Textile Scaffold 💎✨

Session Nutshell 🌰✨

Another week, another WOW moment at Fabri Academy! 💫 This time, I was absolutely mesmerized by the Textile Scaffold session – a playground of innovation and creativity that left me in complete awe. 😍💡

After soaking in the brilliance of the wearable projects and jaw-dropping assignments by my fellow Fabri students 🎭✂️, this session took things to the next level. It was like stepping into a dreamy wonderland of possibilities, with every technique and project sparking a thousand ideas! 💭💎

✨ Crystallisation Magic ✨

One word: STUNNING! Crystallisation had me starry-eyed from the get-go 🌟👀. The intricate, organic beauty of grown crystals felt like nature’s art meeting human ingenuity. I mean, how can you not fall in love with the idea of growing your own crystals? 💕✨ From that very moment, I knew – this is it. I need to grow crystals and infuse that magic into my work!

💡 Projects That Stole the Spotlight

Here are a few snippets of the creations that left me completely inspired and energized. Each project showcased a unique perspective, combining materials, structures, and textures in the most innovative ways. Check them out! 📸👇

Every piece screamed limitless potential, and I can’t wait to experiment, push boundaries, and add my spin to this incredible realm. 🌈✨

Assignment Deep Dive 📝

This week at Fabri Academy was all about Textile Scaffold Week – a thrilling journey of challenges that sparked creativity and expanded technical skills. 💡 Here’s what we aimed to achieve:

Learning Outcomes

Research skills: the participant has acquired knowledge through references and Concept development

Design skills: the participant has learnt through sketches, 3D modeling skills, mould design

Fabrication skills: the participant is able of executing from file to production workflow, through 3D modelling, 3D milling (optional) or lasercutting, crystal growing or casting

Process skills: Anyone can go through the process, understand it and reproduce it

Final outcome: Various samples created using different techniques

Originality - Aesthetics: Has the design been thought through and elaborated?

Students Checklist ✅

Document the concept, sketches, references also to artistic and scientific publications

Produce 2 techniques of textile scaffold choosing from the following:

1. fabric formwork with casting
2. crystallization
3. wood-textiles composite
4. resin & bioresin -textiles composite 5.leather molding
5. other

Document the process including the step-by-step instructions on software, machine, mold making, vaccum forming and textile composites

Upload your design and fabrication files, including the 3D model and CAM file when possible

Document at least 2 processes from design to prototyping, fabrication, materials used, document your achievements and unexpected outcomes

Make a stop motion of your crystal growth or use 3D modeling software to simulate your design (extra credit)

FAQ

Is the use of the CNC mandatory?

It is mandatory to digitally fabricate a 3d mold, through 2d/3d design, if you have access to a cnc milling machine we recommend you fabricate through cnc milling, otherwise lasercutting and/or 3d printing.

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Project Inspiration 💡

This week, I found myself diving headfirst into two fascinating techniques: growing crystals and form casting. And let me tell you – the possibilities feel absolutely endless! 🌈💭 From shimmering crystal formations to the art of shaping materials with precision, each idea opened up a world of creative potential that had me completely captivated. 😍

I was so, so excited (think kid-in-a-candy-store levels of excitement 🍭) to explore as much as I could. Whether it was researching techniques, imagining new applications, or sketching out wild ideas, I couldn’t get enough of the inspiration flowing through this process. ✨

Here’s a little peek 👀 at some of the projects I stumbled upon and instantly fell in love with:

Every project seemed to whisper, “Go on, try something new!” and I’m beyond thrilled to dive deeper into these techniques.

Process Understanding 🧠

Let’s be honest, no great project ever starts without a solid round of Googling and some hands-on experimenting. It’s practically the golden rule of creativity! 🖥️🔍 Whether it’s hunting down tutorials or diving into random Reddit threads, research is my not-so-secret weapon for project prep. 💡👩‍💻

This week, my search history looked something like this:

“How to grow crystals without causing a science explosion? 💥🔬”

“Is crystallisation as magical as it sounds? 💎✨”

Spoiler alert: The answer is YES.

Watching videos about growing crystals was like peeking into a wizard’s lab – pure magic with a side of science. 🧙‍♀️✨ Now, I can’t wait to try it myself and see if I can conjure some glittering beauties!

Tutorial 1 : Borax On A Fabric Flower!

Tutorial 2 : Make Borax Crystals at Home- DIY Crystals

Tutorial 3 : How to grow Alum crystals!

But wait, there’s more! When it came to form casting, Gunjan had a genius idea: P.O.P bandages (cue applause 👏). It instantly reminded me of when my students experimented with the same technique in their first year. I’d seen it done countless times – cue flashbacks of messy, plaster-dusted classrooms 🎨🪄 – but I never got my hands dirty with it myself.

