Inspiration Board:

Inspired by the bumps and ridges of the cactus especially the structure of the dried skeletal form of the cactus. This blanket was woven with the idea of comfort and reducing anxiety in mind. The waffle weave structure gave the blanket extra weight and thickness that give some pressure to the user for a calming effect. The holes created from the waffle structure offered extra sensory-based interventions that further helps calm the user. Through felting the woven blanket, the loose threads of the waffle weave became more structural so that it would not be caught on things to easily. By using wool, the fiber would keep the user warm while regulating temperature and it would be easily felted. Visually, I used the waffle weave to closely resemble the texture and structure of the dried cactus. By using the tapestry technique I wanted to reinforce the idea of the knobby and uneven texture that represents the awkward characters in our lives and ourselves. 

Final Samples

Samples for final explorations in deciding color and structure for the final blanket. The white wool brought out the depth of the shadows of the waffle weave structure. The waffle weave allowed for thickness/padding and the tapestry brought irregularities of texture and interest to the blanket. The decision to tapestry the waffle weave allowed the blanket to convey a sense of rawness to the blanket.