Autumn Classes Preview 1

I will be publishing my Autumn programme of classes on Friday, so I thought I'd do a few preview posts on some of the projects we'll be making in class.

First up is something you have already seen this week in my new Blog Header:

Due to popular demand, I will be running an Applique skills class, where we will be learning 4 main types of applique.

1. Satin Stitch (machine applique - as shown in the Love cushion above)
2. Free Motion Sketching (machine applique - see below)

3. Needleturn (hand applique):

Inspired by this picture.

These cushions are approx. 18" x 14", which means those super mini quilts hanging on the washing line are less than 4" finished!

4. Reverse Needleturn (hand applique)

The class will be mainly techniques based with the option of making 1 cushion. 

The cushion borders have been mitred at the corners, which is another technique I've been waiting to teach.  I used recycled denim for my borders, and I think the mitred corners help to frame the applique pictures.

Applique is a lot of fun when you find a technique and style that works for you.  The creative possibilities are endless!

Free Motion Applique

I was at the library the other day and picked up this interesting looking book.

It's a beautifully presented book that totally lurred me into having a go at an embroidery technique called 'sketching'.

Sorry about the blurry pic!

This technique is everywhere in blogland at the moment, and I love the naive & imperfect look of it.

So today, with the torrential rain and thunder banging outiside, I thought I'd have a go.

In the book, the author uses an embroidery hoop.  I find mine tricky to use on the Pfaff, and actually not that freeing!

Practising with random squiggles & shapes!

So for me, a different approach was needed.  

I grabbed the first scraps that came to hand, and diverted from the book slightly by introducing some trusty bondaweb and ditching the hoop, and ended up with this!

Essentially, this is drawing and colouring in, only using your sewing machine as the pencil & felt tip pen.

The idea is not to have perfectly formed stitches or lines so that the 'sketchy' look is achieved.

From the back

As an experiment I'm quite pleased with it.  

While the bondaweb holds the fabric in place, I'm not so keen on the 'neatness' it offers, and would prefer a softer, more organic look, as in the book.  However I will practise more with different techniques until I'm happy with the look I'm after. 

I don't know yet how easily quilting could be incorporated, but I'll keep playing around with some ideas & see what happens.

Happy Thursday everyone!