Innovative piece: evaluation

Doing this unit was a joy. It was what I've been learning to weave for and it's been lovely playing and experimenting.

Unlike the traditional basket unit, I didn't spend ages trying to figure out what to do, in fact I made the hairy drum lampshade when I should have been doing the traditional basket unit but couldn't think of what to do.

From the outset I thought that I was going to be much more out there, bringing in millinery techniques and creating frames to hold blocked sinamay fabric. However, as I explored the unit more, I became more drawn to the lobster pots and colours I used in the traditional basket.

I played around with design sketches and found that a lot of them were too heavily influenced by Jenny Crisp's beautiful lampshades to feel like my creation rather than imitations. 

I made a few of the ideas as smaller lampshades to play with weaves and techniques: rope coil drum, loose zig zig drum and the cone with a double-double French rand.

In the end I liked the rope weave but wanted to bring it into a bell shape. This idea also drew on the lobster pot influence and incorporated their rough and ready, yet beautiful, spirit.

I learnt so much on this unit. On reflection, I think I would have had a go doing the rope fitch (not sure of its proper name) weave used on lobster pots and spent a bit more time researching this element.

However, I did spend a lot of time trying to find out about legislation and safety requirements relating to lampshade as the information seemed to be largely hidden in a very expensive British Standard. I did eventually get the information from a very helpful retailer, Dannells.

I am going to make another version of this trying to use the lobster pot weave, but whether it would get to replace this one in my bedroom I don't know.

I've had it hanging for a little while now and it's got a real personality for all of it's imperfections. I lie there looking at things I would do differently next time (don't forget to start waling with the tips end not big butts that stick right out/ rope coil weave is easier over 3 and behind 2, focus on keeping the uprights upright) and things I like (the voids, the colours, the winding wibbly wobbly rope coil weave).

It's been a great last unit to do to end the course and see how much we've learnt.