Hot Textiles - Health and Safety

- Work in a well ventilated room.

- Hold heat gun 25mm away from materials.

- When using a heat gun to distress materials make sure you work on a tile of a piece of glass.

- Keep hands away from materials when using the heat gun.

- Use a metal tool to hold the materials when working with the heat gun.

- Take care when using hot irons.

- When using a iron to distress materials make sure the material is placed between two sheets of parchment paper.

- Let materials cool before handling.

 

Wrapping and Coiling 3D textiles

Coiling is a basketry process and has been used by most cultures for centuries.
Coiling strengthens the fabric so it can be twisted and manipulated to produce 3D forms.

How to begin:

- Cut a length of fabric roughly 30cm long.

- Choose a thread that is not too fine.

- Lay the fabric down, then place the thread about 30mm on top of the fabric.

- While holding the fabric and thread fold it over and then start to wrap.

- Once you have wrapped as much of the fabric as you want

- To finish off tie the end of the wrapping thread to secure.

Steamer - Health and Safety

- Clear work area where steamer is situated.

- Fill bottom reservoir with water between 'min' and 'max' levels.

- Replace containers with lid.

- Turn on at the mains and set timer for desired length (about 20 minutes is usually sufficient for fabric.)

- When sample had steamed for desired time lift lid, keep hands and face away from open container.

- Remove fabric with tongs or other suitable implement - NOT fingers.

- Be aware items that have been wrapped maybe very hot, leave sample to cool down before removing wrapped objects.