Patchwork teddy bear

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vRqmL_lUgWkXZo5ukly1fDZ4hwADFw5gIT6s7Jny0GdALZHiiT47StyXQUAyxW28fz92Rb0sha0LoH0/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

First, I want to discuss the aesthetic I chose for my upcycle project. I decided on a Patchwork and Folkart aesthetic, but it turned out to be more of a Patchwork or maximalist Aesthetic with Japanese Sashiko designs incorporated into the bear. The patchwork aesthetic can be dated back to ancient times, with Hidepark’s article stating evidence of patchwork can be found in early Chinese textiles and Egyptian tombs. Patchwork initially started as a sign of poverty, with many lower-class people having to mend their clothes. This stereotype of the work can still be seen today, with many people thinking of patchwork as mending and separating it from the patches seen within fashion. More often than not, this type of aesthetic can be seen in quilts and fashion, with patches being paired increasingly with denim fabrics. I believe that the nature of the beginnings of Patchwork and the type of clothing and objects that incorporate it can lead to the idea that Patchwork is a maximalist aesthetic because, often, the use of different fabrics and thread can be overwhelming.

Many times, people choose to make multiple patches rather than one. When you look up maximalism on Wikipedia, it states, “In the arts, maximalism is an aesthetic characterized by excess and abundance, serving as a reaction against minimalism. [1] The philosophy can be summarized as “more is more,” contrasting with the minimalist principle of “less is more.” and with the function of patchwork sometimes you have to make the most out of more is more just like how I tried within my project. However, some forms of patchwork can be seen as the opposite and fit into more of a minimalist aesthetic, such as the Japanese mending style of Sashiko. According to the stitched-up article I linked, the mending style started in the Edo period in Japan, where they used indigo-colored fabrics and cheap white thread to mend the clothing. The additional stitches that followed that style of mending were used to reinforce the fabric and make it stronger. Over time, the style became more creative with the simple running stitch pattern that the style started with, developing into different designs, especially geometric patterns. The style fits into minimalism because of the traditional practice of using simple, plain patterns with simple colors within the patch. As mentioned, the style is considered minimalist due to the elements used. Still, if you change those into colorful fabrics, thread, and stitch patterns, this style can quickly become a maximalist form of patchwork.  Due to the fact that this style of patchwork is traditional, it also fits into the Folkart aesthetic, which focuses on conventional art styles within different cultures

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As a result of learning and identifying what aesthetic I wanted to use, I successfully gathered the right materials for the bear. Initially, I had some trouble finding the jeans because I didn’t have any extra or old pairs I could rip up or any that were ripped to use for this project, so I went around the house asking if anyone in my family and my boyfriend’s family had any old jeans and luckily while checking her closet my little sister found a hideous pair of super highrise skinny jeans that didn’t fit anyone in my house and were old. It also worked well in my favor because even though the fabric wasn’t as stiff as high-quality denim, it still had that deep indigo shade I wanted the denim fabric to be. When it came time to look for the fabric choice for the patches, I began looking in boxes full of fabrics I used for my designs. I had initially decided to use plush fabrics such as Minky, faux fur, and fleece. However, because of the nature of the Sashiko stitching, using the plush fabric would make it hard for the design to stand out. Although many plush fabrics had fun textures, they were all solid colors and would make the piece seem a little too minimalistic. Due to that, I decided to change and keep only one of the fluffy fabrics and chose a white faux fur piece I had. I felt like if I made some patches with the fluffy pieces; it would look like the stuffing or inner teddy bear was coming out.

For the rest of the patches, I picked out some of the patterned cotton fabrics I had in my collection. However, choosing which ones would look good against the jeans was a little tricky because of how many I had. Ultimately, I chose some flower patterns and animal prints against the denim. After deciding on the fabrics, I had to reevaluate how to do the patches. Initially, I would complete them and see how they turned out. Still, I found it hard to keep the fabric in place with some securing stitches, so I bought an embroidery hoop, which worked perfectly to hold the pieces together and add the sashiko and embroidery patterns. The jeans I had chosen only had two holes, so for the other patches, I could cut the holes where I wanted them placed after sketching the pattern. Coming up with the actual embroidery pattern was a little tricky, too; I knew that for one of the flower patterned patches, I wanted to add little tulips embroidered around it since the embroidery thread for the green color is meant for an embroidery machine, it was a little too thin for the flower design so I had to double it up which was a little tricky because at times the thread would get tangled between themselves and knot before I was done pulling it through. The same thing happened with the neon pink thread and the blue; however, it worked out a lot better because the design for the patches was a little different, and it didn’t require a thick stem. I also used traditional embroidery thread for the patches with a denser pattern and to sew in some patches, especially the fluffy fabric, because it would still allow you to see the patchwork around it.