Category: Process

Resin and Latex

What is Resin? 

Resin casting is a method of plastic casting where a mold is filled with a liquid synthetic resin, which then hardens into a solid.
Materials needed for Resin

Mold, Liquid Resin, Hardener, Things to encapsulate (saga seeds) 
Resin

Pour and measure liquid resin in a container and mix with 3 % of hardener. Spray mold with grease agent. After mixing both liquid, pour an amount into mould and place object to encapsulate and pour another amount of resin over to cover the object and leave it to harden.







 

 






What is Latex?

Latex are also use for a large variety of purpose. From jewellery to face mask because it can mold and form the memory shape of a solid.
Materials Needed for Latex

Mold, Liquid latex, Hardener, Acrylic colour. 
Latex

Pour and measure 100g of liquid latex in a container and mix with 2g to 5g of hardener. Spray mold with grease agent. After mixing both liquid, pour an amount into mould and spread latex over the area and leave it to dry.

 

Thermoplastics

What is Thermoplastic?

A thermoplastic, is a plastic polymer material that becomes pliable or moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling. Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight.
Materials needed for Thermoplastic

100% polyester Fabric, Aluminum foil, objects that will not melt (marbles & bottle caps), rubber band, boiling water.
Thermoplastic

Tie objects (marble & bottle cap) that will not melt using rubber band onto the 100% polyester fabric. Cover the whole  with aluminum and boil it for 45 minutes before removing it. After removing the object inside, the fabric will retain the shape. 
















What is Vacuum forming?

Vacuum forming is a where a sheet of plastic is heated to a forming temperature, stretched onto a single-surface mold, and forced against the mold by a vacuum.
Materials needed for vacuum forming

PVC sheet, Heat resistant objects with no undercut, Vacuum Forming machine. 
Vacuum Forming

Preheat the machine for 20mins. place object to be form at the platform and lower the platform. place the PVC sheet on top of the platform. Lock the lever and pull the heating element to the top of the PVC sheet. Wait for the pvc sheet to be smooth, pull the lever and lift the platform upwards, at the same time press the vacuum button to suck the pvc sheet onto the object. 

 

 

 

Printing with special inks: Etching, Bleaching & Rastering

What is Etching?

Etching is also commonly known as Devore. Devore is a fabric technique particularly used on velvets, where a mixed-fibre material undergoes a chemical process to dissolve the cellulose fibers to create a semi-transparent pattern against more solidly woven fabric.
Materials Needed for Etching

Silk Viscose Velvet Fabric, Fiber Remover, Screen print Stencil & Squeegee
Etching

Using the screen printing method, replace the ink/paint with Fiber Remover and print on the Silk Viscose Velvet Fabric. leave the fabric to dry for 24hours and apply heat to the fabric with iron to remove the fiber. Instead of using the Screen Printing method, user can also use brush to paint on the fabric. 














What is Bleaching?

Bleaching is a method whereby it removes the colour from the fabric or whiten it by oxidation or reduction. Bleaching can be use to create beautiful design/pattern on clothes or fabric. 
Materials needed for Bleaching

Bleach, Dark colour !00% Cotton, Spray bottle, Rubber band
Bleaching

Cover the part of the fabric that you do not wish to be bleach by folding, twisting or cover it with an object. Spray it on the floor and open up and leave it under the sun for it to observe the changes.















  




What is Rastering?

Laser etching also known as rastering  is a method whereby the laser head engraves by moving from left to right slowly down the material. 
Materials needed for Rastering

Laser cutting machine, wood or acrylic
Rastering

First create an image using 2D software and save it as DXF. file and open the file in coreldraw. Image that want to be raster need to be in black when image that need to be cut out need to be in red. This is because laser cutting machine are set to print black first then red. After changing the colors, set printing properties according to image and send for printing.

 

 

 

 

 

Printing with special inks: Thermochromic ink

What is Thermochromic ink?

Thermochromic ink is a type of dye that changes color when temperatures increase or decrease. Often used in the manufacture of many toys or product packaging. Thermochromic ink can also turn transparent when heat is applied; an example of this type of thermochromic ink is found on pizza boxes to show the temperature of the product.
Materials needed for Thermochromic printing

Thermochromic Pigment, Fabric Paint, Screen Print Stencil, Squeegee, Fabric.
Thermochromic Printing

Mixing 7 table spoon of thermochromic Pigment with 2 table spoon of Fabric Paint. Using screen printing method, replace the paint with thermochromic mixture to print on fabric. 











