Just Do Something

Dissertation: How Can Repetative Craft Techniques Improve Well-Being

Nicki — Sun, 03 Jan 2016 20:42:54 +0000

I found writing my dissertation very difficult, in the beginning I struggled to narrow down my topic into a relevant question. At the beginning of my research I had rough idea of what I wanted to do and why I wanted to look at the subject of well-being. I have had mental health issues over the years and also have OCD and found that working creatively using my hands has helped me to feel better, I wanted to understand why this was the case. Also to carry out in depth academic research as this was not something I had done before. Once I had my question I found I easily got distracted whilst carrying out research and would go off topic and find myself researching a very interesting non relevant topic. I booked a tutorial with Les Bicknell to discuss the academic theory required to support my dissertation, during the tutorial I was able to understand why and what were the drivers behind my choice of title. This was also really useful as it gave me an academic framework to fit my primary research to.

I found many opportunities to carryout primary research and particularly enjoyed this part of my dissertation. .

As I have dyslexia I was able to access dyslexia tuition, this was really helpful enabling me to plan my research, and focus on the relevant point of the dissertation structure. After many hours my dissertation was complete Hurrah !!

Learning to take forward ….

I can do it .. My confidence in my academic ability has improved as a result of writing my dissertation, it has also improved my writing skills which were very rusty.

Using my USP to develop my skills. (I enjoy making contact with people and was able to develop relationships to enable me to carryout and develop my primary research)

Body Project

Nicki — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 20:13:03 +0000

For this project I wanted to look at the brain, in particular how to visualise OCD, I wanted to show non sufferers how OCD thoughts can feel. I wanted to explore this in fibre, for this project I chose to work with ‘non standard’ fibres, viscose, milk protein, silk noil, angelina fibre using wool (Swaledale) to blend the fibres together. I also wanted to experiment using non standard dyes, I chose to use food colouring. Following a discussion with a lady I met at the Wingham Wool weekend who explained how fibres can be dyed using Wiltons food colouring as the dyes are unstable in hot water various colours can be achieved.

Soaked Mixed Fibres – white wine vinegar/water Dye Vat – Blue Wiltons food colouring (entire bottle)

Mixed Fibres straight out of dye bath Mixed Fibres after rinsing (see ****)

******* Mixed fibres were placed in the dye bath at the same time, each fibre type colour varied dependant on colour absorption.

Fibres blended on drum carder to create bats Large pile of bats – ready to spin

Examples of spun yarn

Images showing yarn in context

Learning to take forward……………

Continue to experiment and explore…….

Yarn sample file to be continued – this enabled appropriate choice of fibres for this project

Develop use of unusual materials

Woolly Well-Being Workshop

Nicki — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 17:02:23 +0000

To support my research for my dissertation I decided to facilitate a Woolly Well- Being Workshop, creating a large piece of knitting that would enable a large group of knitters to knit from the same piece of knitting all at the same time.

I created a piece of machine knitting with multiple legs that would enable each knitter to pick up the stitches and to continue knitting from the end of the’ knitted leg’ , no restriction were placed on the knitters such as colour or size of needle or yarn thickness. The workshop was about having fun and enjoying the process.

The beginning … The middle ……….

IMG_1917 Click on the link to see a short film of the knitting in progress

The day was very successful, each knitter was asked to complete a label to attach to their knitting and a subsequent label on how they felt knitting improved their wellbeing.

The end ………..

The workshop went well, I think all the participants enjoyed themselves, next time the knitted legs could be made longer to prevent back ache!

Each label was removed from the knitting and collated into a small book alongside the second label containing the participants views on how knitting has helped their wellbeing. This book contains a snapshot of each person, this outcome was not the intentional product but I think is a more valuable resource than the piece of knitting. This event created a valuable research resource for my dissertation.

Book

Learning to take forward…

Look at the incidental outcomes , this can be a more valued resource than the initial intended outcome.

Using a variety of mediums to record events (need to develop film editing skills)