This study is an initial attempt to investigate the dialog between knitting and tufting. The approach is to experiment with different knitting techniques for different results and subsequently use the tufting as a decorative shaping tool for the knitted fabric. By using the method of trial and error, the goal was to find criteria to make the material lead. Subsequently, this study questions the common way of tufting by bringing an element of stretchy into the execution. The thesis shows the development of an alternative backing for tufting to make a wearable fabric for fashion. It was concluded that it is possible to tuft in a knitted fabric as long as the fabric has tension. The criteria for executing this method were that the knitted fabric can not be too sparsely knitted and one has to use the loop-tufting gun to be able to make stitches.

“Electrostatic textile surfaces” is a design example of surfaces which have the ability to interact to human action by movement. The design exploration was directed by the intention of achieving movement through static electricity. During this project textile techniques such as weaving and hand-tufting have been explored in combination with unconventional materials and functions and used as methods to design the surfaces. The findings from the design process regard the categorization of the yarns through the material exploration, the development of a design method through the experimentation of the technique and the surface appearance through the materialization of the method. The two final surfaces are exhibited horizontally and vertically in relation to the ground. The scale of the final structures is related to the body scale. One can electrify the surfaces by walking around or through them letting an open dialog to take place depended on personal interpretations. / Program: Master Programme in Fashion and Textile Design

The motivation for this MA work is based on the challenge to the preconception of hand-tufting through material, colour and light. When imagining a rug, a very specific image appears in our mind. Some details of that image could vary from person to person, but what is almost certain, dense and heavy, probably made out of wool, woven textile will pop up in front of our eyes. This work suggests a possibility of creating new expressions in design by the material driven approach. The investigation was led by practice based research including set up of experiments, experimental work and evaluation complementing the whole process. The exploration proved that qualities of monofilament yarn have a great ability to enhance colours as well as add certain kind of lightness to the hand-tufted piece. Furthermore, due to the transparency of monofilament yarn an interplay between the loops and the backing was possible, opening up for changes in colour perception. The outcome of the research is collection of woven and hand-tufted textiles contributing to the field of textiles by bringing new qualities to the hand-tufting technique.