Sunday 5 July 2009

Pringle & Murray scarves - 'Urban Fabric' collection launched!



The above image shows Pringle & Murray's first scarf collection! Wendy Murray is a fellow weaver from the Art School and we share a love of architecture and a common aesthetic for bold, graphic and luxurious fabrics.

Inspired by the colours, patterns and textures found in architecture, Wendy’s research sources are the cityscapes of Berlin and London, in particular the colour proportions she observed through her design research. The grey tones of the architecture provide the neutral backdrop to her fabrics with flashes of vibrant, exciting colour taken from grafitti, reflections and urban fabric of the cities.

My sources of inspiration are the cities of Glasgow and Copenhagen, which share the same line of latitude and therefore quality of light. Inspired by the differences in the colour palettes of each city, my fabric’s patterns and colours are taken directly from my observational research and drawings. Whereas Wendy’s fabrics focus on the linear, mine introduce a hand drawn repeat pattern element. This contrast of interpretation gives our collection, ‘Urban Fabric’, its desirability.

The collection is digitally printed on to luxurious wool delaine and silk habotai. Scarves will be made to order and colourways and patterns are interchangeable. The silk squares are especially suited to womenswear. The wool delaine rectangles are unisex. We can also provide a range of sizes if preferred. Please contact us to discuss sizes and costs...


Pringle & Murray scarves - Silver-mustard-navy linear

Pringle & Murray scarves - Turquoise-silver-aqua linear

Pringle & Murray scarves - Charcoal-lime-pink linear

Pringle & Murray scarves - Olive-mustard-pink linear

Pringle & Murray scarves - Charcoal-lime-pink linear

Thursday 2 July 2009

Ribbon weaving


This photo and the one below show two of my degree show collection fabrics. They were made on a dobby loom using viscose ribbon and yarn. The viscose has fantastic drape and the surface of each fabric has a subtle sheen. Both of these fabrics would make really sexy dresses...

Warp figuring fabric

Patterns on ceramics



I'm really interested in trying out some of my patterns on ceramics. This image is a photoshop visualisation of how one of my hand-drawn design development ideas would work on a Habitat espresso cup. One day I'll get round to actually trying my idea out using digital ceramic transfers.

Blue glass reflections collage

Lots of windows collage

Sketchbook pages...



I do most of my thinking about design development in sketchbook, and I love working things out in them. Sketchbooks give me the freedom to work with shapes and texture, without having to worry about the technicalities of working with textiles. Lots of the designs I record would work in print or embroidery - they are not just ideas for weaving.

Sketchbook page

Sketchbook page

Sketchbook page

Sketchbook page

Colour matching in colour book


I love colour... a major part of my research involved trying to closely match the colours I observed in my photos. I did this by painting papers with a gouache and some pearlescent inks. The photo above and the four below are of pages from my colour book and show how I recorded interesting colour combinations.