Chapter 11Aand B.

This last is the "B" sample ,created a bit like the black and white one in an earlier chapter.I'm not sure the division between second and third area is that easily seen ,though I did cut into the third piece more .I meant to photo the other side but forgot.It will have to wait for another day.It is very textured and loses definition much more than this side.

Had a really productive long afternoon in my workroom with the door open and sunlight streaming in .Here are the results,four samples from paper ideas ,some slightly modified and the "B" sample.They look very different because of the fabrics used and the different relationship of the tones.I especially like the second from the top because it is more delicate than the others.I worry that I am going to run out of fabric and will have to dye and print more for the final piece.

Adding stitch to fabrics.

I have spent this afternoon working on adding texture to my dyed and printed fabrics.I have used some embellishing with wool tops and fancy yarns,mainly machine stitchery with a very little cable stitch as my machine is not partial to it.As an afterthought I made three ribbons.

Stack and wack.

Chapter 11.

More cutting,measuring and sticking,not my favourite so this will be attacked bit by bit and be added to as and when.I think they are self-explanatory

Today I have been challenged....

This is my "challenge"piece,front and back.I got very confused trying to follow the instructions but it has got smaller and more difficult to stitch.No doubt if it wrong then it can be redone.

Close-up.

I don't think my photo yesterday conveyed the tactile quality of the samples so here are some in close -up.

Embellishing.

I have had a play with the embellisher to create some fabrics.I have used some animal patterns in my sketch book as inspiration.
The photo isn't the best though it gives a flavour of how they look.The middle one is basic, white wool tops needled from the reverse of the black felt.
The other two began as painted bondaweb ironed to some loose weave cotton.The one on the right had some black wool tops needled from back and front then it had white organza ironed over.It was then needled more from back and front which caused the fabric to ruche and blister.
The one on the left was treated similarly though I ironed torn strips of the cotton and some white wool tops to the surface before needling black wool tops and a fancy yarn from back and front.They are much more effective "in the flesh" and are very tactile.
I'm not sure how they would behave with other fabrics and whether they qualify as there is no stitching involved in their make-up but they were interesting to do.

More Piecing.

I had cut lots of strips so I decided just to play.Keeping in mind the idea of forward,backward seams,cuts vertical,horizontal and diagonal as well as seam inserts this is what I created.I'm not sure I could replicate it but that wasn't the idea.This is the front and the last photo is the back.


I said I would have another go at Version 4 so here it is .Front and back,you decide which is which.

Fabric sample.

I was going to do Version 4 but first I made the strips too narrow ,then I stitched too many together so I made it up as I went along and created this sample.I have included front and back so you can see the difference. I did get all except horizontal cut and pieces in the seams into this sample.I will go back and try to recreate sample 4, though I'll be more careful and pay more attention next time!
Looking at the photos it would be easy to make pieces , cut edges level and seam them together alternately right then wrong sides together to get a movement up the piece.

Chapter 10 -Piecing.

These are five examples of playing with cutting a black/white strip of paper in various ways and "piecing"back together.I have left the edges ragged though I presume to use them with fabric they would need to be straightened or if not then attached as an applique.

Next instalment.

These last two are the Golden Section and a design.By this stage I had had enough of cutting and sticking and thought I might explore more ideas in drawing in my sketchbook.

I like the introduction of a solid plain into all these designs as a contrast ,though I'm not sure that white would be as strong or effective as black.

I am not sure this one fulfils the log cabin,I used 1,2,3,5 in each strip but did not have any more strips to complete the shape!
This diamond was my take on 45 degree shapes .I think it could be appliqued to a plain ground or be used with plain fabrics cut into the same shapes and patchworked.

Next come my pages on the Fibonacci Sequence and the Golden Section.While this is quite fascinating I am not a fan of cutting,measuring and sticking down fiddly papers.I only hope using fabrics and sewing is less so.

I found that the range of papers I had created were pleasing as patterns but did not really have a great enough tonal range for these exercises but I was too lazy to redo some more.They also needed to be larger ,as I had made A4 size since this was the size of my tile.

First up, the instructions for creating the trimmings and toggles I forgot the other day.

Some explanation.

These stitched samples involve cable stitch,zigzag and altering its size,couching threads to surface and using tension.
I feel that they have some qualities of the animal patterns I used in my research and create some rich textures which can be exploited.Some of the samples could be further worked into with additional thicker threads and maybe the use of the embellisher.Some effects are incidental ,where the fabric is puckered and pulled by the addition of surface stitching.
Next I need to explore the Fibonacci chapter.Watch this space!

Animal stitchery.

I then decided to work into some of my tie-dyed and printed fabrics to attempt to interpret animal patterns from my research.I have not cut them but worked into part of the fabric.

Photos of today's work.

These were my attempts at buttons,toggles.I have forgotten to photo my sketches of how I did them so this will have to do for now.Next come the ribbons and trims.

Still about.

Seems,it is ,an age since I posted anything but there are some new pictures coming.I got sidelined by the good weather and gardening,Easter guests and a fabulous few days in Mousehole(Cornwall)
with my girlfriends from schooldays.
I determined this morning that I had to get back to it and so I spent from 9am to 11.30am,short break then 12.15pm to 1.30pm getting on with trimmings,toggles, buttons and some strips.