Chapter 5 Cords

These are the first simple cords made by machining over yarn and fabric, making simple twisted cords and finger knitting cords from two loops.

The tubes of cords and separate pictures are variations on simple cords - weaving fabric through a twisted cord, twisting two simple cords together, knotting two strips of tissue, making uneven cords with holes and bits hanging off, dip-dyeing machined cords so colour varies along the length, machining fleece randomly and part machining groups of threads.  I used a wide variety of yarns from smooth and firm  to soft and very furry.  I tried out 4 strand round braids and a 7 strand round braid, knotted cords using single and double half hitches, cords with little tatted knots on and cords made on a lucet.

The Turk's head knots are made with some of the firmer simple cords.

Chapter 6 Tassels

This is a tassel tree  with a 'trunk' made from a heavy cardboard tube painted with weighted small tubes in a spiral at the bottom for balance.  The 'branches' are wire bent into spirals at the end.  The tasssels had to be carefully placed to maintain balance.

Chapter 7 Buttons

I had fun with the buttons and toggles.  The largest is a CD with cords bonded in spirals next to a very large Dorset button made with strips of dyed fabric and finished with beads sewn to the circumference.  The smaller dorset buttons are varied in numbers of spokes and placement of weaving, sometimes turning over so both spokes and flat waeving show on one side.

The shiny buttons are made from fabrics scraps sandwiched between clear film and cut out with the soldering iron.

I wrapped various shapes with strips of fabric and metallic threads and had a go at little square spiral buttons on plastic canvas.

The toggles are zapped tyvek and nappy liner. I made a few layers with a heat-resistant layer at the bottom and different zappable fabrics on top and painted nappy liner or tyvek.  The results are very crunchy-looking!