Distort

Somehow I had missed the fact that Jan Beaney and Jean Littlejohn produced another DVD last year, this one ‘In Motion’ is about ‘free machining’, and it strongly features using dissolvable fabrics which I used at one time but largely lost interest in. I can say that the types of fabrics have moved on since I initially used them and I could be tempted to have another go; but as you must know I am easily tempted. I was disappointed there is so little about machining on paper, I suppose I was looking for a few ideas I had not tried.

One technique which I used many years ago was distorting loose weave fabric such as scrim, like drawn thread work, but using the sewing machine. I have samples of this in my file, but this DVD inspired me to have another go.  I used the technique shown by Jean Littlejohn and then coloured the fabric in the way she shows, but I have to admit to having thrown out most of my fabric paints (they were in a bad way) so I got out the acrylic inks. As suggested the colours are much subdued when the work dries.

I then machined some lines inspired by my view onto silk organdie. I then layered the two pieces onto white felt and needle felted round the edges. The piece is not entirely successful but I will certainly try this effect again as I like the dimensional effect it gives.

 So why did I frame it and hang it up, which is something I hardly ever do, well just because I was in the mood! 

Project continued.

10x12 inches.

I honestly don't know where the idea for this project came from, I suppose it brought together my current interest in drawing, doodling and trying out more block printing. I found it satisfying because I could  do a little at a time ,with the machine set up with black thread I could  draw onto the fabric when I felt in the mood. 
Use zentagel patterns as inspiration for free machining:

Here are a few more photos and the outcome as I decided to make the piece into an album which will probably be used to hold stitch samples. I made it up like a book cover and added some pieces of recycled card to stiffen the 'covers'. 

If I had thought it out a bit more I could have added some pockets to hold the samples; I could I suppose still  add these by hand stitching.
I hope you have a go and send me any links to your work.

FreeMotion Graffiti

There are a number of good reasons to stop by Alisa Burke’s blog at the moment; one is to congratulate her on the birth of her baby girl and to' oooogh and ah’ over the photos of the new baby. The other is to take a look at her new class Free Motion Graffiti. I was tempted and joined recently. I have been free machining for a long time, in fact back to the days when I had to take apart my old Singer to disengage the feed dogs – the machine itself was so heavy that my husband had to lift it onto the table for me. I think of free machining as a skill that takes some time to master, yet I have recently seen people new to it sit at an up-to-date Bernina and get going straight away with not one broken needle. Life moves on.

Anyway, back to the class. It is not expensive and frees up ones approach, and is fun to take part in. First of all I went back to Alisa’s DVD which I downloaded from Quilting Arts quite a time ago, and painted some fabrics ready to cut up.

These are some bits and pieces from the small throw I am making. I am also using both string and Quick Print blocks to show the different type of marks  they make, as a group I am teaching are in the process of making various types of simple printing blocks at the moment.