TUTORIAL - ADDING COLOUR TO YOUR DESIGNS

What items are available to add colour to your designs. At first glance you may think that finding colours in ag materials is difficult but there are many materials out there that can be used to add colour. Followed by a tutorial on makeing flowers with tailpaint and milk filters.

1. Hayband comes in many colours and thicknesses. Pink, yellow, blue, white, black, orange. Hayband is very like raffia and can be split into thinner threads which can be used for embroidery, tassles, crocheted and knitted, braided and woven.
2. Ear Tags are made from a thick soft plastic and come in an array of colours also. They are small and can be expensive but are great for smaller details - buttons or accesories like necklaces etc as an example - they can be easily cut with
   scissors or craft knife.
   
3. Shade cloth is available in many colours, but most stores only stock green, cream or black. Look online for other colours like orange, red and blue.
4. Plastic liners from fruit and vegie boxes also come in many different colours
5. Feed and seed bags can be limited in colours but some available are orange, green, yellow and blue
6. Natural dyes can be derived from many items found on the farm, onion skins, beetroot, coffee, tea etc
7. Plastic lids and rings of chemical drums - wash these well
8. Leg and tail tapes - come in a range of bright colours. Tapes are similair to duct tape and some are like giant velcro strips
9. Tail and stock marking paints. This is a personal favourite of mine. Available in a rainbow of colours but most of them have an oil/waxy base which makes them sticky even when they are dry. I have found one brand that does not have a sticky base but is only available in a few colours and of course is more expensive.

TUTORIAL

My first dress I ever made I used tailpaints to colour milk filter fabric to make flowers. I punched the flowers out using my Sizzix die cutting machine. So they where only a two dimensional flower. I have since progressed to makeing 3 dimensional flowers useing a folding technique. The tailpaint I use is Shoof Stock Mark which does not have a sticky base, but is also not totally waterproof (which is fine if you do not plan on washing your dress)

Spray your milk filter - here I have only sprayed on one side to add contrast. Cut into 2 inch strips. The width of your strip will denote the size of your flower

With the colour side down roll for approx 1.5 inchs to create the centre bud and secure with glue.Holding the bud in your left hand, grab the tail approx 1 inch from bud and turn down. Wind around bud and secure with glue.





It is at this stage that I think it isn't going to work but perservere and it will all come together

Continue with the last step turning down and securing until at the desired size, cut off the stem that will have formed on the underside if desired and turn end over and glue down over underside of flower.

Pictured is a flower made with a 1.5 inch strip and another useing a three inch strip. Practice with tension, an tight wrap will get a smaller bud type flower, I use a looser tension to get a more open flower.

A search on Google for makeing fabric flowerswill bring up numerous tutorials for makeing flowers, which can be easily adapted/used for ag materials, plastics, papers, hessian etc

TUTORIAL - WORKING WITH WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE (PART 2)

This fabric found in feedbags, seedbags, tarpaulins,weedmatting etc has a propensity to shred by just looking at it. Even so there are some great design effects you can get using it. Firstly we will look at fringing and then I will cover some of the other things you can do with the fabric

FRINGING

Cut your fabric lengthwise into 6.5 inch strips

Fold in half lengthwise and of set by 1/2 inch

Lift the cutter on your overlocker a sew along the folded edge

Now the messy stuff starts - pull out the loose lengths of fabric. They will pull out easily along the sewn edge so you can fringe right to the top. A pair of fine long bladed scissors make it alot easier to grab hold of fabric.

The finished product. Great to use in alot of ways, layer it, along hemlines, make longer fringing and use for wigs, roll together and make fluffy flowers.

And what you are left with. These longer strips can be knitted and crocheted into a fabric. This fabric can be a bit stiff and scratchy, but experimentation with density and tension may find a softer way of useing it. It can also be curled with scissors like you do with ribbon for a different effect. This fabric can also be heat welded to a certain degree, it does get very stiff and scratchy. At really hot temps for an extended period will just melt it away.

AG ART IN SCHOOLS

Some schools use Ag Art in their textile curriculums, and as a part of there exam processes as well. What a wonderful opportunity for students to explore, art, textiles and farming at the same time. There have been some wonderful young designers coming through. There are a couple of schools only shows that are for year 7 students through to Tertiary/University level. Agfest, in Carrick, Tasmania, has a large school/youth Ag Art show. The next show is from Thursday 3rd to the 5th May 2012. Kilmore, Victoria, also has an Ag Art show for schools. This is a new show this year so hopefully they will have had a successful first show and be back again in December next year.

