Gemma Mullin- BA (Hons) Textiles in Practice
Folded Form
I am a knitted textile designer with a practice centred around the finer details and intricacies of knitting, placing an emphasis on sustainability through the use of natural fibres. Through exploring structure, shape and colour within knitted textiles, I enjoy combining an appreciation for traditional techniques with the innovative potential of modern technology.
Inspired by the structure, form, and movement of ballet costumes, particularly the exaggerated silhouettes of Oskar Schlemmer’s Triadic Ballet, ‘Folded Form’ investigates the interaction of fibre and structure through pleated knit samples. Beginning with paper experiments to explore shape, form and movement, I translated these concepts into knitted pleats using Dubied knitting machines, varying needle arrangements to generate a range of textures and forms.
I enjoy creating exaggerated shapes and sculptural qualities within knitted textiles, balancing delicacy with stability through the combination of pleat structures, tuck stitches and lace holes. Further developments using Shima Seiki software allowed me to refine these experiments, resulting in textiles with dynamic structures and a considered balance between elasticity and form.
My work involves in-depth sampling and continuous experimentation, developing solutions through problem-solving and close attention to detail. This process allows me to investigate how traditional knitting techniques can be reimagined and combined with modern technology, producing textiles that are both innovative and structurally responsive.
