Over the past few months The Makers Group have been working on an exciting new project with local artist and Makers Group facilitator, Sophie Holt. Sophie specialises in traditional upholstery techniques, surface pattern design and screen printing. The group purchased unwanted furniture items such as stools and small chairs, with the aim of re-upholstering them to give them a new lease of life!
To inspire to group to create their surface pattern designs we started by experimenting with natural dyeing processes. Sophie worked with Summer, Makers Group facilitator, to teach the members natural dye techniques such as indigo dye, Shabori, Hapazome, and bundle dyeing. The group created wonderful fabric samples which were then scanned into a computer to make a digital file. Some members also chose to illustrate part of their designs and combine this with their fabric print.
Our friends at Double Elephant print workshop in Exeter exposed these designs onto screen printing screens, which we can use again to create other products. The process of screen printing was very new to the group, but as we slowly got the hang of it we could see the possibilities. We enjoyed experimenting with mixing colour and layering the pattern. Each group member screen-printed their design on to heavy weight organic cotton which would later be used re-upholster their piece of furniture.
Now the final stage, upholstery! Sophie taught the group how to use tools such as tack lifters and mallets. She guided us step by step in how to bring our furniture back to life using materials such as hessian, horse hair and coconut fibre. All of this was stitched in and covered in the final layer of our hand printed designs.
Working on something practical, learning new skills and techniques, and seeing something come together from start to finish, has been extremely satisfying and worthwhile. Thank you Sophie for sharing your knowledge and kindness with us.
So what do you think? We still have a few finishing touches to put on our furniture collection, but when they are completed we will be selling them. All profits from the sales will go strait back into The Makers Group. If you are interested in purchasing one please get in touch, or find them in a local shop soon!