Chapter 11. Module 1. 9th March 2017

Paper Experiments

This was great fun experimenting with paper in a variety of ways.

I enjoyed stitching into paper and then immersing in water and rubbing some of the paper away. The sample above was made using copy paper.

This sample was made using a piece of homemade paper. I really like the result. This piece was only in the water for a few seconds as it started to disintegrate very rapidly!

The above samples show a square of paper folded and cut to show further disintegration within each square.

The above samples were created using negative shapes with different paper shapes inside the cross shape to show disintegration.

Module1 Chapter 8 10.02.17

Module 1 Chapter 8 10.02.17                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         First complex sample.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    This sample is a combination of machine and hand stitching to create two crosses with a small negative shaped cross in the middle. The hand stitching was done using a wide fly stitch and the machine stitching is straight stitch. I particularly like the colour when the top layer of fine gauze was placed over the yellow cotton bottom layer.

Second complex sample

This sample has a background of yellow cotton overprinted with crosses using a sponge shape and lumiere fabric paint. A purple gauze cross shape has been bonded on after small rectangles were removed from the arms of the cross. These shapes were then connected with staight stitch using yellow aurifil standed cotton. Small straight stitches were also worked over the ends of the arms. A second cross was then stitched over the top using a variety of different lengths of stitch. This second cross looks more effective when you stand away from it and the central square becomes more obvious along with the shape of the cross.

Third complex sample

This sample has a base layer of gauze followed by a layer of purple cotton. A silk gold cross shape has then been bonded on followed by a second cross shape done in free machine stitching with a variegated purple king tut thread. A double layer of purple net forms the ring shape and this is held in place by gold cotton thread french knots. The centre star was then edged with machine stitching and stuffed from the back of the work. I enjoyed working this sample  and I like the colour combination. I really like the cross with the surrounding circle.

Fourth complex sample

This sample is a yellow cotton background over a piece of gauze. I started this sample with a ring of hand stitching using a hand dyed variegated thread. I then bonded a cross shape from made fabric and this was stitched down on the inner edge with machine stitching. The ends of the arms were stitched with small straight stitches in gold embroidery thread. The centre shape was stitched around and then stuffed from the back. I think this sample is maybe a bit over stuffed causing it to ripple slightly however maybe this adds to the overall look. My New Years resolution was not to take apart or bin things that I don't think are perfect, it wastes time and causes lots of frustration. In December this one would have headed for the bin! I do prefer purple over the violet purple in this sample but I love the thread and I do love dyeing threads.

Fifth complex sample

This sample is a background of commercial silk fabric that has been sponge painted. A light purple cotton cross shape has been bonded on and the ends of the arms stitched with straight stitch. I do like these small stitches over the ends of the arms. A circle of crinkly organza has been laid on top and this has been attached with a circle of gold wire with purple beads added. Finally a smaller cross has been hand stitched in the middle. This has been done with a fine variegated 28 weight thread. Although I enjoyed doing this sample I am not as happy with the colours.

Sixth complex sample

This sample started with a cross shape of painted yellow cotton being bonded between two layers of net. A second smaller cross shape was applied on the top with the small rectangles from the ends of the arms being lined up with the edges of the bigger cross. Hand stitched circles were then put right around the edge. A double layer of 6 strand embroidery thread was then laid on top and this was over stitched with a variegated purple thread. Finally the centre cross has some hand stitching which then gives a negative star shape in the middle. I enjoyed doing this sample and I like the idea of trapping things between layers.

CHAPTER 9

Traditional Reverse Applique

This is a simple cross shape worked in a traditional applique method. Four layers of fabric have been used and the edges have been turned under using an applique needle and a 100 weight silk thread. I enjoyed working  this sample although I found it quite time consuming. I have enjoyed reading about the San Blas islands and love the colours that are seen in the Molas.

Contemporary Applique using machine methods.

Sample One

This sample was worked with the outside shape being stitched first and the fabric being cut away inside the stitching. This was done on each of the three layers of fabric. The yellow fabric being the base layer.

Sample Two

This samle was worked with the inside shape being stitched first and the fabric being cut away outside the stitching. This was done on each of the three layers and therefore much more of the base layer can be seen. I enjoyed working both of these samples.

Multi coloured ripple or contour effect

Sample One

This sample was made of a variety of layers of cotton, gauze and silk. The outline shape was sewn from the back and then work continued from the front. Fabrics were cut away to different layers giving a variety of fabrics visible from the front. I also like the effect created when some of the fabrics are cut away on the outside of the shape.

Sample Two

This sample was worked with six layers or parts of layers. I have cut down to different layers between the stitch lines giving a multi-coloured effect. Again some of the fabric has been cut away on the outside of the shape.

CHAPTER 10

Chenille or slashed reverse applique.

Sample1

This sample was done with 5 layers of fabric and a background fabric. The shape and lcm line markings were worked on the back in tacking first and then stitched by machine. The fabric inside the shape was then slashed/cut with a pair of sharp scissors the sample was rubbed, washed and rubbed again. I am not really liking this sample, maybe it is the colour combination and maybe the lines are a wee bit far apart. Tacking all the lines and measuring was also time consuming. Going much more free and easy on the next one !!

Sample 2

This sample was worked with the same fabrics as above. The shape was tacked and the machine stitched. The lines for slashing were just stitched using the sewing machine foot for a bit of guidance. I really like this sample. the colours look better and the fabric definitely fluffed up more. I couldn't resist adding some hand stitching to the middle.

