NO-SEW FASHION - Fiber Arts
MODULE: Fiber Arts | GRADE LEVELS: 1 - 6 | DURATION: 1 Hour
PROJECT 21 | 01.28.22
ARTIST VIDEO
Video Editing by Jorge Davies, Graphics by Melissa Sabol
PROJECT VIDEO
OVERVIEW
Become a textile artist! Completely transform an old t-shirt into something new. Learn how to use Sharpies and rubbing alcohol to tie dye cotton jersey and re-design a shirt with a few scissor snips. Cut it, stretch it, tie it, dye it in 100 different ways.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT​
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Challenges students to let go of ideas of what clothing “should” look like.
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Requires exploration of deconstruction/ reconstruction methods, i.e. cutting, dyeing, tieing, braiding.
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Encourages a tactile experience through the use of cutting and stretching, and a sense of excitement when experiencing the unpredictability of dyes on cloth.
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Creates a bridge between art and functionality.
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Allows students to experience an artistic medium in an everyday item.
MATERIALS
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T-shirt
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Scissors
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Sharpies
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Rubbing Alcohol (91% or higher)
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Jar for Rubbing Alcohol
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Dropper
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1 Rubber Band
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Cup
INSTRUCTIONS
TIE DYE with SHARPIES
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Lay your t-shirt flat to avoid wrinkles. Choose your colors and decide where to place your design.
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Draw a simple pattern, like a flower. Be sure to leave enough white space around your design.
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Fold your t-shirt over. Take a dropper of rubbing alcohol and carefully drop onto your design or trace the lines and watch them move. The rubbing alcohol reacts with the Sharpie ink to create a new design that looks like Tie-Dye!
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Unfold the t-shirt and see how your design transferred to the other side!
REDESIGN with SCISSORS
Sleeve Slits
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To cut sleeve slits, fold and match sleeve seam to the shoulder seam.
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Measure a pinkie’s width, and cut strips from fold to seam, across the width of the sleeve.
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Unfold the sleeve and make sure all the cuts go to the seam’s edge. Stretch and pull the sleeve.
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Repeat on the other side.
Sleeve & Hem Fringe
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If you decide you don’t like the capped sleeves, cut the sleeve seam off to create fringe.
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Repeat on the other side, following the line of the seam.
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To create hem fringe, make sure the bottom of t-shirt is lined up and cut off the bottom edge. Cut slits vertically, 2-3” long from the bottom of the shirt going up, about a pinkie’s width apart. Do this all the way across the bottom.
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After the fringe is cut, stretch, pull, and tug at the fringe.
Change Sleeves and Necklines
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To create a new neckline, cut slowly and carefully along the inside of the seam. You can always cut again, but you cannot put it back together!
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To create a tank top, remove sleeves by cutting carefully along the inside of the seam.
Side Slits
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To begin your side slits, start a few inches down from the armpits. Cut the first slit really tiny.
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Move a pinkie’s width down and cut the next slit about 1.5” long. Continue to cut these same size slits all the way down the shirt.
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The last cut should be another tiny slit.
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Repeat on the other side.
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Stretch and pull the sides of the shirt and watch the strips curl.
Ladder Braid
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Take the first strip of the slits on the side of the shirt and pull it through the tiny slit at the top. Make a loop, grab the next strip and pull it through the loop.
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Repeat this pattern all the way to the bottom of the shirt.
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When you get to the last strip, you need to pinch the last loop, cut with the scissors, take one piece, and pull under the last strip.
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Tie a square knot: Cross left over right, under and around, then pull tight. Cross right over left, under and around, then pull tight.
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Stretch and pull the braid in both directions, and the ladder braid will be revealed.
Twist Braid
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Take the first strip, and pull it through the tiny slit at the top. Make a loop and twist, grab the next strip and pull it through the loop.
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Repeat this pattern all the way to the bottom of the shirt.
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Pinch the last loop, cut with the scissors, take one piece, and pull under the last strip.
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Tie a square knot: Cross left over right, under and around, then pull tight. Cross right over left, under and around, then pull tight.
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Stretch and pull the braid in both directions, and the twist braid will be revealed.
TURN a SHIRT into a BAG
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Cut the back neckline of the t-shirt to match the front neckline.
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Tie square knots, using the fringe at the bottom of the t-shirt, all the way across.
ASSIGNMENT
Transform a T-Shirt
Using the skills you just learned, experiment with redesigning a t-shirt or transforming it into something completely new. Use your imagination and have fun!
ARTISTS TO KNOW
Bisa Butler
Bisa Butler is a fiber artist who has created a new genre of quilting that has transformed the medium. She creates quilts that look like paintings which brought quilting into the world of fine art.
The Equestrian, cotton, silk, wool and velvet, 43" x 68", 2019
Website >>
Shinique Smith
Shinique Smith is a painter and sculptor who is known for her colorful installation art, calligraphy, textiles and collage. She started using clothing in her work after she heard about second hard garments being shipped to Africa from thrift stores. This inspired her to use these types of materials in her works.
Love Resides, 2018
Website >>
VOCABULARY
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Sew or Sewing: Joining two pieces of fabric together with thread.
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Seam: The line where two pieces of fabric are sewn together.
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Braid: When two or more pieces of fabric are woven together to create a pattern.
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