STAGE 3 - APPLIED FABRICS

Hand Applique

Hints and tips

• 
  
  Use herringbone stitch or buttonhole stitch

• Pin and/or tack fabric onto a background fabric and work stitches over the cut edges. fabric which fray easily use closer stitches or turn the edges under. Fabric which doesn't fray can be applied with small running stitch worked vertically or slip stitch

• 
  
  Other suitable stitches would be chain stitch, blanket stitch, crossed stitches, feather stitches and couched lines

I decided that my first applique work would be stitched by hand. I have taken this idea from a sketch I did in the last assignment and moderated it quite a lot!

So, here are the stages I went through

I decided to have the frayed edges because I like this effect on other artists work but now that it is finished I think I would have prefered it turned under in places and done more neatly - next time??......

When I had finished the sewing I decided to add buttons - which I seem to always do - and a few beads and overall I am happy with the finished piece and I could see it as a cushion cover or a wall hanging.

Project 4 Stage 4 Developing Design Ideas

What have I achieved?

I must say that I have not enjoyed doing this Project as much as I thought I would - I am chomping at the bit to get stuck in to weaving and using yarn and doing more sewing so I have really struggled to get motivated.

One of the projects I struggled with was the colour perception in Stage 2. For some reason I couldnt see the differences of colour with the complementary colours. Having said that, I have used complementary in the latest project and it has stood out to me very well the tricks your eyes play with different colours but when I was looking at the squares it didn't work for me - perhaps that is why I like working with colours of the same hue or different shades of the same colour.

I am very pleased with the drawings I did in Stage 3. I enjoyed colour matching a piece of fabric and matching the colours on the photo I have of the cotton reels. I particularly enjoyed drawing the pebbles in a jar. This seemed to come along so naturally and I have also enjoyed developing this drawing and changing the colour to black and white and then complimentary colours. I could use the drawings to develop further and I can envisage them alread being turned into fabric pieces. I also can't wait to further develop the mosaic structure that I made taking inspiration from a photograph of poppies. I can also see that being developed into a stitiched piece.

I am confident with my working method but I have to hold myself back and take it slow instead of just working on the first thing that comes into my head without taking more time on it.