Of course all shows have an under 21 section, so there is plenty of opportunity for youth to enter designs throughout the year.

If you are a teacher and interested in incorporating Ag Art into your curriculum, I encourage you to do so. It is a wonderful opportunity for students, to possibly have a win and encourage them to further explore fashion design/textiles as a vocation.

THAT WOW MOMENT

You know that moment when you discover something new you can do with a material. WOW, that works, kind of thing. Well I just had one, with the woven polypropylene. As soon as I realized it worked I had multiple ideas on how to use this technique. Oh but do I really want to share it. Of course I will, because this is what this blog is all about and if anything I find helps or inspires someone to design it will go on here. Butttttt you will have to wait, I will be posting in the next few days some design techniques that I have used or can be done with woven polyproplyene. So staying watching

LAST SHOW OF THE YEAR - KILMORE 3rd Dec

Kilmore is the last Ag Art show of the year. This is their first year and entry is for students only. So hopefully they will have alot of support and continue on next year. They have three sections

1. grades 7 - 9
2. grades 10 - 12
3. tertiary - University/other

Entries are now closed, but head along if you are in the area to offer your support and check out some amazing garments

AG ART - AN THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT

Aren't these ghost dresses gorgeous. They are designed as a garden ornament. But I post this here to show how a hard element like chicken wire can be made to look soft and flowing. Would look amazing on the runway, but what would you put under it?

TUTORIAL - WORKING WITH WOVEN POLYPROPYLENE (PART 1)

Woven polypropylene fabric is used in the manufacture of feed bags, weedmat and tarpaulins. It can be a difficult material to work with due to it's propensity to shred into pieces at the touch of a hand. If you cut pattern pieces first they will shred to pieces as you sew it. In this first part I will show you how to sew this difficult medium with ease. I use two different techniques, one for light and one for dark. Lets start with the light fabric as it is the easiest. You WILL need an overlocker as it locks in the fabric really well, you could use a normal machine with a zigzag stitch but that will involve careful cutting. Okay here we go.

LIGHT FABRIC

1. On light fabrics draw your pattern onto fabric with a dark permanent marker, make sure you include seam allowances

2. Sew around your drawn pattern, using your drawn lines as your cutting guide. Do not pull through when you have finished each line as you will pull fabric apart and distort the final pattern piece

3. Continue Sewing and cutting around your drawn pattern piece until it has been completely sewn/cut. When joining pattern pieces together, use your overlocker, but without the blade. For finishing hems it is quicker to turn up overlocked stitch and use hot glue, alternativly you may use a straight stitch.

DARK FABRIC

I deal with dark fabric differently, due to not being able to mark with a pen, of course you could use a white paint pen

1 Draw pattern on to fabric, remember to allow seam allowances, I use milk filters, calico would also work, but is considered a commercial fabric I think. If using calico you could cut it out at the final step. Pin firmly to your fabric

2. Sew around your pattern piece, using the outside edge as your cutting guide. Once again do not pull fabric through at the end of each row of sewing.

3. Continue Sewing and cutting around your drawn pattern piece until it has been completely sewn/cut. When joining pattern pieces together, use your overlocker, but without the blade. At this point you need to decide if you can leave your pattern fabric on or not. I leave mine on for stability, but if you have used calico or other fabric it is an idea to remove it. Cut as close to the inside sewn line to remove, do this carefully so you don't cut the plastic fabric.

4. When joining pattern pieces together, use your overlocker, but without the blade. For finishing hems it is quicker to turn up overlocked stitch and use hot glue, when leaving the pattern fabric in I prefer to sew up the hems using a straight stitch

Next tutorial in this series will show some different design techniques that can be used with this fabric.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW

1. Judges do not examine the finish or seams of garments. Judging is visual only
2. Garments must allow free body movement, and not injure, scratch or be a hinderance to wear
3. Garments need to withstand use for a minimum of six changes
4. Send photos of front and back of garments, and clear and precise dressing instructions, and a list of garment pieces
5. Non farm based items used in construction ie: CD's, commercial fabric, commercial accessories (hats,shoes,bags) will see points deducted from your final score
6. Buttons, zips, velcro etc are allowed without point deduction, just ensure they are not visible
7. Ensure that it fits into a carton with maximum dimensions of length 105cm and girth of 140cm
8. Be aware that if garment is made from natural or recycled materials it will have to be irradiated to go overseas.

