Fabric Spoke Guards.
Spoke guards are usually made from plastic with the design printed on them, but what about fabric spoke guards! Sophie Woodham, a student on the Foundation Degree Textile course at Cardiff and Vale College contacted SpokeGuards and said that was exactly what she was doing; designing spoke guards made from fabric. The initial reason Sophie decided to make fabric spoke guards for her own chair and other people’s wheelchairs was to add some fun and colour to everyday life. Furthermore, these spoke guards can be removed and washed when they become dirty.
Sophie told us these fabric spoke guards would be attached to a plastic skeleton and an elasticated edge to the fabric would hold it in place. However, she needed some clips to hold the skeleton onto the wheel. SpokeGuards supplied Sophie with the required clips and bands!
The solid skeleton was made using acrylic material which was cut into the shape and size of the wheels, and held onto the wheel with clips and bands supplied by SpokeGuards. Sophie then dipped the fabric into coloured dye, a technique called Shibori, which is a form of Japanese Tie Dye. Lo and behold…coloured, fun, spoke guards made from fabric!
We are sure you will agree Sophie, Shibori and fabric spoke guards certainly adds colour and interest to everyday life in a wheelchair. We may all even see Sophie starting a business of designing and supplying these type of spoke guards when she has completed her degree. SpokeGuards will certainly support her if she chooses that venture.
Sophie is currently exhibiting her designs at Craft in The Bay exhibition in Cardiff. The Craft in the Bay Gallery is an exhibition and craft retail area located at the south end of Lloyd George Avenue, Cardiff Bay. It is operated by a charitable arts organisation, The Makers Guild in Wales. The gallery is opposite the Wales Millennium Centre and close to the Welsh Assembly Building. The building consists of the relocated and refurbished Grade II listed “D” Shed, previously an industrial warehouse located next to Bute East Dock. More information can be found at:-
https://www.cardiffbay.co.uk/listings/craft-in-the-bay/
https://www.makersguildinwales.org.uk/
If you are in Cardiff, please go along and support Sophie in her work and in her degree.