The Knitted Plankton Blog

Art Textiles


Textile Processes

The method of construction is an important aspect of the work. Life forms are constructed in thread using simple looping techniques. These elemental textile processes are amongst the earliest used by man to construct fabric and practical objects, such as nets and baskets. They reflect my interest in archaeology and the evolution and classification of stitch.

The simple stitches and thread used in knitting and crochet are building blocks that can create complex forms and are particularly appropriate for constructing sculptural forms. The cell-like network represents the life cycle and complex connections that balance the natural world. The linear thread of the textile draws on the continuity of generations, organised into an evolving sequence by the pattern for life, DNA. The repetitive process, building stitch upon stitch, references the many generations taken to create a new species.