Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you? I hope you're feeling really, really good today.

My name is Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling really pleased about that, because I love teaching art and because today we're looking at textile design.

Our lesson is called an Introduction to the principles of textile design.

It comes from the unit of work Foundation workshops: an introduction to the areas of study.

So this is really something quite foundational that we're looking at today, and I hope you're feeling interested in exploring this subject.

If you have some focus, energy, and enthusiasm, we'll begin our lesson.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can explain the principles of textiles and create a research page exploring one textile discipline.

We have some keywords in our lesson.

Let's go through them.

Textile technique, textile, and discipline.

So what do these keywords mean? Well, textile technique is a specific method used to create or decorate fabric, such as weaving, printing, or embroidery.

Textile, materials made from fibres that are woven, knitted, felted, or bonded to create fabrics.

Discipline, a distinct area of practise within textiles, such as embroidery, knitting, printing, or technical textiles.

So these are our keywords, textile technique, textile, and discipline.

Let's look out for them, let's listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Today's lesson is called Introduction to the principles of textile design, and it has two learning cycles.

First of all, Exploring the scope of textiles as a discipline.

Next, Developing expertise in your chosen discipline.

Let's begin by Exploring the scope of textiles as a discipline.

And let's shoot ahead to the end of the lesson and have a look at what some outcomes for today's lesson might be.

Oh my, don't these look great, really inspiring.

I love these messages, and the colours and textures.

Textile art is a form of creative expression where artists use materials made from fibres.

Textile techniques such as weaving, stitching, dyeing, and printing are used to create artworks that can be decorative, functional, or conceptual.

Pause here and share with someone your impression of this piece of embroidery on the screen.

Thanks for sharing.

I really love the clarity of those lines, of those stitches.

Where might you see textiles? Pause here and share with someone.

What are some of the different places? Thanks for sharing.

Fashion, interiors, arts and crafts, technology.

These are just some of the places where you might see textiles.

Textiles are everywhere in fashion, interiors, art, and even technology, medical fabrics, sportswear, smart textiles.

Artists using various textile disciplines include: May Gaunlett's fashion design practise focuses on designing clothing which is inclusive for people with disabilities, and advocating for a more accessible world.

Malgorzata Mirga-Tas makes textile collages created with materials and fabrics that are gathered from family and friends.

Her visual storytelling challenges stereotypical representations of Roma people.

Michael A.

Cummings' "African Jazz" series celebrates the legacy of Black musicians through vibrant quilted portraits, blending bold colour, fabric collage, and storytelling to honour the cultural impact of jazz.

Textile art shapes how we experience materials and stories through fabric in our daily lives.

Fashion and clothing, garments, accessories and footwear.

Interiors, curtains, upholstery, carpets, and cushions.

Art and craft, wall hangings, tapestries, and textile installations.

Technical uses, sportswear, medical fabrics, and protective gear.

Textiles are created by using different disciplines, including: weaving, crossing threads on a loom to make fabric.

Knitting, looping yarns together to make stretchy fabrics.

Printing, adding patterns and designs onto fabrics by using dyes or inks.

Embroidery, decorating fabrics with stitched patterns.

Pause here and share with someone.

Have you had a go at any of these disciplines, weaving, knitting, printing, or embroidery? And if so, what did you create? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

I've had a go at all of those, and my favourite is printing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Textiles only refers to clothing.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you selected false, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Textiles do not only refer to clothing.

They're used in many other areas, including interiors such as curtains and upholstery, art such as tapestries and installations, and technical applications like medical fabrics, sportswear, and protective gear.

Clothing is just one part of the much broader world of textiles.

The basic principles of textiles are the main ideas behind how they are made and used.

Let's take a look at these principles.

Fibre and materials, texture, surface design, structure, and function.

Let's take a look at each of these basic principles in turn.

Fibre and material.

Textiles begin with fibres, which are spun into yarns or threads, including: natural fibres, cotton, wool, silk, linen.

Synthetic fibres, polyester, nylon, acrylic.

Fibres have different properties that affect texture, durability, and appearance.

Pause the video and share with someone, is there a particular fibre out of those natural and synthetic fibres that you can see on screen that you enjoy wiring? Thanks for sharing.

I really love the feel of linen in the summer and wool in the autumn and winter.

Structure is one of the principles of textiles.

Textiles have a variety of structures, including: woven, interlaced threads creating strong, stable fabrics.

Knitted, loops of yarn making stretchy, flexible fabrics.

Bonded/non-woven, fibres fused with heat, chemicals, or pressure.

And felted, matted fibres compressed together.

Can you identify the structure of this textiles piece? Pause here and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing.

This has a woven structure, using interlaced threads to create the fabric.

Surface design.

The surface of a textile can be altered or decorated.

Can be printed, designs added with dyes, inks, or digital methods.

Embroidered, patterns created with stitches on the surface.

Dyed, colours applied through immersion or resist techniques, e.

g.

, tie dye or batik.

Silk screen printing, repeat patterns on wallpaper or cloth.

Texture.

The feel and appearance of the textile's surface.

Texture can be smooth, rough, soft, raised, flat, et cetera.

It can be affected by the type of fibre used, the technique, weave or knit, and additional surface treatments.

Function.

Textiles must suit their purpose.

Practical, strength, durability, and comfort.

Aesthetic, appearance, design, cultural meaning.

And technical, special properties like waterproofing or fire resistance.

Check for understanding.

Do the principles of textiles only apply to fashion? A, yes, they are only used in textile clothing design.

B, they apply to interiors, art, and technical textiles.

C, they only matter when creating textile patterns.

Or D, they are only important for textile embroidery.

Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, the principles of textiles also apply to interiors, art, and technical textiles.