This week, that’s all about to change! 😎🪡

The Process 🎨✨

The process? Pretty straightforward (thank you, research!). After gathering all the materials and some courage, it was time to dive in! Here’s the scoop: 📝💡

For the Crystallisation Project: 🌟

This was all about turning everyday items into sparkling, magical creations! Here’s what I worked with:

Material List

1️⃣ Products to Crystallise:

1. Fabric flowers 🌸

2.My dreamcatchers ✨

1. Laser-cut felt from the OS Circular Fashion project 🌿✂️

2. A beautiful knit piece by my grandma 🧶 (yes, it's sentimental and sparkly now!)

3. Mesh fabrics for texture 🎭

2️⃣ Borax (2 kgs): The star ingredient of our crystal magic! 🌟

3️⃣ Alum: Leftovers from our Bio Materials Week – waste not, want not! 💡♻️

4️⃣ Water: The universal solvent 💧

5️⃣ Containers: For heating water and mixing borax/alum (remember: no metal 🚫🍲).

6️⃣ Straws, Wires & Clips: To suspend our products in the magical mix 🎣

7️⃣ Weighing Scale: Precision matters! ⚖️

8️⃣ Plastic Sheets: To protect my work surface because, well, mess 🛡️

9️⃣ Gloves: For skin safety (cough which we didn’t use 😟 – learn from my mistake!).

🔟 Transparent Glue: For a little extra crystal sticking magic ✨

💡 Pro Tip: Use glass or plastic containers that are heat-proof – metal is a big no-no (thank you, Google research!).

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For the Form Casting Project: 🎭

This was where art and engineering collided! 🛠️ Here’s the toolkit for casting perfection:

Material List

1️⃣ P.O.P Bandages: The real MVP 🩹

2️⃣ Corrugated Cardboard (5 ply): Perfect for creating molds 📦

3️⃣ Balloons: To create curved forms 🎈 (and to keep it fun!)

4️⃣ Plaster of Paris: Classic and versatile 🎨

5️⃣ Yarn: For adding interesting textures and patterns 🧵

6️⃣ Cling Wrap: Because plaster and cardboard are messy buddies! 💡

7️⃣ Fevicol: Trusty adhesive hero! 🦸‍♀️

8️⃣ Rubber Bands: To hold things together in the chaos 🪢

9️⃣ Plastic Cups: Perfect for mixing and pouring ⚗️

🔟 Measuring Tools & Scissors: Precision and cutting essentials ✂️

✨ Let’s Dive into the Crystal-Making Magic! 💎🧪

Creating crystals felt like stepping into a science-meets-art adventure, and here’s how it all went down – one sparkly step at a time! ✨👇

Step 1: Prepping the Products and Containers 🧹

The first step was sorting the products we wanted to crystallise and matching them with their containers. Since we were using Borax and Alum, the products were carefully segregated to keep everything in order. 🎨💡

Step 2: Prepping the Ingredients – Starting with Borax 🧪

The Borax solution was up next! The recipe was simple:

1:1 ratio of Borax to water.

For the entire project, we used a whopping 2 kgs of Borax! But here’s the catch – boiling enough water to mix it all at once wasn’t possible because, well, no cauldrons in the lab 😅. Instead, we worked in smaller batches: 800 grams of Borax with 800 ml of water at a time. This made it more manageable and slightly less chaotic!

Step 3: Prepping the Products for Crystallisation 🌸

While the water boiled, I turned to a fun little hack I’d seen in a video tutorial:

I sprayed transparent glue on the white rose 🌹 and sprinkled some Borax powder over it. The glue supposedly attracts and holds more crystals, so naturally, I couldn’t wait to see how it turned out! ✨💎

Step 4: Dunking Time! 🥽

Once the Borax solution was ready, it was time to pour it into the containers and dunk the products inside. Sounds simple, right? Not quite!

💡 Surprise Challenge: The products floated to the surface instead of staying submerged. Cue lots of pushing, poking, and some very weird techniques to keep them underwater. 😅 It felt like playing whack-a-mole with fabric flowers!

But after some creative problem-solving, we managed to suspend everything perfectly in the solution.

💡 Important Tip: Make sure your products don’t touch the sides or bottom of the container. As the crystals form, anything touching the surface will stick and could ruin the final design.

From prepping to dunking, the process was a mix of trial, error, and lots of laughs. Stay tuned for the next step – watching the magic unfold as the crystals start forming! ✨

We followed the same process with Alum

For the rock alum, we needed to strain it after boiling because it was exceptionally pure in its rock form but contained a significant amount of dirt. To ensure clean, effective results, we strained it thoroughly before immersing the products to form crystals.

