Decorate with Stitchery

HAND STITCHERY
Selecting fabrics for hand stitching samples I chose a hand dyed piece of calico from my attempts in Chapter 3 to make the first sample 3.4.1a, see right.  
The sample fabric had been wrapped in peaks to try and achieve a shibori effect. Sadly, the fabric was left too long in the dye and the contrast was not obvious, however, ridges had appeared and this suggested the use of running stitches in a variegated cotton perle to replicate the appearance I had wanted. Using the same thread whipped spider wheels were made, the smaller ones were not as effective as the larger ones due to the bulk of the thread.  Moving up the sample and considering my doodles page, Ref 2 the snake like doodle came to mind so a casalguidi stitch was used.  I really enjoyed this stitch and while working it considered how a variety of skin patterns could be made using a range of plain colours threads feeding them in along the 'grid' of the underlying satin stitch and the overlying stem stitch.  Moving round to the radiating french knots a Sulky variegated cotton thread was twisted making a 4 ply yarn. This thread was also used for the shell like cone then moved down the side using fewer threads in a series of 7times wrapped bullion wheels. 3 x 10 inches.

For sample 3.4.1b a piece of felt fabric bonded with chiffon and trapped threads that was made in Module 1 was used.  The central feature of a continuous spiral using a variety of threads and stitches from the middle appeared to sit well on the textured surface.  The inner row a series of lime french knots contrasts with a dark green perle stagged chain stitches.  A pink perle back stich begins the contrast and is then given tone with a couched floss thread.  The outside scroll stitch brings a hint of a paisley type pattern which led me to explore a few more examples in the cornes using hemp, embroidery thread. 4 x8 inches

For sample 3.4.1c a network of scrolls were completed on one of the monoprinted fabrics, the top left of Ref 3.3.4d. Hand dyed threads from preceding chapter were also included.  A variety of couching stitches were used; classic couch stitch, whipped arrowhead, zig zag chain stitch stitch, whipped chain stitch, running stitch, french knots and stem stitch. 10 x 14 inches

MACHINE STITCHERY
Ref 3.4.2a                                                                                                                                        

Decided to do a few sample pieces to get me into the faster flow of machine stitching.  Included pieces which I have cut up and will using them for buttons, as outlined in Sian's brief.                  Ref 3.4.2b                                     

With the choice of two 'new' feet on my machine, well they were in the accessories box but have not seen light of day and a bit of practice before the next chapter could be useful; Nos 21 and 25  for braiding  and couching allowed fun with oversewing but needed to watch that I didn't flatten the texture of braid so widened stitch. Three braids used hand dyed paper yarn, string and gimp.  Single braid was a purchased variegated, thick, silk gimp  3.4.2a. Samples in 3.4.2b are Sulky varieted thread sewn to emphasis the water dye marks on the fabric.
Ref 3.4.3                                                                                                         

The  sample on the left is worked on the monoprint in the middle of the top row on Ref 3.3.4d.  Using hand dyed string and paper yarn gimp, with a lurex yarn the fun began.  I had wanted to try lurex yarn in spool but that didn't work so all yarns are couched. Experimenting with different spool threads I was happier with the plain yellow rather than variegated thread used to couch the top middle to right section.  Lurex, not usually my scene but found at the bottom of a thread jar, gave a festive touch and  liked the fact that its touches of blue/green linked into the dye on left edge. 

7 x 10 inches.                                                                                                                                      

This sample to the right,3.4.4,uses print 3.3.3a from previous chapter.  Close scrutiny will show this piece is not completed but stopped at this point as I felt it could make a good background for a later display including perhaps beads...is that allowed?  The sample shows free machine embroidery using variegated and plain threads.  The possibility of using gimp threads in the spool could also give additional texture and have also considered some hand sewn detail to highlight aspects of the design where the high relief is in need of emphasis, gaps in stitch runs will allow beads to 'bed in' . 7 x 10 inches. All samples have been unironed and show errors in tension this sample to the right should have allowed more margin of fabric so that the design could have been taken over the edge and not cramped the circle!