So happy! I’ve recently had my experimental embroidery samples shared on Create Whimsy. I hope my work will inspire others to have a go and sew.
Thank you Chardel.
Sharing my Experimental Embroidery
Speed Stitching – it’s a bit like Speed Dating!
Question: How do you create 40 pieces of 6″ x 6″ embroidery in 60 minutes?
Answer: 40 embroiderers and Speed Stitching !!!
The rules:
- Three tables of Stitchers;
- A piece of 6″ calico per person;
- A tin of scrap fabrics and a box of threads on each table;
- Every 20 minutes the fabrics and threads rotate onto the next table;
- All work is collected at the end of the 60 minutes.
The aim is that all Stitchers in the room have access to all the colours and textures on offer and have very little time to think about their design – they just grab fabric and thread and sew! – oh, and no-one is allowed to take work home! – this creates the incentive to sew as fast as possible. Raw edges and experimental embroidery are welcomed (and don’t forget your 1/2″ seam allowance all around the calico).
This is how my design evolved. It’s surprising how much sewing you can acheive in an hour and how much chatting you can do too!
These final stitched squares are to be pieced with this green linen to create a table cloth for an Embroiderers’ Guild event later in this year.
It was a brilliant group activity. We had a room full of very happy, chatting embroiderers.
Mark Making and Printing – Experiment and design your own work
I knew very little about mark making and its importance before starting this embroidery course. Anything that involves paint and making a mess has to be good in my books!
I will share with you what I have discovered. Mark making can be achieved with anything that leaves a mark or impression on a surface – eg. paint or pen on paper, drawing in the sand at the beach, or even playing with string as it falls its own way onto a flat surface. The original ‘mark’ created is an original form of source work perfect for a future design.These are some designs made using bits and bobs I found in my kitchen. I found it very effective using white paint onto black paper. Also I liked using black and white rather than specific colours because I found they created a neutral, unbiased design.
Design sheet 1:
Design sheet 2:
These are a selection of marks evoking movement and emotion.
The Staccato design was developed further into a homemade stamp that was then embroidered.
The one thing I have discovered is that anything goes, and that all designs – especially the ‘mistakes’ are useful. I keep mine in a pile and sift through them occasionally when I need some ideas – it may only be a small section of an image that fits the bill. Have a go yourself!