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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2019/2020

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Centre for Open Learning : Creative Arts

Undergraduate Course: Textiles: Introduction to Stitch (LLLA07231)

Course Outline
SchoolCentre for Open Learning CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryExplore the creative potential of mark-making with hand and machine stitch to develop a personal project.
Course description Academic Description: Students will investigate the creative potential of mark-making with needle and thread. Beginning with the exploration of line and how it can be translated into stitch. Experimenting with machine and hand stitch on a variety of traditional and experimental grounds, students will produce a range of samples. Using the idea of the line as a theme, students will be encouraged to build a body of research, enabling then to develop a personal project.

Outline of Content
The course teaching is typically delivered over weekly class sessions of around 3 hours each and totaling 30 hours. Alternatively, the course can be delivered more intensely or as a block if required.
Over the class sessions the course will cover:
Introduction to Fine Art Textiles. Mark making through drawing
Mark making with stitch - Exploring Hand sewing
Drawing with the sewing machine
Developing a design / building a sketchbook
Experimental grounds - Exploring surfaces for stitch
Building a surface - couching and other applied techniques
Developing a personal project
Presenting work

The Learning Experience: The teaching will be based and delivered in specialist art and design studios or workshops and will typically include a range of practical exercises, introductions to techniques, processes and concepts, and set projects which lead to more focused and personal exploration. Over the course, student progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor. Teaching will include practical demonstrations, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

For work required to be undertaken after the class hours are complete, the course tutor will set students a 'directed study plan' which can be undertaken without the need for specialist workshops or access to models.

Directed study will include research into a range of suggested artists and their associated movements to engender a contextual awareness. Students are expected to demonstrate how their research has informed their work through annotated sketchbooks, a visual digital journal and practical outcomes.

The Directed Study Plan will include preparing evidence of research and practical work to form an appropriate presentation for assessment.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs Unless otherwise stated, all students on this short course pay a published course fee per enrolment.
In addition to the learning and teaching resources and content, this fee also includes:

Cutting mats / Craft knives
Heat tools
Some basic sewing equipment
Sewing machines
Iron / ironing board

In addition to the course fee, students are expected to provide the following list of indicate tools, materials and equipment:

Basic sewing kit
Selection of needles and pins
Fabric Scissors and small embroidery scissors
A quick un pick (seem ripper - small sharp device for unpicking stitching)
Threads for hand and machine embroidery (black, white, gray with one or two colours)
Embroidery hoop - 22cm approx
Some plane white/cream cotton fabrics, muslin, calico, and lawn.
Approx 30cm. fabrics can be recycled, shirts sheeting etc. as required.
Sewing machine needles and bobbins
Basic art design materials
Hard backed sketch book.
Some drawing materials, pencils, charcoal, pastels, inks etc
Glue - Pritt stick, PVA
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Research, context and ideas (33.3%): Use a range of research strategies to develop a personal language through the use of the sketchbook or visual journal, which demonstrates an understanding and contextual awareness of the creative potential of stitch.
  2. Practice, skills and techniques (33.3%): Demonstrate the basic skills of hand and machine stitch, by producing a range of experimental samples, exploring the qualities unique to mark making with thread and stitch.
  3. Selection, presentation and reflection (33.3%): Demonstrate an awareness of how to document, edited and select a coherent body of work, which has been underpinned by your research and practice.
Reading List
Suggested Reading:

Oei, L. and De Kegel, C., 2002, Elements of Design, London: Thames and Hudson.
Monem, N., ed., 2008, Contemporary Textiles - fabric of fine art, London: Black Dog Publishing.
Hedley, G. 2010. Drawn To Stitch. Loveland, CO: Interweave Press LLC.
Kovats, Tania. 2005. The Drawing Book. London: Black Dog.
Art Textiles of the World series, Telos Books.
Millar, Lesley, and Astrida Berzina. 2007. Cloth And Culture Now. Canterbury: University for the Creative Arts.
Textural Space. 2001. [Surrey]: Surrey Institute of Art and Design University College, Print.

Journal and periodicals:
Selvage, Crafts Magazine, The Journal of WSD, Embroidery

Web sources:
http://www.textileartist.org
http://www.edge-textileartists-scotland.com
http://www.62group.org.uk
http://www.worldofthreadsfestival.com
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Show understanding of composition and design
Undertake research
Develop a reflective practice
Project planning and documentation
Editing, selection and presentation of work
KeywordsTextiles,stitch,drawing,sketchbook,research
Contacts
Course organiserMr Oliver Reed
Tel:
Email: Oliver.Reed@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Kameliya Skerleva
Tel: (0131 6)51 1855
Email: Kameliya.Skerleva@ed.ac.uk
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