Despite having a clear image in mind of the fabric I want to create, weaving rarely turns out as expected.
Unlike printed materials, the design you see on the computer screen almost never comes out exactly the same.
Fabric is, in a sense, 3D.
Even if you use the same blue for the weft, the appearance of the blue will change dramatically depending on whether the warp is beige or white.
Even within blue, is it a yellowish blue or a reddish blue?
Furthermore, the finished product looks completely different depending on whether you use two threads or one thread to create a thin check line.
Creating fabric is a continuous process of envisioning a 3D finish in terms of both pattern and texture.
The more you refine the details, the more you realize that your initial vision was merely an image.
The OLD FLANNEL series presented me with these difficulties repeatedly during its production.
I really wanted to express the check pattern with many interwoven colors, so it was 7 warp colors x 5 weft colors... It was a project that challenged the limits of my imagination (lol).
After many retries until I was satisfied, the completed fabric is here.
Three rugged flannel patterns, loved by blue-collar workers in the 1940s.
col. check DARK BROWN
col. check BROWN
col. check CREAM
The color scheme, which retains a certain unrefined charm without being overly sophisticated, and the uneven texture from using thick cotton yarns, give it a warm and nostalgic feel.
If I were to rate it this time, I wouldn't say 100 points because there's always room for improvement, so maybe around 90 points.
(This is quite a high score historically.)
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Weaving is truly a profound art, and the more I do it, the more I see what I lack.
However, rushing won't give me the answers; only accumulated experience will.
Why can't I do it?
What if I fail again?
Instead of wasting time overthinking,
I give my best to what's in front of me.
That's what facing your work means, I think.
posted by A. Imoto