And now it's time for your first task.

With your partner, look at the textile images provided and sort them into the following disciplines: woven, knitted, printed, embroidered, and technical.

And next, I'd like you to select a textile image and identify the use of the principles of textiles.

Principles of textiles: fibre and materials, surface design, texture, function, structure.

So pause here while you have a go at this multi-stage task, and I'll see you when you're finished.

It's good to be back with you.

So how did you get on with that task? Perhaps you said this.

The first textile is printed, the next is embroidered, the next one is knitted, and the next is technical, and the final textile is woven.

Lucas says, "I've learned a lot about textile techniques and explored nearly all the disciplines I was asked to organise.

Trying them out has made it easier to recognise and understand each one." And for the next part of your task where you're selecting a textile image and identifying the use of the principles of textiles, here's Lucas.

"Printed images are usually on woven, flat fabrics.

The texture will be smooth.

The function is likely an interiors or fashion fabric.

The surface design of the textile includes a printed pattern that decorates the fabric." Aisha chose this textile.

"This looks like a technical textile so the function probably includes special properties, such as heat resistance, waterproofing, or protection.

It might be used for safety, outdoor wear, or medical purposes." Really great reflections there.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle, Developing expertise in your chosen discipline.

The pupils are choosing a textile discipline.

Here's Aisha.

"I've learned how to use many textile techniques this year and enjoyed all of them." Hurrah.

"I'm going to look through my sketchbook to find a sample I'm proud of.

This will help me choose what specialism I want to research further." Great thinking.

And Lucas.

"I really enjoyed all of my embroidery projects.

I want to learn more about this process." Sounds fun.

Lucas, "I've reviewed my textile projects and I've decided to focus on embroidery as the discipline I want to explore further.

I'll now research this discipline to support my technical development and inspire my work." Check for understanding.

Why is it important to do research when working on a textiles project? A, it's not important because creativity does not need research.

B, research helps you understand techniques, context, and inspiration for your work.

C, research is only needed if you're copying another artist's work.

Or D, research is just about collecting random images.

Pause here while you decide.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Artists will research interesting facts about the textile disciplines by looking in books and online.

Contextual research means: exploring its cultural, historical, and social significance, learning about different traditions and techniques.

Researching your textile discipline helps you develop technical understanding and inspire your own work.

Contextual research means: exploring the work of selected textile designers who work in your chosen discipline, identifying the textile techniques used within their work, identifying the use of the textile principles.

Examples of artists using textile disciplines include: Hussein Chalayan combines fashion and technology to create innovative, conceptual garments.

Nick Cave makes vibrant "Soundsuits" using textiles to explore identity and protection.

Karen Nicol creates intricate embroidered artworks that mix traditional stitching with contemporary themes.

So we can see there are a number of inspiring artists using textile disciplines.

Let's have a check for understanding.

True or false? Informed research pages should present random textile pictures.

Pause here and decide, is this true or false? Well done if you selected false, and now I'd like you to say a little more about your answer.

Pause here while you do this.

Perhaps you said something like this.

Research pages are not just random images; they're a carefully chosen set of visuals with a clear purpose.

Each picture, texture, and colour is selected to show an idea or theme.

Designers use them to find inspiration, set a direction, and explain their concept.

There are many ways to create a research page in textiles, including: collecting your chosen sample and all of your research, then arranging them, considering connections between separate elements.

Filling spaces with annotations, using the contextual research you've gathered about your chosen textile discipline.

Pause here and share with someone your impressions of this research page.

Thanks for sharing.

I think it's a really great model with all these examples and annotations.

And now it's time for your next task.

First of all, I would like you to research your chosen textiles discipline.

You should: explore the discipline's cultural, historical, and social significance, learn about different traditions and techniques within the chosen discipline, explore the work of at least one textile designer who works in your chosen discipline, identify the textile techniques and textile principles used within their work, print selected relevant textile and research images.

So pause here while you have a go at this first part of your task, researching your chosen textiles discipline.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

So how did you get on with that task of researching your chosen textiles discipline? You might have said something like this.

Here's Lucas.

"I explored the history of embroidery and was particularly interested in the use of samplers.

I could take inspiration from the composition of 18th century European samplers, but play around with the text presented to create a protest artwork." It's really stunning and I love that message, the future is ours to make.

For the next part of your task, I would like you to create a research page on your chosen textiles discipline.

You should: gather all of your researched images and any connected textile samples, consider the composition of your research page, arrange your researched images and samples, leaving space for annotation, add annotations that clearly explain your ideas and connections to the selected sources and artists.

So pause here while you create a research page on your chosen textiles discipline.

I'll see you when you're finished.

It's great to be back with you.

How did you get on with that part of your task, creating a research page on your chosen textiles discipline? Here's Lucas.

"I selected all of my samples that connected to this textile discipline and arranged them across three pages in my sketchbook.

My annotations show knowledge of the principles of textile design." This is a wonderful example.

Thanks for sharing.

Here's Aisha.

"I decided to create my research page digitally.

I put all my experiments onto a slide and recorded a voice memo to add onto it to explain my ideas." Great way of presenting your research.

In our lesson, Introduction to the principles of textile design, we've covered the following.

Artists explore textiles by engaging with their cultural, artistic, and practical roles.

Artists often focus on a specific discipline, such as weaving, printing, knitting, or embroidery, investigating its traditions and uses.

Through experimenting with various textile techniques, artists create works that reflect both their knowledge of the medium and their individual creativity.

Well done, everyone, for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore the principles of textile design with you, and then to get right into one in particular that you would like to explore further and to see all of that research you've done and bringing that together through your wonderfully created research pages.

I've really enjoyed teaching you, and I hope you've enjoyed this lesson too.

I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.