Just a few important facts that you should keep in mind when designing and making garments

A FEW OF MY VALUED TOOLS

1. Scissors - lots of and sharp
2. Rotary cutter/board/templates - makes cutting so much quicker and easier
3. Dress makers mannequin - essential, as I don't use patterns.
4. Sewing machine - my poor machine has really had to sew some tough stuff but it is nothing special
5. Overlocker - I have two one for black thread one for white, essential tool when sewing feed bags
6. Pins/needles - lots of cause I always lose them
7. Baking sheets - not the silicon ones they are to thick the ones I have are like paper. Essential tool for welding/melting plastics
8. Iron - for melting/welding plastics
9. Pliers/wirecutters
10. Holepunch
11. Glue gun - can't forget that, and lots of glue sticks. This is the easiest way to put some stuff together quickly and easily
12. Misc tools associated with certain materials, fencing clippers, ring expander, straw cutter etc
13. Internet - for finding inspiration and ideas
14. Croquis and pencils - for drawing designs
15. Design board - where it all starts to come together

This is a list of my most used and trusted tools, but it is possible to make a garment without a sewing machine. I have made several garments that had minimal or no sewing in them at all. GAIA pictured below has no sewing in it at all. It is made from silage wrap that has been heat welded at the seams, the corset is made from castaration rings and fencing rings in chainmaille. Any other joining on this gaarment has used hot glue

1. 

NATIONAL DESIGNER WINNER 2010

This is my garment Renewal which won the Designer section in the National final at Elmore in 2010. As a first time entrant I was totally gobsmacked at winning. Went on to compete in New Zealand but didn't place. In the background you can see Lachlan Sully's winning garment Gone Fishing, which won the Under 21 section at Nationals and went on to win 3rd in New Zealand. He made a beautiful necklace with fishing sinkers he made himself, which weighed in at 4kgs. Will add pics of more garments as I find them

COUNTRY VS CITY

You do not need to be from a rural area or background to enter Ag Art, tho it does help. Many of the materials can be found and purchased online. Materials can also be found at your local hardware ie: weedmatting, shade cloth, fencing or chicken wire. Or the local supermarket ie: dried beans, plastic sheet packaging from fruit boxes etc. So as you see you are not limited by your area but perhaps a bit by availability of your materials.

MATERIALS - NEW VERSES USED

There is no stipulation within Ag Art to use recycled materials. In fact I prefer to buy my materials new where I can. This is because if your garment wins at National levels and it is made from recycled materials or natural materials (ie: grasses, bones etc) it will have to be irradiated to be sent overseas. Don't want to send any of out nasty bugs to New Zealand. Irradiation can discolour and outright destroy some materials especially plastics. One year a winner whose garment was made from bones and shade cloth had to totally remake her garment in New Zealand a day before the show because the irradiation had destroyed the shade cloth. So that is something to keep in mind. Cost of new materials or difficulty in finding them may have you resorting to recycled materials. TIP - if the cost of new material at this moment is not to your advantage use used materials, and if your garment wins at Nationals remake the whole garment with new materials. This is what I do. I use a lot of milk filters in my constructions at a cost of nearly $100 for 100 of them, I use recycled ones. If that particular garment wins at Nationals I can remake it with new materials.

WELCOME

Welcome to Ag Art Australia. I have created this blog to teach, inspire and encourage Australians about Ag Art. I suppose your first question is "What exactly is Ag Art" . Ag Art is the creation of wearable garments made out of items found, used or grown on the farm. This can include an array of items from fencing wire, to onion skins as an example. The Ag Art movement started by New Zealand artist by Barry Quayle, for the Mystery Creek Fieldays in Hamilton, New Zealand. Ag Art has been active in Australia, particulary Victoria for the last 11 years. There are several small Ag Societies that hold shows in conjuction with their annual Ag Show. The first place garments from each section go on to compete in a National Final in Elmore during the Elmore Field Days in October. If you are lucky enough to win at National level you go on to compete in New Zealand. Prizes vary from show to show but generally they are good cash prizes or sewing machines. You can enter in any of the shows, and most shows will allow you to enter up to four garments. Once a garment has won (1st) at one show it cannot be entered at another, as it has as winner already won a spot in the National finals. Sections include, Under 21, Designer, and Avante Garde. There are a couple of other shows that only cater to schools.

So that is Ag Art - once you start you will honestly be addicted - last year I made ten garments, and have designs for another ten on my inspiration board.

I will post a list of all the shows and there dates, contacts, websites etc.

For those new to the concept of Ag Art I will also be posting tips and hints on the use of some materials and what can be done with them. I also hope to have interviews with past National winners and entrants on their experiences with Ag Art.

At some stage in the future I would also like to be able to run an online Ag Art competion, but would have to first find some sponsors.

Thankyou for reading and don't forget to follow us here at Ag Art Australia