 


Reflection 

Once I saw this amazing technique, I thought of using this in the SAF. where soldiers loss theirs lives due to heat stroke/injuries. If we design clothes or wearables using Thermochromic ink this could notify them that the heat might be too intense for training or even notify the leaders that someone is having a risk of heat injury. this could save lives. 

 

Knitting

What is knitting?

Knitting is a method by which yarn is manipulated to create a textile or fabric, often used in many types of garments.

Knitting creates multiple loops of yarn, called stitches, in a line or tube. Knitting has multiple active stitches on the needle at one time. Knitted fabric consists of a number of consecutive rows of intermeshing of loops. As each row progresses, a newly created loop is pulled through one or more loops from the prior row, placed on the gaining needle, and the loops from the prior row are then pulled off the other needle.
Materials needed for Knitting

Knitting Needles, Wool Yarn, Paper Yarn, Denim Yarn, Copper wire
Knitting

1. Cast on the first row on one of the needle.

2. Insert another needle into the stitch and start knitting.

3. Cast off method.

4. Tie a knot at the end.



Wool Yarn



Thick Wool Yarn



Denim Yarn

 

Paper Yarn



Copper Wire

 

Reflection 

I feel that I need to use different strength while knitting when using different materials. e.g. I can use more strength while using wool as its a material that can be stretch. However, I need to do it very gently on the copper wire, as the material is very rigid and might break easily if I bend it too much. All in all I think I did pretty good for a first timer.  

Materials exploration: Fabric Manipulation, stitching with elastics

What is Smocking?

Smocking is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric so that it can stretch. Before elastic, smocking was commonly used in cuffs, bodices, and necklines in garments where buttons were undesirable.
Materials needed for Smocking

Fabric, Sewing needle, Thread, Smocking template
Smocking

Search for smocking template and draw the template onto the fabric. Stitch the end of the red line together and make a knot to form a wave effect. 










What is Elastic Band Sewing?

It is a narrow fabric that stretches due to its composition. Rubber or spandex cores are wrapped in a fiber such as polyester, nylon or cotton and then woven, knitted or braided to create the elastic. This technique also creates a unique pattern/texture on the fabric. 
Materials needed for Elastic Band Sewing

Elastic Band, Elastic thread, Fabric, Sewing Machine
Elastic Band Sewing

Start by winding bobbin with elastic thread. Then properly load the bobbin into sewing machine. Start sewing in a straight line and keep sewing until desired shape. 

 

Unconventional Materials: Felting

What is Felting?

Felt is a textile material that is produced by matting, condensing and pressing fibers together. Felt can be made of natural fibers such as wool or animal fur, or from synthetic fibers. Felting is an age-old craft. Possibly developed in the Middle or Far East, it is a process that has evolved with local traditions wherever it was used. And it is still used today, by kids in kindergarten to nomads on the great plains of Asia living in felt yurts. The technique is basic, requires very little experience or tools, and "mistakes" may well lead to interesting results. 
Materials needed for Felting

Wet Felting: Wool, Soap, Hot water, Plastic sheet

Needle Felting: Wool, Needles, Foam Base
Wet Felting

Wet Felting is the process whereby natural wool fibers is stimulated by friction and lubricated by soapy water that causes the fibers to hook together into a single piece of fabric. 

1. Lay a piece of plastic sheet on the table

2. Lay the wool and layer with different colour based on desired pattern

3. Add hot water and soap onto the wool

4. Rub the fiber together to make the fiber hook together.













 
Needles Felting

Needle Felting is a method of using a special needle that is commonly used to make 3D sculpture, jewelry, adornments and 2D art. The needle have notches along the shaft to catch fibers and tangle them with other fibers to produce felt. 

1. Combine wool into desired shape by poking with needles till its firm.










You can combine both methods to create more unique 3D shapes



 
What is Applique?

Applique is ornamental needlework in which pieces of fabric in different shapes and patterns are sewn or stuck onto a larger piece to form a picture or pattern. It is commonly used as decoration, especially on garments.
Materials needed for Applique

Fabric, Leather, Sewing machine

 

 

 

 

 

Creating Unconventional Fabric using Threads and plastic.

What is Fusing of Plastic?

Fusing of plastic is whereby plastics are layered & heated to melt or fuse to one another, creating a new type of durable fabric. 
Materials needed for Plastic Fusing

Iron, baking paper, scissors and plastics (plastic bag, bubble wrap, etc) 
What are the uses and application of the technique?

