Varaform- Is a cotton and thermoplastic mesh. It is heated with hot water and solidifies as it cools. It can be moulded over objects to shape and stick itself and other things well. Excellent breathability and can be used for visibility over the eye area.
Fosshape- Is a flexible felt-like material which shrinks and hardens when heated or steamed. Use a steamer to mould it over hat blocks or shapes or pattern it and stitch it with a machine.
During todays session we worked with a range of plastics. First moulding shapes out of clay and the placing varaform in boiling hot water. Once the plastic begins to mold, I placed it over the floral clay shape and bent it to make the shape of the flower. Once it is cooled I pulled the clay shape out to leave the wire looking mesh.
Next using Fosshape, we covered hat stands in cling film and wrapped the plastic around it. We then activated it using a steamer allowing the material to become hard, taking the shape of the hat stand. Once removed it resembled the exact shape.
However once downside to both of these products are that they are expensive to buy and can melt if placed in heat. However both materials can be reheated.
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