Chapter 11 Make a special structure related to ‘media’

Proposal
To make a music bag 40cm wide x 30 cm long x 8cm deep using an embroidered panel.
The proposal is to make the panel from one piece, front, back and flap with 3 designs, using several methods from this module.
Within the bag will be a presentation sheet made of 3 panels, as a zigzag as found with music scores on a music stand
Design
As a guide took images of different types of bag, mostly music bags from the Internet
Insert Scan of Page 8 in notebook

Decided to use a traditional design of a music bag
Insert Scan of Page 10 in notebook

Here are a few samples of ideas, a variation on a theme
Insert Scan of Pages 9 & 11

The presentation sheet will be made from 3 enlarged zigzag paper panels using metal frames dipped in paper pulp
Insert Sample 5, Chapter 10 (bottom left)

Components
Main surface of the bag
Using a pattern to cut out the linen scrim, adding decoration on the front, back and flap based on enlarged versions of previously made samples.  1cm along each edge will be added to accommodate the seams 
Insert Scan of Page 13 in notebook

Using Sample 10, Chapter 6 for the flap
Using Sample 9, Chapter 8 for the back
Using Sample 8, Chapter 8 for the front
Insert the three samples in sequence

The surface of the bag will be made from grey linen scrim, freshly made paper and hand and machine stitched decoration.  The backgrounds will match in colour unlike the samples.
The base will be left clear of decoration, the 2 side panels also left plain but may be decorated with withdrawn thread patterns.
Side panels
The side panels will be separate strips 30cm x 8 cm x2, also in linen scrim.
Lining
Lining will be made of Decovil, cut from the same patterns above. This has a bondaweb type surface on one side to which the linen scrim, when complete, will be attached.
Insert photo of linen scrim and Decovil fabric

Straps, Handle & Treble Clef fixture 
2 straps made of Decovil, approx 5 cm wide and length to fit (approx 15cms) on to which is attached a metal or wooden strip, to go around handle when the bag is closed.  Couched on to the fabric could be lengths of wire, to look like music score. (Alternatively the straps could be made of plaited or twisted cord)
Handle of thick plaited or twisted cord in red, white and green.  Measurements approximately 15 cms long attached to the bag with metal rings.
Insert Scan of notes

Insert Photo of guitar pieces Ch4 photo 8

Treble clef motif to be added to the edge of the front flap using the techniques shown in Chapter 7.  Because of the nature of the shape and to give the surface added weight the metal frame will be retained
Insert scan of treble clef

Insert sample to show technique

The following is a full scale paper mock up of the bag showing the location of the Treble clef (and scale), excluding straps and handle, which will act as the pattern.
Insert photo

Presentation sheet
3 panels (slightly less than A3 size to fit inside the music bag) either with the metal frame retained or cut away.  Samples and drawing will be attached to the paper.

Construction
Using pattern cut the back, base, front and flap as one piece in linen scrim
Cut a second piece in Decovil fabric
Cut 2 panels; linen lengths and Decovil lengths
Main bag linen scrim to be dyed, fresh paper pulp added and stitched into, following the patterns as indicated above.  (The main fabric will have a silvery grey background rather than those shown in the samples).  The back will be made up as the original sample, with larger lettering, adding gesso and inks, musical notes burnt into the surface using a soldering iron.
The straps, handle and treble clefs will be made and attached to the main surface of the bag, using machine or hand stitching whichever seems most appropriate
The lining will be attached to the linen scrim and panels using machine stitching.
All seams will be attached using hand stitching with some decoration
The presentation sheet will be made of 3 pieces of paper made using 3 metal frames, 2 threads wrapped around to form a grid and fresh paper pulp following the techniques in Chapter 10.  The sheets will form a large zigzag book, portrait rather than landscape, so it can stand unaided or sit on a music stand. Samples and papers will be attached probably using thread.  It is important the sheets will fit in the bag.
This is a smaller scale sample of the sheet without its frame.

 

 

 

Chapter 10 Book-type and Case-type structures

Working towards finished items with elements linked to music I chose two structures made out of recycled paper with stitch to hold them together:
Book-type related to music scores
Case-type related to bags or other structures for holding music
Initially I jotted down some ideas
Insert Scan 1

Book-type related to music scores
Considering sheet music, Samples 1 to 6, 10, 13 and 15 show book-type structures in miniature.
Normally they are about A4 in size, with some variation either way.  The samples are approximately 10 cm x 10 cm.
Sample 1 shows a simple folded page, with no stitching
Sample 2 shows two folded pages, a line of equal size and spaced running stitches to hold the sheets together.  The sample has 5 stitches, but could have just two like stapling the papers together.
Insert Scan 2

