Comfort Zones : The delicate relationship between knitted surfaces and filling materials experienced through human comfort/discomfort

Sammanfattning: This paper describes a practice- based research project in which physical and emotional comfort and discomfort is experienced by the human body. A variety of different Comfort Zones are presented. All of them deal with the relationship between filling material and cover, in which knitted structures and materials play a central role in order to create comfort. The elasticity of the knit is challenged when creating volume and emphasizes the idea that comfort is elastic in material/physical way, as well as well in emotions. The use of filling materials gives a new dimension, sensitivity and offers new opportunities. This form exploration discusses the potential of knit to serve as a cover and decorative element, but most importantly the possibility of a textile to create its own filling. By rolling up a knitted tube, volume is built up layer by layer; a torus appears and captures a void in the center of the form, required by the tube, the fundament. Hints of discomfort are given and emphasized by either surface/structure, volume or garments on the body.