Pin Tucks (0.5" apart)
Technique: Pin Tucks (0.5" apart)
“Tucks are parallel folds pulled up from the surface of the fabric and held by stitching from one end of the fabric to the other. Pin tucks are narrow tucks seamed less than 1/8” (3mm) from the fold.” (Wolff, p.150, 151, 155)
Materials: Cotton print cloth (Testfabrics) 400M, bleached, not washed
Spacing/Size: Parallel tucks 1/2” apart across the fabric
Folding Methods: Ironing along the fold in the correct direction
Anchoring methods: Machine stitching, size 80 needle, white cotton thread, about 1/16” from fold
Notes and Reflections: Advantages, Disadvantages, Ideas, Evaluations
• Tucks need to be measured accurately and line up with the grain of the fabric, or they will begin to distort the fabric by pulling along the bias, making wavy lines
• Narrow spacing makes them much more prominent on the fabric, and the texture more apparent
• Narrowly spaced these resemble corduroy, but have more structure than corduroy does
Advantages:
• Tucks add dimension, detailing, and interest to the fabric surface
• They raise the texture in a very controlled and geometric way
• Closely spaced they make even and regular ridges
Disadvantages:
• Preparation and execution are even more time-consuming with close spacing and require attention to accurate measurement if the tucks are to remain straight, parallel, and aligned with the grain
• Pin tucks work best with lightweight fabrics
Ideas for Exploration:
• Pin tucks can be put into the fabric without measurement, at odd angles, and with spontaneity to raise a relief surface that is more random and distorted