Chapter 7 - Translating the Layered Designs into Embroidery

 

All the fabrics in this chapter were dyed, stencilled and/or printed on old pillow cases. I used acrylic paints, acrylic medium and fabric dyes in my colour scheme. I have included my main design inspirations for each sample. I think you saw all  these samples at Summer School.

  

 7a –  There are three layers of fabric in this sample and it is hand stitched using chain stitch and whipped running stitch. I tried fraying the edge of the the star shape as you suggested but this was not very effective because the acrylic paint used to colour the fabric sticks the fibres together..

 

 

 

 7b – In this sample there is just one layer of fabric, the layered effect is achieved by using strips of fabric in a ‘log cabin’ patchwork technique. The stencilled stars in the centre are outlined in chain stitch. I love this sample, printing my own fabrics and using a subtle range of colours has given a very unified sample

    

 

7c – The stencilled stars were ‘practise’ pieces on scraps of fabric. I thought they deserved to be used in a sample. The design is a bit formal but I like the bead embellishment. These was inspired by the encrusted surface of the starfish in the photographs.

 

7d                                         7e

7d and 7e are negative and positive samples of the same star image. The star shape of 7e was cut from 7d. There are two layers of fabric. The stitching on both samples is chain stitch and twisted chain stitch. I like this pair of samples, the design and colours work well together.

 

 

 7e 

7e this sample was an interpretation of one of my cut paper shapes, there are three layers of fabric and the design is lightly padded. The stitching is chain stitch and blanket stitch.

7e – This sample just uses stitching to define the two overlaid star shapes. The stitches used are running stitch and french knots. I feel the colours in the sample are too near each other in tone so there is not enough contrast to make the sample effective.

 

 

 

Chapter 6 Use of Bonding in appliqué

 

6a, 6b and 6c are cut and fold paper designs translated into fabric using the bondaweb that comes in strips for securing hems. This was the only kind I could find in Portugal

6a                                           6b

6c

6e and 6d are decorative bonded samples made with bits of fabric, ribbons and  threads. I had to be a bit innotive here and use fusible vilene for the background. I painted the vilene with fabric dye and used it glue side up to secure the fragments.

6e                                           6f

Chapter 5 Fabric Selection and Decoration

 

The fabrics below are a selection of ones that I have dyed and printed myself as well as some bought and already owned fabrics.

 

A                                           B 

C                                           D 

E                                            F

A, B, C, D, E, – are a series of co-ordinating fabrics I printed and/or dyed in my chosen colours. I used old pillow cases.

F - is some cotton yarn I dyed by wrapping it around an old table mat and dying both sides in stripes of  pale and dark turquoise. I put a pieces of fabric underneath the wrapped yarn I so had a striped fabric as well!

 

G                                           H 

I                                           J

G, H, I, J – these are bought fabrics, mostly ones I owned already.

G – the first two are nylon organza with some transparency and the third is nylon net

H – the first two are cotton with printed  gold  patterns, the second two are ‘water marked’ shiny satin gold fabrics

I – these are all plain colour cotton ‘patchwork’ fabrics in different weights

J – the first is nylon chiffon and the second tie dyed cotton

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K                                           L

K, L, – trial prints done prior to this chapter

Chapter 4 –Cut and Fold Design shapes

 

Cut and fold designs from folded black paper squares

A                          B                 C                       D

 

    E                          F                 G                       H 

 

    I           J            K

B, C, D and F have two lines of symmetry. A, G, and H have one line of symmetry and the remainder are asymmetrical .

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Designs cut from folded, coloured paper squares.

I have mounted my designs onto individual squares of card. This means that I have a ‘pack of design cards’ and  can select one to develop into a fabric and/or stitched sample. This has already worked  for me, I have developed several bonded fabric samples with the selected  design card in front of me. I enjoyed this chapter and made lots of design cards. I have experimented with colour combinations and subsequently  arranged  the design cards in related colour schemes. Some designs are more successful than others, I feel this is sometimes related to the colour combination and just a change colours would make it work.

The cards are either 10 x 10cm or 12 x 12 cm.

 

   

A                                            B                

 A – two symmetrical shapes  overlapped  to give asymmetry         

B  -   layers of symmetrical shapes rotated and layered asymmetrically               

  

    C -  Layers of symmetrical shapes rotated and layered asymmetrically over a negative space                                                  

 

 D + E   Negative window pane spaces over asymmetrical cut designs                                                             

F   Complex star design         G – Interesting   spaces

                                                                               

I H  + I - Positive and negative star shapes. I have used both these designs in bonded fabric samples but changed the colours.                                        

 J                                          K

  

L

J + K+ L - More star inspired designs.

I have already developed H, I, and L  into bonded fabric samples.                                     

 

 M                                          N

 

 O                                           P

M +N + O + P – are all asymmetrical layered designs. The negative spaces are very varied and interesting. I think translating these designs into fabric would be challenging.

 

 

 Q  - an experimental design I made from left over cut pieces and scraps of card.

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Post Script – three of the above design cards developed into bonded fabric samples. I dyed and/or printed all the fabrics.

        

My work place with me working on my bonded samples