TWO questions re: "yarn art"

Sherry Lee

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 25, 2002
Posts
2,228
Loc
Phoenix, Az.
One of my customers has started doing "yarn art". She, nor I, had ever heard of this before.

She buys a 20 x 30 piece of "pressed wood" - sketches a picture on the wood and then fills in her picture with strands of yarn, glued in place with Elmers. This first piece is fabulous! Out of her first "experiment" come two questions:

1) The pressed wood is heavy. Obviously, she needs something that won't warp with the use of so much glue. Do any of you have a better suggestion? I would worry that the glue would separate from anything nonporous like Coroplast.

2) The Elmer's glue, when dried, tends to 'flake' which of course shows badly on dark colors. Do any of you have a suggestion for a glue that is okay to use with yarn and wouldn't flake, once dried?

Thanks for your help!!!
 
The "yarn art" like that that I have seen was done using wax instead of glue. Quite nice quite interesting, but I turned the framing job down as I was afraid of the microclime that glazing would cause. I was afraid the wax would melt, especially around the darker colored yarn and didn't want to be caled to the carpet to get it "fixed"!

Sounds like a cool hobby to get into, do they have an on-line forum your friend could join?
 
I second the use of wax. "Yarn painting" has been a traditional art in parts of Mexico for many years. Try beeswax on masonite.

More information about the Huichol artists.
http://www.folkart.com/newsletter/spring-2002/huicholart.htm
A particularly cool vintage piece:
http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/clt/112062161.html

I have had success framing these with about 1/2 inch between the glass and the art. No complaints so far!

The proud owners of these pieces have been happy to put museum glass on them, and keep them away from heat. I insist on UV protection because some of the dyes are quite fugitive. Even with protection, some of the brighter colors will fade. Since this would happen even if the pieces were kept in cold storage, my view is to get it framed and on the wall as soon as possible, so that as many people as possible can enjoy it at its best. Even faded, these are still impressive. I insist on glass because you can't clean these.
 
For total EASE, I would try some type of spray glue, masking as needed after exceeding open time. Interesting project...maybe a smaller or thinner board... also, spray glue minimizes the moisture absorption you'd get from elmer's. Even those canvas panels so many people love to hate could work. Paint an undercolor on it and spray away! Is there a spray that dries solid so it picks up less extraneous debris before framing/glazing? The ideas cascade..
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Hannah thanks for the input. The customer I was referring to did have a piece of Mexican art that she had picked up in So Cal. So it had a flavor of both worlds. It was interesting to say the least.

I had wanted to do a mini shadowbox out of it, with the airspace like you mentioned. She balked at the price, or "the need" to go to "that kind of trouble".

She came back to "prove" I was wrong. Driftwood frame, glass pressed tight against the glass, no matting, all for the low price of $25 each! She showed me...

Sherry Lee I hope your customer let's you treat her work with th erespect it deserves!

Merry XMas all!
 
Just a thought, could the acrylic gel medium be a good substitute for glue in this case? Wax seems like a good idea, I've used wax before to hold yarn in collage pieces, but it would have to be kept away from heat sources. Otherwise, it will probably hold for years... Would have to experiment with the gel medium, not sure what surface would be best for the bond. Could do this on stretched, unprimed canvas, or prime with colored gesso. Framing with glass would be more difficult though if going this route.
 
Wax is a concern since we are in Phoenix heat - she is considering putting these in outdoor art shows.

Re: sprays - I don't advise anyone use any spray adhesives due to the carcinogens.

Would YES paste flake like Elmers? Does CornerWeld flake?....I'll have to experiment with the latter. I don't have any YES paste.
 
Aleen's craft glue is made for just such projects. You can find it in any craft store. There are other good fabric glues that would work also. I believe one is made by Beacon.
 
Carcinogens in spray glue?! Shoot. Well, plenty of actual good ideas here from everybody else, don't mind me. Big time newb, and I can't stop posting. I just love this forum! And more careful with the sprays in future.
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Welcome Bren! This IS a GREAT forum.

Glad you are going to avoid those sprays......besides, you don't want to polute that beautiful northern California air!!

And Hanna.......I'll be sure to share your wise advice with my customer! You just think of EVERYTHING!!
 
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