For this piece, I wanted to continue incorporating the visual language of the doily and lace aesthetic. Initially, however, I was unsure how to achieve this effectively. I began experimenting with the crochet thread I had been using for previous textile pieces, attempting to crochet directly around the edges of test prints.
While these experiments were interesting, I quickly realised that the technique created too much unnecessary bulk. The outcome felt visually distracting and did not achieve the delicate quality I wanted for the project. As a result, although the tests were valuable in helping me explore different possibilities, I ultimately decided not to continue with that approach and instead moved on to other methods.
Moving forward, I became interested in using a Cricut machine, a device capable of cutting vector-based designs into physical materials such as paper or vinyl. I began by experimenting with the machine using standard printer paper so that I could better understand how detailed and delicate the cuts could be in terms of scale and precision.
After these initial tests, I moved on to experimenting with thicker paper stock, specifically the 210 GSM paper that I intended to use for the final publication. This also proved successful and allowed me to achieve the level of detail I was aiming for. Ultimately, I chose the design shown next to this section, as it was the smallest and most delicate of the variations, yet it created the strongest visual impact and most effectively conveyed the lace-like aesthetic I wanted for the project.
I wanted the title page to feature cut-out typography similar to the lace-inspired designs used around the edges of the publication. To achieve this, I spent time experimenting with the small connecting tabs required to hold the letters in place and prevent the text from falling apart once cut. This process involved a considerable amount of trial and error, particularly when testing how different paper types responded to the cutting process.
I also needed to make several adjustments to the cutting settings to ensure the machine produced clean and accurate results. However, this ultimately proved less difficult than I had initially anticipated. Once I had measured and aligned the print correctly, I was able to move forward confidently with producing the final version on the official paper stock.