About
A follow on optional project from retail therapy 10 where a minimum batch of 5 was to be made to sell on Kickstarter through their make 100 scheme.
Idea
Stemming from similar origins to Eden, using airdry clay. Both products started with imprinting knit wear into the clay and later separated to one being slip cast and the other using a slip dipped piece of knitting.
Challenges
The biggest challenge was working 2 different avenues streams while not reducing the quality of work. The dipped knitting presented challenges as the first prototypes were extremely fragile after firing, while the slip casting mould for the other presented difficulties due to both the making of the mould and the size/weight of the mould.
Result
I was happy with the result of both products. From a lot of experimentation the knitting pattern comes through very well on the dipped knitting and the transparent, colourless glaze compliments the manufacture and process well. For the slip cast bowl, I believe the choice of glaze really emphasises the knitting pattern on the outside while giving a clean look on the inside.
Slip Casting
This was a brand new process for which there were a lot of variables such as the thickness of the slip, the length of time in the plaster mould, cleaning up of the cast both before and after firing. For each bowl produced the length of time the slip was left in the plaster mould was adjusted to suit the thickness of the clay slip.
Knit and Clay Slip
To ensure the knit pattern could be easily identified knitting needles, gravity and time were used. After the knitting was dipped into the slip it was placed onto knitting needles on top of a bowl to allow for extra slip to drip off and preserve the texture. The slip was also slowly built up after the initial dip to ensure strength to the product.
Paradox
Paradox is a series of 10 trinket dishes created from a piece of knit. Made from dipping 100% cotton knit into stoneware slip, this product is a paradox as the knit is eternalised in ceramic while the original knit burnt away in the kiln. Paradox is perfect for on both a bedside table for jewellery, coins or glasses or in a hallway or kitchen for keys, card clips or other trinkets.
Slip Stitch
Slip Stitch is a bi-coloured, slip-cast, stoneware bowl. The blue glaze on the outside of the bowl highlights the knitted texture while a white glaze has been used to produce a smooth clean finish on the interior. This design was produced from dipping a garter stitch knit piece into plaster.
RGE Design 