Textiles and Design

Home > Textiles and Design > Major Textiles Project > Textiles and Design Major Textile Project forum questions

Major Textile Project

Textiles and Design Major Textile Project forum questions

Focus areas

Textile arts

What is the definition of textile arts?

With textile art do the markers have high standards in the area of construction techniques?

I am making a wearable textile art. My main concern with what I am doing is that, I am unsure if in my supporting documentation I have to mention or say where, this piece of textile art belongs, e.g. museum.

I'm making a textile art and a large percentage of my time is being spent on paper mache and mechanics, I was wondering is their any specified percentage of how much actual fabric or textile the project has to include?

Apparel

I am designing a formal dress for my major textiles project. I wanted to know if I could have the seams of my dress overlocked by someone else? Is that allowed? If not, what seams can I have on my dress?

I am making a formal dress for my major textiles work and the marking pencil has marked my skirt and won't come off. I have had it dry-cleaned and it still won't come off. Will my marks overall be affected by this? How could I let the markers know that this has happened?

If I make matching beaded necklaces and earrings to go with my major textiles project will I receive extra marks?

Costume

Is a headpiece made with wire and decorated with ribbon included as textiles if it goes with a costume?

I'm doing costume and was wondering if I made jewellery or a headdress will it be incorporated into the marking of my major textile item?

If I create a headband to go with my MTP what is required of me in my supporting documentation? Should I just include it with nothing? Should I do a simple portfolio with it? Or explain in detail what I have made as I have done with the rest of my MTP?

I am making a kimono for my major work. I am also going to make a pair of fishermen pants. I was wondering if I have to do a supporting document for the pants too?

Would it be considered bad taste to make a costume for a drag queen?

What is the definition of textile arts?

In terms of the Textiles and Design syllabus, textile arts refers to a garment or object which may be suitable for display or if it is wearable would not be considered suitable for regular use. If an object does not fit into the category of apparel, non-apparel, furnishing or costume then the remaining focus area is textile art. A textile art expresses an idea through the medium of textiles. While it may have components made from other materials it should predominantly feature textiles.

With textile art do the markers have high standards in the area of construction techniques?

The Marking guidelines determine how the markers will judge your textile item in all areas, including the degree of proficiency (how well you make it). You will earn full marks in this area if you satisfy the following: "Degree of proficiency in manufacture of quality textile item(s), utilise appropriate techniques in the construction and/or design and completes the item(s) to a high standard of manufacture."

This could impact in two areas of your supporting documentation. Firstly, "Design inspiration: Relevance to focus area: explaining the relationship of the design inspiration to the nominated focus area". As your textile item is a piece of textile art, you need to explain how it relates to this focus area.

Now, some pieces of textile art are intended to be worn (you have said that yours is a wearable textile art). This will require a different explanation than for a textile art piece that is only for display.

Secondly, "Visual design development: critically analysing the functional and aesthetic aspects of the design". For a display textile art item, this would include mentioning that one of the functions of the piece is that it is to be viewed (for example, in a museum) and not worn. This will have implications for its design features, care requirements, etc. Also, aesthetically, you could justify some decorative techniques that may be impossible to use on an item that is to be worn.

Something to think about: if yours is a wearable textile art, and yet you say it belongs in a museum; does this mean that it actually won't be worn?

Some MTP pieces may require materials other than textiles, such as wire, to make them work. The project is a textiles one however, so you need to ensure that the collection of your textile item(s) have enough textiles in them to be able to earn you top marks. The markers will be looking at the overall project to see at what level you have satisfied the marking guidelines.

Yes, you may outsource (get someone else to do) some of the work for your textile item. However, if you choose to do so, you must acknowledge the fact in your supporting documentation. You will not be able to gain marks for that area then, so you must ensure that you do enough other work in order to be able to gain marks. Overlockers are available in most schools, and are not that difficult to use. Are you not able to access one?

I think you have learned a very valuable, albeit painful, lesson in how you should and shouldn't mark fabrics. If the dress is unwearable because of this, then I think that your marks would be affected. I think this would occur in the area of "degree of proficiency in manufacture of quality textile item(s)". Putting it in perspective, this section is worth only five marks out of the total of 50 for the whole MTP, and I'm assuming that the rest of your formal dress will be impeccably made. Is there no way you can salvage your dress? Is it maybe time for some beading to be added?

If I make matching beaded necklaces and earrings to go with my major textiles project will I receive extra marks?

Unless they are textile items, they will not contribute to your marks in the MTP.

Is a headpiece made with wire and decorated with ribbon included as textiles if it goes with a costume?

Some MTP pieces may require materials other than textiles, such as wire, to make them work. The project is a textiles one however, so you need to ensure that the collection of your textile item(s) have enough textiles in them to be able to earn you top marks. The markers will be looking at the overall project to see at what level you have satisfied the marking guidelines.

I'm doing costume and was wondering if I made jewellery or a headdress will it be incorporated into the marking of my major textile item?

Does the jewellery or headdress have textile applications? If so, it will be included.

If the headband is a textile item, then you should treat it the same as the other components in your supporting documentation.

I am making a kimono for my major work. I am also going to make a pair of fishermen pants. I was wondering if I have to do a supporting document for the pants too?

Yes, your supporting documentation should address and reflect all textiles items you have produced for your MTP.

Would it be considered bad taste to make a costume for a drag queen?

The markers make no moral judgements about a student's choices for the MTP.