Rhizome, the final project¶

A concept to link terretories to Greenfabric¶

Video¶

Everything is linked; I see everything as interconnected.

This idea forms the main thread of my work: uncovering how identity is revealed when a place's resources, people, and history are interwoven.

What if a place could tell its identity through its resources, inhabitants, know-how, and landscapes? For me, it’s Annabel. I’m searching for my roots within the territories I inhabit, using place and its connections to define identity. Today, I am taking you to explore Brussels, and more specifically the GreenFabric in Forest, becomes my case study for the Rhizome — a concept where every element intertwines, making each story and resource part of a larger, creative whole.

Rhizome, Everything intersects¶

Imagine a world where every thread, every material, and every story intertwines to create something NEW.

This is RHIZOME

Rhizome*… it’s a metaphor for the invisible connections that link heritage, savoir-faire, geography, people, infrastructures, and so on…

Rhizome is a philosophical concept created by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, in the book 'A Thousand Plateaus' in 1980

It’is about interconnection —like the stitches of a knit.

Who am I? As someone who has lived in multiple places, I’ve always asked myself questions about identity and Territory. Have you ever felt disconnected from a place, or wondered how you fit into the story of a territory? That’s where my journey begins.

Today, I invite you to explore how the concept of Rhizome comes to life in my work.

Let’s explore my current home: Brussels, and specifically, the vibrant community at Green Fabric. When I first arrived I was struck by how this space brought together technology, craftsmanship, resources and community. It felt like the perfect place to explore the idea of Rhizome—where everything is connected.

GreenFabric – A Living Territory: It’s more than just a workspace— it’s a third place that connects the textile and FabLab communities. It’s where I began my artcraft transformation.

It’s where ideas, skills, and materials intersect to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

Rhizome in Action – Collecting: I gathered resources from the territory : photos, maps and geographic data, drawings and stories, textile resources and waste.

Rhizome in Action – Blending: To blend these resources into something interwised, I use many Green Fabric’s tools, like the Kniterate®, a digital knitting machine.

Rhizome in Action – Creating: I aimed to create connections between people and their territory through these creations.

Maps: In my work with maps, I explored dithering and transformed urban data into textiles—using the colors of the threads to tell the story of the territory.

Drawings: Annabel Fournier, Portrait: Isabelle Carmoy

Results¶

Maps¶

'Air pollution', 50 x 50 ex, 100% Merino whool

'Flood 2019', 50 x 50 cm, 100% Merino whool

'Urbanization', 50 x 50 cm, 100% Merino whool

'Noise of the train', 50 x 50 cm, 100% Merino whool

Dyeing process¶

Photo-report: I took photos of the area and transformed them into jacquard knits with only 4 colors. Natural dyeing: I dye knited yarns of different materials to see how to use local natural dyes in knitting.

Photography + Dithering + Whool, cotton, tencel and polyesther + Dyed with Oignons + Dyed with Indigo

Fresco¶

Participary: I invited people—inhabitants, workers, visitors—to draw what this territory means to them, and then I turn their drawings into knits.

Thanks to: Carmen, Laia, Eleonord, Romane, Valérie, Claire, Frédo

Documentation¶

Presentation¶

Thesis¶

Clic here to download the PDF

Kniterate, a digital knitting printer¶

BoM bill of materials¶

I bought my Merino wool for its quality at Bart & Francis in Courtrai, Belgium. Bart & Francis are 2 people who work on the creation of threads for haute couture and test the threads. It’s a bit like an Ali-baba cave of the thread! I chose this supplier because it is available to advise on each thread. It is also possible to buy 100 grs coils, mix a very large number of colors, in order to make tests or small quantities.

It is possible to find more accessible prices elsewhere.

Every jacquard samples are made in 4 colors, 2 threads each. Here are my favorite whool:

Jacquard

• Mérinos SuperKnit - 2 threads 100 gram 100% extra fine 19 micron super soft merino felt resistant 100gr = 1500mt 9,50 euros VAT

• Invisible thread - 1 thread 1000 meter/cone special for invisible knit & embroidery structures perfect transparence illusion invisible 100%PES 3 euros VAT / 1000 meters

Dyeing project

• Invisible thread - 1 thread 1000 meter/cone special for invisible knit & embroidery structures perfect transparence illusion invisible 100%PES 3 euros VAT / 1000 meters

• Cotton Boucletty - 1 thread 100gram = 700mt 82% west indian sea island cotton 18% core binder PA 3,5 euros VAT

• Tencel - 1 or 2 threads2500mt=100gram EU produced tencel VORTEX SPUN vortex single ply = more torsion!!! 3 euros VAT

• The polyester yarn comes from a spool of sewing thread, which is quite thick (800 meters per 100 grams). It doesn’t react very well during knitting; I would have to find a more suitable alternative.

Links¶

Knitting on Kniterate is a tricky way. . It's how I resume 3 methods and I add my own tips: - 1. Birdeye Jacquard for 2 to 4 colors jacquard - 2. Creating a Stitch Image Knit - 3. Editing from a TXT Jacquard Knit

At the Greenfabric we use a PLA thread for the wast yarn. We have recovered these unused PLA coils. We use a lot of it, so we shouldn’t use an expensive thread. The cast-on thread is a nylon thread. Easy to removed! Finally, at the Greenfabric, we have only 4 colors left for jacquard.

One color means, 1, 2 or 3 threads together. Testing and own settings are essential, it takes time but it is indispensable.

Basics are here:

Thank you!