"My Major Textile Project was inspired by Macraweave, Crossing Threads ® and Sustainability. Macraweave (a combination of macramé and weaving), which is shown through the traditional natural colours of the macramé rope used, the various different combinations of the 4 basic knots, and through the use of various types of yarn and fabrics woven within my piece. Sustainability is reflected throughout my MTP through using sustainable materials and reusing, repurposing and upcycling materials to represent the environmental issues affecting the textiles industry as well as a coastal theme. This is shown through the use of natural blues and sand like colours through use of coffee dyeing, upcycling old pairs of jeans, the use of organic fibres, yarns and fabrics and sustainable embellishments such as sea glass as well as the use of sea shells and fish netting. I have also repurposed a piece of branch from the bush and created my own piece of drift wood, as an alternative to removing natural drift wood from the environment. Crossing Threads ® has inspired my wall hanging as they create fibre art that is heavily inspired by nature and the Australian landscape including Australian coastlines. Their heavily embellished and textured pieces use various sustainable fibres, which involve Australian Merino wool, plant-based fibres, up-cycled fabrics, roping and other foraged items that arent traditionally used in fibre art. I have creatively produced my own driftwood alternative by using a branch from the bush, which was no longer attached to a tree, as it is not a sustainable practise to collect driftwood off the beach and I have innovatively incorporated both macramé and weaving, as well as the use of various other sustainable materials, devised my own pattern and design rather than following an existing design, and developed a unique interpretation derived from my inspirations. During the process of making my MTP I learnt various unique, creative and innovative techniques to incorporate throughout my work and to be able to utilise basic macrame and weaving techniques in various different ways and combinations. The most enjoyable and valuable aspect of my MTP was using my hands to knot and weave all elements in my wall hanging and during the process being able to escape from other stresses. The most challenging aspects of the process of my MTP was the size and dimensions of the wall hanging and also completing it during lockdown at home."
