(re-post)
Wearable art can refer to art that can be worn in an artistic setting or garments that can be worn anywhere but which are art. I tend to the latter but this Grinning Robin vest is more the former and has not yet been worn to the grocery store or garage sales.
The left front is knitted loosely in a dropped- stitch between-garter-rows technique from ripped strips of a rather stiff fabric which may be cotton with a goodly amount of rayon in it.
The right front is a soft (machine) woven cotton; it has been turned back on itself for interest and texture; raw edges are combed out more for a feathery effect; lower point of bound edge is knotted into a loose knot and used as a simple closure by pushing the knot through a loop in left front.
The back is a trapunto’ed image of one of my paintings, The Grinning Robin, done on a canvas-type cotton.
It feels nice to wear but I do tend to feel I am leaning against a ‘bird’ if I sit back on a chair so suspect this makes it a ‘gingerly’ garment. And it is really not (easily) washable. As a decorative item it needs to be visible from both sides which means it loses half its intent on a wall. Thus it gets put on and worn now and then.
This Stroll Through Stash Vest is worn often. Made several years ago, literally from wool chosen by strolling through my stash, it is knit sideways, one piece, front edge to front edge. It gives a bit of a history of the wool available then, I realize, as I look at the variety. My present day selection is more basic, it seems.
front back
