The combination of handmade and machine-made which when combined together will create an exceptional impact on viewers in some ways. This project focuses on creating an illusion by combining prints and knits together under the theme of sustainability.
Inspired by a handmade technique, tie-dye, is a process that requires water and it is hard to control the result. It pollutes water and is not good for the environment. So I decided to mimic flows of dyes by hand-painted black ink on sheer paper and scanned it to make a pattern, which can be repeated several times and developed into other shapes, in this project I chose geometric shapes to create a contrast between handmade and machine-made. This digital printing method saves time and water and reduces error results that might come from the dyeing process. In addition to the sustainable concept, I selected recycled polyester yarn and 100% organic cotton yarn to knit and instead of using an industrial knitting machine, I save energy by using a hand-knitting machine that can be operated by hand. After that, I printed on top of the fabrics which made them look like they were made with an industrial knitting machine.
From this project, I found a new way to combine craft and technology together by making a tie-dye effect on fabrics without wasting water and creating patterns on knits without using an industrial knitting machine.