Slater Mill

A video of our guide at Slater Mill explaining how carding combswere used to line up cotton fibres - a natural cellulose fibre very similar to the fibres I am working with. This was an exciting demonstration for me because I learned about the known techniques for carding in contrast to my self-guided experiments in the model shop with re-appropriated tools.

Retting and Felting

Agricultural Textiles

I am begining to be interested in designing an Agricultural Textile - a textile that is engineered to function with the process of cultivating crops. Agricultural textiles exist for many uses from retaining water, UV shields, structural support to grown plats and as the germination environment for seeds. They can have properties that include insect and animal repellants, and can reduce man work in situations where labor is expensive, or provide jobs where business is booming.

My material can be very strong and withstand a lot of water saturation, and even retain a large amount of water when it is made with Sugar Cane fibres and Polyester Fibres. When my material is made with a cotton, it is easily broken down, but provides an ideal breaking down time for seeds that could be placed in it and planted in large sheets in a filed.

With sun, the Sugar Cane will weather and become brittle and break down within weeks.