Lycra Experiments

In yesterdays class I experimented with lycra fabric. I was curious to know if the fabrics properties would change with different degrees of stretch. To test this idea, I made PVC skeletons and wrapped the fabric around them in a variety of ways. The first sample shows how the fabric reacts to being stretched around a pointy object. Both side have different degrees of stretch to them. The one with high tension formed a larger number of smaller ridges, compared to the low tension side that formed fewer, larger ridges. In the second experiment I wrapped a piece of lycra around a cone. I was able to receive the highest tension with this method. The fabric has yet to fray or rip from the staples holding it to the side. Finally, I tested the fabrics ability to stretch over a large area. It secured the fabric with plastic ties and was able to make a smooth surface between both ends of the PVC form.