“And Christ, forgive these bones I've been hiding
Oh, and the bones I'm about to leave”
-“Family Tree,” Ethel Cain
About this Item
This harness is composed of 17 individual crocheted pieces, all joined together to simulate the fragmented structure a rib cage. Each “bone“ was crocheted individually and tediously (trust me) until I was satisfied with its shape. While some joints are sewn, others are attached using metal hardware to make this piece adjustable and to give it a subtle armor-like quality.
About the Process
The crocheted “bones” of this project have lived in a box under my couch for about a year while I marinated on ideas for their final form. Even though their original purpose was to be a harness, I hit a wall with the execution of the piece when i began to sew them all together. The various strips felt simultaneously too flimsy for bones and also too rigid for comfortable wearing. I got frustrated, and into the box they went.
Six months later, I pulled them out and decided that modpodge was obviously the answer (don’t ask why, i really don’t know). I diluted the modpodge in water and submerged the “bones” that I thought could use the most structure, then set them to dry on a mold I had of my own torso (don’t ask). Once the pieces dried i still found myself lacking the imagination to complete the project. Back in the box they went.
Six-ish more months later, i was falling asleep when the idea struck me, “jump rings!” I have so many jump rings harvested from various jewelry projects, what better way to solve my problem than to use the tools already at my disposal?
In the final form of this project, jump rings and lobster clasps are attached at the shoulders and side pieces of each rib for maximum adjustability. Each closure (sides and shoulders) has multiple length options as well, and regardless of whatever length you set it, the modpodge (still don’t know why i did that) keeps the central breastbone in place, reducing the likelihood of becoming misshapen during wear.
