From Metaphor to Method
I like to think of myself as a creative person. I often come up with original ideas and seem to have developed a knack for coming up with metaphors on the spot when explaining concepts to people.
However, whilst I also enjoy creating things, I am not visually creative. At least, not in the sense of being able to visualise something in my mind. Web design is easy—I can play around with layouts, colours, typography, and spacing. But ask me to come up with a visual concept in my head and I have… nothing.
Complete darkness.
Perhaps unsurprising, given that I have aphantasia. Incidentally, I didn’t discover this until I was in my late forties. Who knew that other people could actually see images in their mind?
Clearly not me!
But I digress.
More and more, my social media feeds have been filled with other people’s crochet projects. Two in particular. One is a pattern that was released a few years ago—Persian Tiles—and the other, a current MAL (make along) by a favourite designer of mine, Tatsiana of Lilla Björn.
Persian Tiles has always interested me because, as its name suggests, it looks like tiles. However, I am yet to see a colour combination that truly sings to me—and I am incapable of coming up with my own.
But this new design by Tatsiana—the Fae Fleur Blanket—has successfully captured my imagination. After seeing several colour combinations, I was able to come up with my own, based upon the colour scheme of my website. And instead of the symmetrical layout used in Tatsiana’s original design, my idea is to use a diagonal gradient of colour.
As these ideas formed, I realised I had accidentally discovered a visual representation of the metaphors I have been employing. Firstly, the design itself comprises octagons, squares, and triangle motifs that are joined together and then framed by a textured border.
Just like a mosaic.
Just as I am piecing together concepts, beliefs, and history.
Secondly, the gradient of colours will echo my research journey of discovery and meaning-making.
Thirdly, it will become a vehicle to support my reflexive practice during my doctoral journey.
Moreover, I see this project as a way to connect with my ancestors. Both in the making and in the future use of the blanket.
Perhaps this too will outlive the creator by fifty years.
Me being me—a woman with a mission—I spent a couple of hours finding the exact yarns that I wanted for this project. And before the evening was over, I had invested a small fortune ordering yarn from two separate suppliers—on opposite sides of the world.
