Patterns with Ripstop Nylon

Intention

The goal of this exploration was to create 2 dimensional form by layering laser cut ripstop nylon. For my final pattern, I learned from some of the methods used in lace, where complex patterns are backed with or integrated into a light mesh.

The motivation for this project was the class Inflatables and Soft Sculpture in which we are currently scaling up stuffed animals to inflatables (1in to 9in). There are prints in the fabric on the stuffed animal that we want to scale up with the inflatable. We don't have any way to dye or print on the fabric so we decided to cut the forms into the material.

Process

My documentation of this process is more focussed on the process of iteration, rather than the tools that I used. I created all patterns in Adobe Illustrator and cut the patterns on IDEATE's laser cutters. (The settings I used for cutting the Ripstop were: Speed = 100; power = 25% .

1) Simple cut through

You might note that some of the geometry in the above pattern is flimsy and un-secure. It was at this point that i realized I need to find a way to support the pattern.

2) Mesh Pattern

It should be noted that some of the material was too thin, and it tore. I used the pattern with larger spacing in later iterations.

Also, I discovered that the form creates a wonderful 3d form if you pin it properly.

3) Objects laid over mesh pattern, objects created from mesh pattern, both objects laid over mesh, and object created from mesh within the objects(This “object” refers to some 2d geometry that I’ve either intersected with or cut out of the pattern)

The overlay of geometries as well as the pattern that utilized both methods

The objects created with the mesh pattern. (This was actually done by intersecting the two paths in illustrator)

4) Textured Elephant Ear

5)Miscellaneous laser samples

Simple cuts of the Ripstop.

Lowering the bed of the lasercutter allows one to un-focus the laser and create texture and line that the laser would not usually provide.

Product

Final Iteration:

Reflection

I know there are other ways to create pattern on textiles and I’m very excited to explore some of these other methods. With regard to this set of experiments, I’m satisfied with the final product. After realizing that a mesh pattern can hold geometries in place it became a fairly simple matter of iterating around that.

This project also allowed offered me the experience experimentation and iteration within textiles -- this is certainly something I hope to do a lot more of in the future.

Sample Book