Borax crystals were removed after 12 hours ⏰

Alum crystals were removed after 48 hours ⏰

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✨Let’s Talk Form Casting Adventures! 🛠️✨

This project had levels, literally and metaphorically. From balloons to laser-cut molds, I explored a mix of playful and structured ideas. Here’s how it all unfolded (with a side of chaos and creativity)! 🌈

Project 1: P.O.P Balloon 🎈💨

To start simple, I went with Plaster of Paris (P.O.P) and a balloon – a classic duo!

Remember those balloons from my birthday bash three months ago? 🥳🎂 Turns out, they weren’t just for partying; they were perfect for this project! Recycling never felt so fun. ♻️🎈

The Process:

1️⃣ P.O.P Mix: A simple 1:1 ratio of P.O.P and water.

2️⃣ Thoroughly stirred to avoid lumps because nobody wants a lumpy balloon. 😅

3️⃣ Once the mixture was ready, I quickly poured it into the balloon and set it aside to dry.

🎉 Pro Tip: Don’t overfill the balloon unless you’re looking to redecorate your workspace in accidental splatter art.

The Yarn Balloon took 72 hours to dry in the sun ⏰

Project 2: Yarn Balloon 🧶✨

This one was so much fun! I brought in some color and creativity with three yarns in Yellow, Blue, and Purple 🌈.

The Process:

1️⃣ Grabbed a heart-shaped balloon 💖 (because why not?).

2️⃣ Mixed Fevicol with my already pre mixed glue liquid from the borax crystal process

3️⃣ Dunked my colorful yarns into the Fevicol mix, soaking them thoroughly.

4️⃣ Wrapped the yarns around the balloon, letting my heart (and hands) lead the design. 💕

Once it was fully wrapped, I left it to dry. The anticipation of popping the balloon later? Pure joy! 🎈💥

The Yarn Balloon took 48 hours to dry in the sun ⏰

Project 3: Laser Cut Mold & P.O.P Bandages – The Big One 🔥

Here’s where things got serious (and seriously cool). This project involved structure, precision, and a touch of chaos – just how I like it. 😎✨

Step 1: Designing the Mold 🎨

I turned to Adobe Illustrator for this one. Instead of my usual organic, flowy designs, I opted for something structured: a classic circle sliced into four parts, creating a clean, geometric pattern.

I started by creating the circles and then prepared the file for the laser cutter. The file included three circle sizes: 56 mm, 52 mm, and 46 mm. Additionally, I designed a 300 mm x 300 mm frame board where I planned to place my final design

Click Here To Download Fabrication Files

Step 2: Laser Cutting 🔥

Using the laser cutter, I brought my design to life. Since the CNC machine wasn’t available (and I still need to learn it!), this was the perfect workaround. Laser Cut Settings : Speed 15, Min Power 35, Max Power 40

Step 3: Assembling the Mold 🛠️

I stacked the laser-cut pieces to create different heights and elevations, giving the final cast a multi-dimensional form. Started structured but went a bit organic, proving my favorite mantra: “Chaos can be designed!” 🎭✨

Step 4: Prepping for Casting ✨

Covered the mold with cling wrap to make it easier to lift the finished cast. Secured the wrap with rubber bands to hold everything firmly in place.

Step 5: P.O.P Bandage Casting 🩹

Cut strips of P.O.P bandages, dunked each one in water, and quickly molded them onto the design.

Speed was key because those bandages dry FAST – no time for second-guessing! 🏃‍♀️💨

As I powered through the layering process, the mold began transforming into something truly unique. Once fully covered, it was a sight to behold – structured yet organic, a little chaotic but oh-so-me. 🧵✨

The P.O.P Cast took 48 hours to dry completely in the sun ⏰

Project Outcomes 👁️

✨ Crystal Magic Unlocked! 💎🌸

Look at these gorgeous Borax crystals – aren’t they an absolute dream? 😍✨ The way the flowers turned out, it’s like they’ve been plucked straight out of a fairytale garden. 🧚‍♀️🌷 And the best part? Everything we dunked into the solution now has its own sparkling makeover! I’m officially obsessed.

Borax Crystals on different fabrics

From delicate velvet flowers to soft felt fabric

Important To Note

We left the crystals to grow undisturbed for 12 hours. 🕰️ It’s super important not to move your containers during this time – no peeking or poking! Let the magic work its charm. 🧪✨

Now, here I am, completely starry-eyed 🤩 and already imagining all the ways I can use these stunning pieces. Whether it’s for decor, jewelry, or just admiring their sparkle – they’re everything I hoped for and more. 💎🌟

⏳ Alum Crystals: A Test of Patience and a Lesson in Chemistry! 💎✨

Oh, Alum crystals, you really put my patience to the test! 🫠 Unlike their speedy Borax cousins, these beauties took 48 hours to grow. But when the wait was finally over, they rewarded me with the most delicate, tiny clear crystals – absolutely worth it! ✨