MELTING

These samples were worked with layers of meltable organza. I like the colours of the second sample although I think I could have made the lines on the outside of the shape a bit stronger...more melting! I found some felt that had been lurking for years and it melted really well. I think it must be kunin felt after doing a bit of research.

I really enjoyed this bit of melting and it's definitely something I would like to go back to. I love the effect of melting crosses into this kunin felt and I like the disintegrating effect in the bottom right hand corner. On to paper experiments for chapter 11.

25/04/16  Module-1    Chapter-7

Sample 1
This sample has three layers. The top layer is purple crystal organza and the bottom two layers are hand dyed cotton. Both layers have been hand stitched with hand dyed cotton thread ( Aurifil 28 weight ).

Sample 2
This sample also has three layers. The bottom two layers are hand dyed cotton and the top layer is silk. The yellow layer has been hand stitched and the top layer machine stitched with an orange/yellow glitter thread. Crosses have been sponged on the top using a gold lumiere fabric paint.

Sample 3
This sample has five layers. The bottom layer is hand dyed linen that has been frayed round the edges with a purple cotton layer on top. The yellow cross is hand dyed yellow cotton and has been bonded on. The next layer has been made from crystal organza and bondaweb with snippets of fabric in the middle. The negative shape from this fabric has been used. The top layer forming the purple cross has been made out of a synthetic fabric found in the charity shop. The layers have been free machine stitched with a purple and gold metallic hemmingworth thread.

Sample 4
This sample has four layers. The background is a hand dyed and painted cotton fabric. The yellow cross is also cotton. The positive shape has been applied with running stitches in a hand dyed Aurifil 28 wt thread. The purple cross is hand dyed linen and this has also been applied using a hand dyed thread with running stitches. The top layer is purple net. The negative shape has been used with the cut away cross edged with fly stitch.

Sample 5
This sample has three layers. The bottom layer is a synthetic satin fabric from the charity shop painted with gold crosses. The middle layer is hand dyed cotton painted with a sponge shape from earlier in the module. The edges of the negative shape have been stitched using layers of 3 running stitches. The cross in the middle was a layer of gold crystal organza that has been free machine stitched with a gold metallic hemmingworth thread.

Sample 6
This sample has four layers. The background is hand dyed cotton over printed with purple crosses. The purple circle beneath the cross is dark purple crystal organza, with trapped purple and gold fabric and thread snippets. The circle has been free machined with variegated purple King Tut cotton thread 947. The purple cross is hand dyed cotton over painted with gold lumiere fabric paint crosses and stitched with the same King Tut thread. The top layer is yellow crystal organza with trapped snippets. The stiching is french knots done with hand dyed Aurifil 12 weight cotton.

Module - 1 - Chapter - 6

Module - 1- Chapter - 6

Shapes bonded onto background fabric. The right hand sample is painted tissue paper with a dyed fabric circle and fabric made from snippets and bondaweb on top. The left hand sample is dyed fabric and negative shape from bondaweb fabric on the top. The bondaweb fabric started to melt a little in this sample so less heat was applied to the following samples.

 The left hand sample has a background of dyed silk fabric which gives the sample a really rich appearance. The circle/hexagon is made from purple bondaweb fabric using snippets and crystal organza. The right hand sample has a background cross cut from painted bondaweb, a dyed fabric circle and top layer cut from golden bondaweb fabric.

The left hand sample here is two dyed fabrics with the cross cut from a piece of painted synthetic fabric sourced from the local charity shop. the right hand sample is a piece of bondaweb fabric with the top cross cut from some Synthetic paper/fabric that was around a bunch of flowers.
I am going to play with some circles and crosses that keep coming into my head for a short time before moving to chapter 7.

Module 1 - Chapter 5

Selection of fabrics that have been printed with fabric paint using sponge cut in cross shape.

 More printed fabrics. Some hand dyed cottons and some synthetic fabrics from local Red Cross Shop.

Plain fabrics with selection of hand dyed and commercial threads.

Module 1 - Chapter 4

Black and white shapes cut from 4 inch squares of paper folded in a variety of ways as shown. This was great fun and brought back lots of memories of cutting snowflakes and paper chains. Black against white always gives a lovely strong image and contrast. I really like the simple shapes and also enjoyed the asymmetry.

Shapes made up of 3 layers of coloured paper cut to about 4 inches square. The painted papers have all taken the paint slightly differently so the same colour paint appears to be quite different on the different papers.

Asymmetrical shapes cut from coloured paper. My favourite papers are the ones cut from crumpled and painted brown paper bags and I also love the effect you get when wax is added ( bottom right ).

Module 1 cont. 03/04/16

Module 1 - Chapter 3

Shapes in symmetry and asymmetry. Repeat shapes and new shapes formed from old.

Repeat pattern using shape cut from foam. New shape formed highlighted by white dots.

More shapes with new shapes highlighted by dots. Repeat pattern created with acrylic paint and shape cut from foam. Overlaid with shapes cut from tracing paper and page stitched back into sketch book by hand using hand dyed thread.

Playing with new shapes and words that spring to mind whilst playing. Positive and negative shapes.

Large and small shapes cut from foam and used in a repeat pattern. Acrylic paints used.

New shape highlighted on added page. New shape used free form and in repeat pattern. Sketchbook pages have been painted with watercolor wash.

Playing with more shapes in repeat patterns.