I really enjoyed using my Rose Bag Design to create this lovely punch needle embroidered wall hanging. As a screen printer and fiber artist, I find many parallels between screen printing, punch needle, and weaving in terms of design, in particular, color separation. For all three techniques, I create my design and then group elements of my design together by color.
For screen printing, I lay each color down on my substrate, one by one, using a separate screen for each color. For weaving and punch needling, during the design process I separate the colors the same way, and then weave/punch needle the corresponding color in each part of the design.
In my practice, all three techniques provide the same challenges:
- require simplicity of design
- limited incorporation of color
- manipulating the design through the specific technique
- creating a readable, relatable end product
There are many times where I decide to rip out a weaving or punch needle and start from scratch because I’m finding the initial idea isn’t translating based on the technique. I was very close to pulling the thread on this punch needle piece several times; I wasn’t sure the separation between petals was clear enough, but I am glad I ended up seeing it through. Once I stepped back, I really liked the look of it.
Fiber arts are more tactile in that you have to work with the fibers by hand to see how things will look. How the texture of the technique, the depths of yarn, how colors interact is a more hands on trial and error. I love this about fiber arts because they are very easy to rework, it’s all part of the process. On the other hand, screen printing ink is a bit more permanent, so it is beneficial to create mock ups on the computer so you really know how the end product will look before you start laying ink down.
I look forward to continuing to explore all three techniques and continue to see how they relate and intertwine. It’s fun to explore different techniques in your arts and crafts as they can always influence each other and help you grow and challenge yourself as a maker.
Happy making!
Megan-Granger 