Lesson 1

Fiber Emballage

What is it?

Fiber Emballage is a form of fiber art that integrates the techniques from Macrame to create fiber art forms by wrapping of yarn and other natural materials around structural materials like rope and wire. This technique was popularized by Mandi Smethells in 2017 and has emerged as a novel trend in fiber arts. Tutorials of this technique have been recently published in the June 21st, 2018, issue of Molly Makes.

Examples of Fiber Emballage by Mandi Smethells can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/mandismoothhills/?hl=en

But if you look at it closely, emballage, or wrapping with fiber has been around for longer than seven years. Mandi just brought the technique back into popularity and made it something of a trend.  As the saying goes… what was old is new again.

We are going to start with some inspiration and look at what textile artists from around the world are doing with this interesting textile art form.

Then we will look at materials that we can use to practice emballage and begin to learn basic wrapping techniques.

 

 

 

 

Inspirational Textile Artists

Mandi Smethells                           https://www.instagram.com/mandismoothhills/?hl=en

Alicia Scardetta                             aliciascardetta.com 

Maria Elena Sotomayor                telaresytapices.blogspot.com

Michaela Kučerová                       https://www.instagram.com/made_bymishel/

Sheila Hicks                                  WORKS

Bisa Butler                                     Home |Bisa Butler Art

Julia Wright                                    Julia Wright (@julia_._wright)• Instagram photos and videos

Aude Franjou                                 Instagram

Fin & Nox                                      Instagram

Evalepri                                          Instagram

Ruben Marroquin                          Ruben Marroquin Art

Ana Mariani                                   Ana Mariani

Genevieve Bozec                           https://www.totems-et-tubes.com/

Annienke                                        ANNIENKE

Helena Emmans                             Hand dyed thread pieces —Helena Emmans

Abigail Doan                                   https://www.abigaildoan.com

Marjeane                                         MARJEANE(Marion Coudert) - Textile artist

Thomas Defalco                              Instagram

Myra Burg                                       Art For The Wall | Myra Burg Quiet Oboes |United States

Amanda McLaurin                          Amanda McLaurin - Contemporary AbstractFiber Artist

Ateliepitoresco                                Instagram

Jennifer Christie                              Instagram

Charlene Jol                                    Instagram

Tammy Kanat                                 Tammy Kanat

Anton Alverez                                 ThreadWrapping Architecture – Anton Alvarez

 

 

               

Wrapping Techniques

As far as I have been able to discover, there are three basic wrapping techniques.  They are pretty much the same, they  just vary a bit in the way they finish off and it will be up to you to choose the one that you find easiest or most appropriate to use for the job.  I find that I use different approaches for different types of projects.  Some are just easier in different circumstances and ease of wrapping seems to be what it’s all about.

 

Wrapping Technique 1

This technique I found used more in jewelry making and by Mexican and South American makers. It involves using a doubled fiber and a lark’s head knot and using glue to secure the end.

You attach the double strand of fiber to the rope by means of a lark’s head knot and then wrap the double strand of fiber around the rope.  If a variegated fiber is used this results in an interesting pattern.  The fiber is usually secured at the end with glue.

Demo Video

 

Wrapping Technique 2

Gathering Knot  or Whipping

This is used in macrame and in sailing:

The only difficulty with this technique is that you need to have some idea, in advance, of how much colour you want to wrap because you need to make a loop, the length of the desired wrap, in advance of wrapping.  Typically, you would use this for small areas of colour though there is nothing to prevent you from adding another section in the same colour in just the same way.  It is often done.

Demo Video

 

Wrapping Technique 3

The difference with this technique is that the loop is at the top end not the bottom and you start wrapping there to secure the tail, Once the tail has been secured, you pull on the tail to carefully pull the loop under the wrapping and continue wrapping the rope.  When you have finished wrapping (which can be as long as you want), you thread your loose end on a needle and hide it by inserting the needle up several layers of the wrap and then cutting off the fiber as close as you can.

(Forgive my drawing – it was last minute – I couldn’t find one)

 

Demo Video