Sketchbook notes

Stitched fabric samples based on these designs

1. ‘Gingham’ Fabric

Worked with a triple needle – 3 rows of stitching for each band.

Front face

Reverse face

I quite like he effect of both of these

2.Using decorative machine stitches

On fabric printed in Chapter 6 with thickened Procion dye using glue on foam board:-

I used machine pattern 656 (Bernina 550QE) – using default settings of 5.50 width and 1.40 length to make lines of stitch:-

and then altered the length to 4.00:-

I think I like this one better – more movement and less busy.

Then I tried stitching the long and short stitches in a grid:-

 

then just the long stitch the same way:-

I think these are quite effective – good to se the stitches in both directions – I like the second one better again.

Then I tried the wavy stitch number 17 and used white Perlé thread on the top – increased the stitch length to to 3 – used a 0.5 inch gap  measured with the graduated seam quide:-

and the reverse face -

I was trying to create a similar effect to the envelope paper I used in the designs -

and did the stitching again on the marled grey fabric but using an additional row of variegated Perlé between every other row -

The reverse face is interesting too -

Chapter 11–further design exercises leading to fabric samples

Paper strips using a different tonal effect to show design elements

and combining more than one block:-

“Stack-n-Whack”

Identical squares cut together and the shapes re-arranged in various patterns…

Module 2 Chapter 10

‘Piecing’ – a method of cutting and seaming

Paper Method

Starting with black and white strips of paper glued together side by side – then cut and re-arranged several times to create new patterns:-

5 stages:-

Diagonal strips cut from Stage 2 and glued to paper then Stage 2 pattern cut horizontally and re-arranged and then stage 3 pattern cut diagonally and the pieces swapped around:-

Stage 3 pattern cut horizontally, strips re-arranged in the Fibonacci series, then glued together vertically:- looks like it’s curving around to the left…

Fabric Method

Like the paper samples with strips of black and white fabric seamed together but larger pieces – 30 ins X 6ins.

Marked into 3 sections 1:2:3 – in the Fibonacci series and the 1 section cut off and retained.

3 diagonal cuts made in the remainder of the sample and then re-arranged and seamed.

3 more cuts made then one piece retained.

The rest of the sample was repeatedly re-seamed and cut.

• Seams placed outwards
• Some seams sewn with other seams open and some with them closed
• Some cuts diagonal – some horizontal and some vertical.

The jeans foot was used to help sewing over the thick seams and finally the 2 retained portions were sewn back on the sample to show the gradation from the original stage through the partially re-pieced stage to the final really ‘seamy’ part. The seams were then fluffed up a bit with a wire brush.

 

And finally me working at this module!

Module 2 Chapter 9

The Golden Section – Fibonacci – sized squares

arranged in a spiral….

Worked in papers

Designing with the Fibonacci Sequence

1 and 2.

3.Strips of ‘Fibonacci size’ arranged with Fibonacci sized spaces..

4.Black card and printed card:-

5.Cut with vertical gaps

6.No gaps but flipped alternate strips:-

7 and 8.New block with 5 strips and another one the same above – using envelope papers – then cut vertically and staggered…

9.More strips but arranged as in the Courthouse Steps formation

10.Strips cut diagonally and

11.Using a series of squares from the Golden Section

12. Doesn’t all need to be squares and rectangles – a triangular version:-

2 together…

Then coloured papers added:-

Fibonacci grids placed horizontally and vertically and alternate shapes filled in with pencil…

Now in curves – Fibonacci radii…

Then random curves cutting through a Fibonacci sequence:-

And the evaluation:-