a silk thread in a lacy pattern.



The two pieces hanging down are stocking stitch knitted over five needles.

The top sections were each made seperately using just the wire this time.
Once they came off the knitting machine I pinched the edges together to create this shape.
I then machine stitched them to a cotton fabric using a zig zag stitch.
And cut around them to end up with this shape.

These pieces were covered in gesso seperately then attached to the main piece.



The whole dressel was then covered in gesso ready for painting.
And the inspiration for this piece?
I think you need to be British and over a certain age to understand this one :)

It is based on a working mans garb for a day at the seaside.
The rolls around the bottom represent rolled up trousers.
The knitted wire represents a string vest and the two pieces hanging down are braces.
And the sections around the top - the knotted hankie on the head!

34 comments:

Sandy said...

They just keep getting better. It was fun to see the steps. Now I need to go to my knitting machine.It's been neglected. Sandy

Unknown said...

Wonderful, It is fascinating to see each step and how much work goes into each vessel, growing up at the seaside in the 50's I saw my fair share of knotted hankies LOL

Helen said...

I so laughed when I saw what your inspiration was... brilliant just brilliant, string vest and all. Now knitting wire on a knitting machine is just you being a clever cookie - wouldn't have thought it could manage it!

Donna said...

what a wonderful trouser leg!

Doreen G said...

Brilliant brilliant brilliant you clever thing.
I should have known a gobsmacking piece was on the way when you were quiet for a little while.
Great step by steps too.

Susan D said...

Absolutely brilliant!!!! I love where you got the inspiration from. Poly tubing ....what won't you use in your work???

neki desu said...

day out in Blackpool hmm! without leaving Blackpool the top part has a ring of dance contests :)
A very together piece and we shall wait for the painted surface, although all white adds a certain mystery to it,imo.

btw i WANT a knitting machine :)

neki desu

Moira Anne Dickson said...

Another well done required I think. Thanks for sharing the inspiration it's really great.
Moira

Carol said...

Clever as ever Lynda, but you already know what I think! Love pieces that have a story. Can't wait to see how you paint it, made any decision yet???

Micki said...

This is my favorite piece so far, and it's not even finished. So very clever of you using the wire on the knitting machine (didn't know you could). Love hearing the inspiration behind it. Fabulous work!

Ruth said...

Wonderful! After I saw the inspiration, I thought perhaps the rolled parts at the bottom were love handles =0)

Thanks so much for showing the steps and the base. Can't wait to see it in colors!

verobirdie said...

What a big job! And I like the inspiration and the way you have played with it. Wondeful.

Pat said...

This is such a leap of imagination in both suubject and materials. Wonderful.

Digitalgran said...

why did I get rid of all my knitting machines Lynda? I should have kept one back.
It's wonderful and I love the inspiration. Clever girl.

Dianne said...

I won't tell you what I thought may have been your inspiration for this piece! Anyway, you are at it again, you are a marvel. I LOVE how you've showed us the step by step.....

Carol said...

Your dressels (love that word) are fam=bulous Lynda. You are an inspiration. How about writing a book on Dressels?????

FARBTUPFER said...

This is also on of my favourites. And tahnk you for the tutorial!

crafty pam said...

WOW - WOW - WOW what can I say!!!
wished I'd kept my knitting machine - got rid years ago - never used.

Unknown said...

fantastic can't wait to see it painted. wish I had time to do such work

Val said...

When I saw the first picture at the top of your Blog my first reaction was WOW - now just keep your paintbrush away from this one Purple Misses! Then of course I read on ............. Thanks for all the tuition and your interpretation of your inspiration is just extraordinary. I still think it looks amazing white, thinking of bridal receptions and flower arrangements and mumble mumble mumble! Val

Julie said...

Great inspiration, Lynda! I look forward to seeing the next step if you do add colour. Thank you for showing the step by step.

Unknown said...

Lovely story and lovely dressels.!!!

Linda B. said...

Recognise the inspiration? I do, I wore it!!!!!

Great fun, watching the dressels develop, thanks.

Angela said...

This is such a fun piece Lynda. I have a picture of my grandad somewhere on the beach with a knotted hankie on his head, definately very British!

Kate Henderson said...

Looks just like my Dad!!! Fabulous ideas. Love it.

Grangry said...

Linda, I don't know which I like best about this piece - the look of it, the very interesting techniques you used or the humour behind the design! Fabulous work.

sharon young said...

I was delighted when I dropped by your blog and saw the latest creation! well worth the wait. Like Doreen I thought something must be brewing when you went quiet, is there no end to your talents?. I was born in 1949. I love it white , it seems to suit the fragility of the knit, and after all the hankies were invariably white.
Superb

Penny said...

Absolutely superb, and the story of where the idea came from is a scream. Thanks and please do more.

Linda’s Textiles said...

The dressels are amazing and seeing the progression is great.

Anonymous said...

This was a real inspiration, thank you so much.
How did you seal the edges of the fabric around the tube at the outset? I always seem to have difficulties with seams/edges in 3D pieces and end up with a mess: crooked, gluey, genrally like something from primary school: I would love to achieve a more professional finish like yours

feltedfibers said...

I love it, the inspiration is fantastic, have plenty of photos of my dad like that but never in a million years would I of thought of your ideas - very clever. Have a wonderful photo of my mum paddling in the sea complete with long knickers showing LOL.

Joanna said...

Love what you did with the knitting machine. It would be nice to see all of these in a little "show". Love your series. I also agree with an earlier post the white has a nice simplicity to it and I think you should keep it as is.

Barbara said...

beautiful, beautiful,beautiful!!!!

Amanda said...

Thank you for showing the different stages, it was marvellously informative. I think your dressels are superb.