Growing Cotton: From the Garden to My Creative Projects

 

Have you ever looked around your garden and wondered what you could bring into your creative practice?

In this episode of Material Musings, I’m sharing my homegrown Barbadian Sea Island cotton, and some of the other natural fibers I’ve been exploring, and the ways these materials find their way into my artwork.

I grow cotton on a very small scale - a couple of plants, but even these produce more than I can process! There is something so rewarding about watching a plant grow, and eventually holding a piece of yarn that I’ve spun myself.

I also share some of my sculptural looms, made using wood I’ve grown and harvested. The wooden frame stays as part of the finished artwork, alongside woven threads, beads, recycled elements, and small amounts of my cotton.

You don’t need much of a special fibre to make an impact. Sometimes a small section woven among other yarns gives a piece its character.

Looking at the garden differently

Cotton is just one of the materials that I have made use of from the garden.  There are other fibers that can be used, the pieces of wood can become mark-making tools, and dried plant materials offer possibilities for weaving.

I share some of the marks made with my homemade brushes in the video. A simple mark might not seem like much at first, but add layers, color, and other textures, and it becomes the beginning of something interesting.

It makes me ask: what is already around me that I could explore a little further?

Start with what you have

You don’t need to grow cotton to explore these ideas. Some leftover yarn, scraps of fabric, or a piece of cardboard can be enough to begin a small weaving. Those little experiments can become additions to journals, stitched pieces, or other mixed media projects.

Watch the video for a closer look at the cotton, my spinning tools, sculptural looms, and the other fibers I’ve been exploring.

Watch the Material Musings video here 

Then come over to Patreon, where I’m sharing four creative ideas from this episode for you to try, from a small weaving to making your own mark-making brush.

Explore the ideas on Patreon 

What material in your garden or creative stash could you look at with fresh eyes?

Spinning and weaving - Sea Island Cotton Pursuits

 I have been growing Cotton in my garden and currently have 4 plants, 3 of which has been producing quite a bit of what is known as Sea Island Cotton.

Cotton growing in the garden showing the Bolls

 Excitedly I took a trip to a store in London, Seven Sisters that sold Yarn and other tools that would help me process the cotton. 

I never thought that I would get into weaving and spinning but couldn't let the cotton just go to waste.  Sea Island Cotton is grown in Barbados, Jamaica and Antigua and has a reputation of being a superior cotton.

Sea Island Cotton of Barbados, waiting to be picked

 As a Mixed Media Artist I am always looking for interesting ways to incorporate different materials in my work.  With the textiles that I have been working with this is a great way to incorporate the cotton into my work.

Check out the Video

The Handweavers Studio and Gallery is a lovely store to browse and they also have many courses to suit whether beginner or experienced which you can check out HERE.

I spent a good while in the store getting familiar with the different fibers that I can get to practice with, the books they had on display carried a wealth of information.  There are so many different terms for the different stages, as a newbie I have a lot to learn.

I didn't realize that there was so many different types of cotton and yarn in general

The staff were very helpful and I managed to spend 2 hours soaking up all the different yarns and equipment they had to offer.

The Handweavers Studio and Gallery has many courses to suit whether beginner or experienced which you can check out.

If you are interested in taking any classes check out Craftsy and their FREE Trial they have some amazing courses!

Craftsy have some  Weaving and Spinning courses in their free trial http://bit.ly/CrafAT18 at the moment!

Creative Bug also have a good selection of  classes and have a One Month Free Access!

Creativebug

I also found some books and resources on Amazon that will help me with my spinning and weaving skills, you might find them useful too!  

Click on the image to check them out in amazon

Hand Spinning

Yarnitecture

Hand Weaving Basi

Spinning Hand Dyed Fibre

Drop Spindle Kit

I will also be sharing on my Creative Gardener Channel how my cotton is growing in the coming months.  You can see 31 of the different plants that I am growing in my garden at the moment.

Who knows you might join me on this journey and feel drawn to spinning and weaving as well.  Stay blessed and be a blessing.