As they dried, the crystals transformed into a frosty white finish, which looked equally stunning. ❄️✨ I especially loved how the crystals grew on my dreamcatcher and mesh fabric – they added such a magical touch! 🌸🌟

The Alum Saga 🧪:

We used two types of Alum:

1️⃣ Alum Rock: Crushed into powder – this worked beautifully! 💡

Alum on fabric along with a big rock crystal!🌟

Alum Crystals on my cute lil dream catcher

2️⃣ Pre-packaged Powdered Alum: Total flop. 😞 No crystals formed at all, which I assume was due to its lack of purity. Well, lesson learned! 👩‍🔬

Despite the minor setback, I didn’t let it dampen my spirits.

The Alum crystals that did form were gorgeous, but if I’m being honest, I’m still a bit biased toward Borax. 😏💎 Why? Maybe because Borax was quicker to show its magic – and who doesn’t love instant gratification? ✨

Either way, both processes had their unique charm, and now I’ve got a newfound respect for the science of crystallisation. 🧪✨

🎭 Time to Unwrap the Magic of Form Casting! 🧪✨

I couldn’t wait to see what my Form Casting experiments had in store for me – and let me tell you, it was full of surprises, fun, and a few lessons learned! 🌟

P.O.P Balloon 🎈🩹

This little chunk of joy was ready to emerge from its shell, and wow, it looked chunky! 💪✨ While I was thrilled to see my star-shaped concrete structure come to life, I had one tiny regret: I wish I’d used a bit less plaster and shaped it into something a bit quirkier. 🤷‍♀️

But hey, for a first try, I was pretty impressed! The little creases in the shape gave it a raw, organic vibe, and honestly, it looked beautiful just as it was. 🌟🎨 A chunky star for the win!

Yarn Balloon 🧶✨

This one was an absolute blast – literally! 💥 Popping the balloon was half the fun, and I felt like a craft scientist with my trusty ice pick. 🧊🎯

But of course, nothing’s ever that easy. Removing the balloon was a bit of a struggle – turns out, using those shiny metallic-finish balloons (instead of regular plastic ones) makes things a tad trickier. 😅 After some persistence and a few muttered curses (oops!), I finally freed it!

And the result? Absolutely worth it. I filled my yarn structure with fairy lights, and now I have the cutest, coziest yarn lamp for my room! 🌈✨ It’s giving major DIY Pinterest vibes and I couldn’t be happier. 🏡💡

🔍 Laser Cut Mold & P.O.P Bandages: The Grand Finale! ✂️🩹

This was the one I was most excited about – my very own mold design brought to life! 🎉 The anticipation to see how the elevations would turn out was real. And guess what? It did not disappoint. 🙌✨

The Big Reveal Thanks to all that cling wrap prep, lifting the cast off the mold wasn’t too tricky. 💪 Sure, the areas with the rubber bands put up a little fight, but nothing a determined crafter couldn’t handle. 😏 Once it was free, the cast was nothing short of gorgeous!

What I loved most: 1️⃣ Stiffness of the Elevated Areas: The sharpness and precision of the shapes were spot on. 🧩✨ 2️⃣ Bendy Material: Surprisingly, the material had just the right amount of flexibility – a huge bonus for experimenting further! 🌈

Final Thoughts This project was everything I hoped for and more. 🥳 Seeing my design come to life with such precision and texture was so rewarding, and the learning curve along the way made it even better.

From concept to execution, this was a win, and I’m so proud of how it turned out! Can’t wait to push these techniques even further in future projects. 🚀✨

Reflections 🪞

1. Patience Pays Off:

Crystals, especially Alum crystals, taught me that good things take time – sometimes 48 hours to be exact! ⏳ The results were worth the wait, though, as each piece turned out unique and beautiful.

2. Research is Everything:

Whether it was perfecting the Borax to water ratio or troubleshooting why pre-packaged Alum didn’t work, thorough research saved me from potential disasters (and taught me what not to do next time!). 🧪🔍

3.Unexpected Challenges = Creative Problem-Solving:

From balloons refusing to pop to products floating in the Borax solution, this journey was full of surprises. Finding innovative ways to manage these hiccups made the process even more rewarding. 🎈💡

4.Design Meets Functionality:

My laser-cut mold project was a standout because it allowed me to merge my artistic design with practical execution. The result? A visually striking and flexible cast that exceeded my expectations. ✨🩹

5. Every Material Tells a Story:

From the soft, frosty charm of Alum crystals to the bold sharpness of P.O.P shapes, each material brought its unique texture, form, and personality to the table. Exploring their potential was as exciting as seeing the final results. 🌟🎨

The Crystal Making would not have been possible without my mom's kitchen and her enthusiam to help 💗💖