Homage to handmade : an exploration of pre-industrial needlework

The idea for Homage to Handmade: An Exploration of Pre-Industrial Needlework arrived during a classmate’s thesis presentation about potential applications of 3-D printing for theatre costuming. A jacket button or textile, for example, could be 3-D modeled, providing a designer with precisely what they want, and a large quantity of buttons or several yards of fabric could be produced quickly and inexpensively. Her presentation was fascinating and I knew she would do well with her study, but my mind began to wander down a path away from my colleagues. “What does the 3-D printer mean for people who work with their hands?” I thought to myself. “If textiles, and buttons can be so quickly fabricated, will the skills of sculptors and weavers be valued in the future? Will those skills be taught or will they eventually become forgotten and obsolete?” I looked around the room and listened to the feedback of my peers and remembered how few people share my perspective on technology. As the discussion carried on I wrote down my new thesis idea in my notebook. My thesis objective is to build a wig, sew a shirt, coat, waistcoat, and breeches in the style of an 18th century gentleman entirely by hand, id est, without the help of a sewing machine. The shirt will have handmade bobbin lace sewn to the neck opening bosom ruffle, and the waistcoat will be embellished with hand embroidery. These garments and hand processes serve two purposes. On the surface they will be pieces for my portfolio and a personal exercise in refining my needlework skills and acquiring additional ones. I enjoy sewing and take great pride in the process of making. But more profoundly, these items will be a physical representation of disenchantment with new technology. They represent a hope to maintain traditional craft while much of the world is in awe of technological progress. Through my needlework not only will I learn about creating historical garments and wigs, but I begin to answer the question, “why would anyone in this century choose to make something by hand?” This project is the beginning of a lifelong exploration