Deliverables¶
MAPPING¶
I wanted to map out the stories related to embroidery designs that I encountered during my travels, along with the designs themselves, so I tried making one using the U-Map, which was recommended to me during the midterm presentation.
Motoko-san has done a lot of research in my country on themes related to digital fabrication and handicrafts, and I use her work as a reference."
I also received the idea and advice to attach QR codes to the frames and other parts of the piece I made for the final project, so that each story can be viewed on the map. It might be something I work on after the final presentation, but I’d like to continue improving it
GANTT¶
I created a Gantt chart and scheduled the final project.
However, it all started when my husband came down with a fever on New Year’s Eve, December 31. One by one, my family came down with the flu over the New Year holidays. In Japan, the year-end and New Year period is a long holiday, but I couldn’t do anything because I was nursing them. On top of that, even after the New Year began, I couldn't get anything done due to the waiting period before my child could return to school after recovering from the flu. I ended up starting two weeks behind schedule.
Broadly speaking, the project focused on two main aspects: the embroidery designs themselves, and how to turn the actual embroidery into a finished piece.
During that time, I continued researching, while also bouncing ideas off Nuria and my husband, who was recovering from illness.
I had already been thinking about creating an embroidery map, so I mentioned it during the midterm presentation. That’s when Anastasia advised me to make it into a large map, and that helped me start to visualize the final form of the piece.
Someday, I’d like to turn it into a world embroidery map, but for now, I have to start with something closer to home. With the limited time left, the only option is to narrow down the number.
Because it was winter, I wasn’t able to actually travel to Japan’s Tohoku region, which I had originally targeted, to discover motifs firsthand. Instead, I created designs from various regions based on personal connections. I’ve marked the provisional stories on the map, so please take a look—I’d like to share my experiences with you.
Story telling script¶
Let's Set Out on a Journey
-
scene 1
I fell in love with handicrafts because I encountered embroidery in Ecuador. Even when designs looked similar or the colors seemed alike, each piece carried the unique thoughts and emotions of its creator—no two were ever the same. -
scene 2
The designs were deeply influenced by the land’s climate and natural environment, by the lives, culture, history, religion, and beliefs of the people who lived there. -
scene 3
Not just embroidery, but weaving, dyeing, and print design— I set out on a journey in search of textiles. -
scene 4
One Day, I received a message from my friend in Ecuador! "What should we do? Our culture is disappearing..."
This is something I’ve heard time and time again when it comes to traditional crafts. As modern lifestyles evolve, traditional practices are fading away. -
scene 5
Even in my own country, Japan, it’s the same. Take sashiko, for example—Japan’s traditional folk embroidery. To prevent it from disappearing, preservation groups have formed to keep the tradition alive. -
scene 6
Through Feature Fabric Mexico and Beyond the Future Fashion Show Fabricademy, I wanted to explore these traditions from a new perspective. -
scene 7
-Creative Coding
-Tabi Coding
-Spiro Maker
-Hitomezashi Generator
First, I decided to use these techniques to explore sashiko.
By tweaking just a few parameters, I realized I could generate entirely different sashiko patterns. If people could create their own unique designs, wouldn’t they cherish them more? -
scene 8
Until now, I thought sashiko—hand embroidery—was something far removed from many people, but perhaps more people could enjoy it than I had imagined. In fact, I discovered that there are already many sashiko design pattern datasets out there! And surprisingly, many of them were created by people outside of Japan. There must be something captivating about it. -
scene 9
I've always had a deep desire to preserve and pass down traditional crafts in a modern context. But if different approaches ultimately connect back to the philosophy of sashiko, then any perspective should be valid, right? -
scene 10
With that in mind, I decided to create embroidery designs inspired by the unique characteristics of all 47 prefectures of Japan and turn them into a map! -
scene 11
Now, I'm heading out on another hunt!
I want to fill my treasure box with embroidery maps inspired by textile designs from different cities, countries, and regions!
Materials¶
| Qty | Description | Price | Link | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MDF board | 11.00 $ | https://www.cainz.com/search/?category=601718 | Cut into thirds and use one portion |
| 1 | Cotton fabric | 00.00 $ | gift from my neighborhood | |
| 10 | Embroidery thread | 5.00 $ | https://pearl-yacht.jp/color/ | |
Fabrication Files¶
Fin.