The undergraduate summer show is coming just round the corner. As part of our ‘In The Workshop’ series we caught up with BA Textile Design student Daisy Buckle who will be graduating this year. Daisy has spent most of the last three years in the Chelsea 3D and textile workshops. Daisy explains the different materials she works with, her plans for the summer show and her ambitions for next year.
Describe your experience at Chelsea in 3 words.
Experimental, self-motivated, trial and error.
What have you enjoyed most about studying at Chelsea?
Being able to use the range of workshops on offer. The help and expertise from the studio technicians has allowed me to explore and try out new ideas in all of them.
Changing the nature of the fabric – Daisy Buckle
Please tell us about what you are working on for your final show.
I am currently working on a range of pieces which use a combination of different materials and processes in order to create unique designs. I’m focusing on the idea of transforming a fabric from what it was originally into something almost unexpected and new.
What specialist facilities in the workshops have you used to make the pieces?
In the weave workshop, I am operating a TEXEL loom with two cloths, and also using the ceramics workshop to cast materials. To create my designs I need to set up the warps which I use on the loom, then set the loom up and weave the fabric. I consider which processes to use, whether the clay workshop, print studio or other. These processes all take a lot of time but it is worth the outcome. They can be unpredictable but are incredibly interesting and unique.
Fired weaving – Daisy Buckle
Have you been working with a particular technician? If so how have they helped you develop your work?
Both weave technicians are on hand to help with any complexities on the loom. The clay workshop technicians have been incredibly helpful giving me insight on glazes, casting techniques and helping to fire the pieces I have created.
What has been your greatest technical challenge so far and how have you overcome it?
When you put things in the kiln, particularly something you have taken a long time to weave, it can be stressful. Lots of the initial test pieces I did would break and it was all about overcoming these challenges. I needed to work out how to retain the quality of my work whilst also trying to achieve a greater amount of structural integrity.
Also, the techniques on the loom I have been using, such as pleating, can take a long time to make. You need to get the tension on the loom right, which comes with lots of practice.
Exploring – Daisy Buckle
What do you see yourself doing after you graduate, what are your career ambitions?
I aim to set up my own designer maker studio so that I can inspire others to be as experimental and unusual with textiles as I am. I want to carry on exploring and finding new ideas and combinations of processes to make new creative solutions.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about doing your course? Any advice?
Make sure you throw any preconceptions about what textiles can be out of the window. You can be as experimental and individual as you like. That’s when new and creative things start happening.
Ceramic textiles – Daisy Buckle
You can see more of Daisy’s work on her website.
Find out more about BA Textile Design and our 2016 Chelsea Summer Shows.