The Textile Artist's Studio Handbook

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(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

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001-027_28051.indd 18 3/6/12 7:50 PM

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(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

#175 DTP:225 Page:19

001-027_28051.indd 19 3/6/12 7:50 PM

(Text)

PLANNING THE LAYOUTT HE T E x TILE ArTIs T 's sTUd IO H ANdbOOk

18

The Raw Space

Now that you have thought about the array of tech-

niques you can practice in a textile studio, there are a

few basic space issues to consider. Keep the follow-

ing in mind:

• The oor and surfaces should be completely clean-

able. (As a fiber lover, you must love rugs and drap-

ery, but in a studio they are not a good idea.)

• You will need a sufcient amount of electricity. The

outlets should be well distributed. Having many will

allow for unhindered movement and avoid acci-

dents. Outlets can be on walls, on floors, or retract-

able from the ceiling.

• North-facing natural light is ideal because it is neu-

tral in the color spectrum. Colors are most true in

neutral light. You will also need to have plenty of

artificial light—LED “Daylight” bulbs are best. In-

stalling blinds or shades will be important. Win-

dows can function as a simple ventilation system.

If you don’t like the look of LED light-

ing, install a variety of lights. Here are

florescent and halogen lights, which

will provide a neutral light source.

Use Full Spectrum Lighting

Full-spectrum is incandescent or fluorescent

light measuring more than 5500K (degrees

Kelvin) and 91CRI (Color Rendering Index),

meaning that it closely matches sunlight. This

gives you bright, non-glare light that blends

with daylight and offers good color rendition.

tip

• You don't need a sink in your main area, but con-

sider installing a utility or slop sink somewhere near

by, perhaps in a bathroom. Plastic utility sinks are

cheap, but dyes might stain them. Stainless steel

sinks are easier to maintain, but pricier. Some mate-

rials and chemicals shouldn’t be mixed in everyday

dishes even if they are nontoxic, so invest in a set of

dishes and reserve it for studio use only.

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(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

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PLANNING THE LAYOUT

19

The TexT ile ArT isT 's sTudio hAndbook

Components of

a Versatile Studio

There are four very basic components that are nec-

essary for most textile design: the worktable, a heat

source, water source/wet area, and dry/dark areas.

Each component serves many different media.

The Work Table

You will need table space for just

about every type of project, so make sure to select a

table that is versatile. It should be sturdy and large for

both convenience and safety, but should optimize the

space it takes up by using the underside for storage

with drawers or vertical slots for screens. Transform

the table with a removable padded top that can be

stored when not in use. A hard surface is good for

some things, but a padded top is essential for printing

on fabric and helpful when sewing garments. Instruc-

tions for making a simple padded table topper are at

the end of this chapter. If you are on a tight budget,

your dining room table will work well, but you might

disturb other parts of your life.

TOP The table shown here can be

completely modified with a removable

padded table top, vertical slots for

screen storage, and drawers for stor-

ing fabric and other materials.

MIDDLE A work table that works

best for your lifestyle will work

best for your studio. It’s fine if you

will need to use your dining table

because you can make a padded table

topper to protect it. The table topper

also makes it easy for you to work

anywhere.

LEFT Store your yarn cones on yarn

trees to make them accessible from

all sides. The yarn trees keep yarns

from getting dusty or moth-eaten and

if you put them on wheels, they are

completely mobile.

The Keys to Storage

Consider all your workspaces as possible

space for storage. Organization within your

storage areas is key, keeping tools and materi-

als less cluttered and easier to find. Use small

bins or drawers, zipper lock plastic bags,

or drawer separators to make space for the

various things you’ll need. You can find some

lovely, more expensive storage choices, or a

trip to a dollar store could prove a source of

inexpensive, yet functional storage items.

tip

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(Fogra 39) Job:02-28051 Title:RP-Textile Artist Handbook

#175 DTP:225 Page:19

001-027_28051.indd 19 3/6/12 7:39 PM