Plastic fusing can be a great way to recycle plastics. plastics are fuse to create a more textured and durable material which can then be sew together into a dress. It can also be made into any form of products like wearable jewelry or table lamp.
Plastic Fusing

1. Cut plastic into desired shape and sizes.

2. Lay them on top of a Baking paper. 

3. Arrange the plastic into desire pattern. 

4. Lay another Baking paper on top.

5. Iron them for a few mins and the plastics will fuse together. 



Layer: transparent plastic, bubble wrap, red translucent plastic, transparent plastic. 

 



 



Another Design 

 




What is Fabric of Thread?

Arranging Threads into a pattern and sew them up together. Thread fabrics are so beautiful they could grace everything from a formal dining table to evening wear.
Materials Needed for Fabric of Thread

Thread, Yarns, Water Soluble stabilizer, Sewing machine, UV resistant clear acrylic spray. 
Fabric of Thread

1. Arrange different thickness, colour, and type of thread on the water soluble sheet. 

2. Pin the thicker threads and the edges in place to prevent the threads to move around. 

3. Stitch all the Thread together using the sewing machine. 

4. when sewing is done, wash off the water soluble sheet. 

5. If you want the outcome to be in a 3D form; stop washing once the stabilizer dissolves and mold it onto a form and leave it to dry. 

6. To harden the shape, spray it with acrylic spray.












Reflection

I felt that fusing plastic is a great way to recycle plastic. Making them into more meaningful items rather than throwing them away. I felt that Fabric of Thread is very challenging as I have not done sewing before but it is defining a interesting technique that I could explore on. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transfer Printing

What is Transfer Printing?

Transfer printing transfers an image using heat and pressure onto a fabric or other materials through a substrate. There are 3 types of transfer printing. 
1. Direct Dry Transfer
2. Direct Wet Transfer
3. Indirect Wet Transfer
Materials needed for Transfer Printing?

Baking paper, paper, transfer paper for digital transfer, fabric (polyester) or wood, fabric dyes, fabric crayons, iron, heat press machine and objects for stamping / pattern-making (e.g. feather, leaf, etc.) 
What are the uses and applications of the technique?

Transfer printing can be used on fabrics and clothing such as t-shirts, bags. They can also work on non-fabric hard surface such as wood or metal to create a picture for decoration. It can be used to design fabrics which then to be made into other products like table lamp, curtains, shoes, etc.
Direct Dry Transfer Printing

1.  Sketch a drawing or pattern using the fabric crayon on a piece of paper.  Or you can use the  rubbing technique where you place a hard item (e.g. coin) behind a sheet of A4 paper, then shade the item using crayons to create the marks.

2. Once your illustration is complete, lay a sheet of clean paper atop on an ironing board. 

3. Place a piece of fabric on top of that piece of clean paper.

4. Place the crayon colored picture on top of the fabric, facing downwards. 

5. Place a sheet of baking paper on top of the paper colored picture in order to prevent burning. 

6. Slowly use the heat and force from the iron to transfer the crayon colored image onto the fabric.

7. After a few minutes, the transferal is complete.








Direct Wet Printing

1. Paint on a piece of paper using transprint ink.

2. Once your illustration is complete, lay a sheet of clean paper atop on an ironing board.  

3. Place a piece of fabric on top of that piece of clean paper. 

4. Place the painted colored picture on top of the fabric, facing downwards. 

5. Place a sheet of baking paper on top of the paper colored picture in order to prevent burning.  

6. Slowly use the heat and force from the iron to transfer the colored image onto the fabric. 

7. After a few minutes, the transferal is complete.










Indirect Wet Printing

1. Paint on a piece of paper using transprint ink.

2. Once your illustration is complete, lay a sheet of clean paper atop on an ironing board.

3. Place the painted colored picture on top of the clean paper, facing upwards. 

4. Place a flat object (e.g. feather) on top of the painting.

5. Place a piece of fabric on top of the object. 

6. Place a sheet of baking paper on top of the fabric in order to prevent burning.  

5. Slowly use the heat and force from the iron to transfer the pattern onto the fabric. 

6. After a few minutes, the transferal is complete.








  

You can also use the ink on the feather to do a wet direct printing on a new piece of fabric.
Reflection

I feel that this class is super interesting as I am learning new and useful technique that I can apply on my Product Design works. The Transfer Printing method is easy and simple, you can simply do this at home if you have a steam iron.