Samples 3 shows four individual sheets, spirally bound using overlaying stitch 3-ply withdrawn threads from previous work.  To maintain order to the stitching a line was drawn along the top page and holes pierced 1/4 ins apart using a darning needle.  The pages were kept together using large paper clips.
Sample 4 represents a music score book made up with 3 pamphlets (a series of double folds) held together using a blanket stitch in red embroidery cotton.  A line was drawn along one edge, holes pierced along equal intervals using a darning needle, and pages held together with large paper clips.
These are more substantial and stable structures.
Sample 5 and 6 return to individual sheets of paper neither of which are stitched.  Both are folded into 3 - Sample 5 is folded as a zigzag, Sample 6 right third below the left third.  Music scores are often found like this when laid on music stands.  The zigzag arrangement could be extended by either gluing pages back to back or joining using stitching
Insert Scan 3

Sample 10 uses a commercial patterned recycled paper within a different green sheet for the cover of the book.  There are different widths of paper and seams. Papers were folded and inserted both sides of the central fold using a strong attachment of machined running stitch; the right down the centre of papers inserted one in the other, the left one with a seam not central to the sheets.  An intriguing design but possibly not one with which to go further.
Insert Scan 5

 
Sample 13 is a more complex book form which almost looks like a case without sides.  Here actual recycled scores have been torn up folded in half into 3 pamphlets within a book cover (continuous folded sheet).  There is a spine and flap with strap to fasten the book closed.  This is also a continuous length.  Zigzag machine stitching was used to strengthen the edges and especially along the folded lengths of both sides of the spine.  The strap was attached using machined zigzag stitch with decorative panels in running stitch.  Each pamphlet was attached to the spine with a different colour using white, red and green threads (Welsh national flag).  The parallel lines of stitching on the spine were then tied with small lengths of thread.  To ensure pamphlets and cover stayed lined up used large paper clips.  With a larger sample would use bulldog clips or similar.
Insert Scans 7 and 8

Sample 15 is a book made from a card envelope with flap to seal.  It contains the pages from Chapter 9 – Edges
The cover was coloured by scrapping acrylic paint (turquoise, red, yellow and silver) across the card with a plastic card, adding another layer of torn sheets of music scores with a welsh theme.  The front had a title in large lettering using black ink.  The back had an additional layer, rolling the card over a painted tiled grid (see technique from Summer school 2013).  I did try to write ‘Edges’ in glue to leave to dry as in Chapter 2, considering a wash with card using black ink, but the glue ran whilst the cover was drying.  Maybe I could have added one of the made papers with fabric and pulled threads.
To ensure the papers inside the book freely opened decided to have a type of spiral binding.  Held cover and pages together with large paper clips, holes with even spaces were punched along the spine edge, then green wire threaded through the holes three times along the length.  It was important I cut sufficient wire to complete the spirals. To ensure enough give as well as going through the hole wrapped the thread around a finger.
The book contains 6 pages, each page has 4 samples and each sample is an overlapping flap.  The borders of the pages were cut with different pinking shear patterned scissors. 
Insert 3 or 4 scans of the completed book.

 

This book design could be developed further.
Case-type related to bags or other structures for holding music
Some further sample designs in miniature (10cm x 10cm) are of folders, bags or cases for translation into life style bags for holding music, e.g. 50cm x 40cm x 5cm. 
See Samples 7 to 9, 11 and 12 and 16.  Case-type structures could also be made by providing sides to samples 13 and 15.  However further designs will probably arise when considering my final project.
Samples 7 and 8 have slight variations on one another.  They are wallet-like where Sample 7 has a longer top fold and machine stitched running stitch seams.  Sample 8 has a shorter top fold and zigzag machine stitched seams and edges.  Both have secure seams and edges and are made from one sheet of recycled paper.
Sample 9 is a variation on the theme, using a longer length of recycled paper, machine stitched using one of the set patterns on the machine.
All could be used to insert a few music scores (portrait or landscape), but for more bulky contents would require folded side inserts.  
Insert Scan 4

 
Samples 11 and 12 are variations on the wallet design. 
Sample 11 is made from a continuous length of canvas and has hand stitched seams; blanket stitch using green cotton embroidery thread.  This time the top fold is at a slant fastened with a large safety pin.
Sample 12 is similar to Sample 8 but shows a panel attached to the front using hand stitched running stitches.  Along the base is a folded section for increased space in the wallet.
Insert scan 6

Sample 16 (last above) is made from a continuous piece of brown paper overlaid with painted scrim with grid pattern.  It is then rolled up with straps along both sides.  It was a sort of accident and is currently only held together with needles!  I like the colours and texture.

The final project will be a development of a bag or case-type structure in which to hold music.