when i first started using the sewing machine i pieced a lot of small pieces to test effects. and this one worked fine but it was just plain and too much like what's out there. so i though what if i dirty dye it? ok. it was different but i was still bored until i wondered what about cutting it up and weaving it with some discharged black corduroy? and now, even though it is only basted. i like it. a lot.
still using the dirty dye pot, and asking what if i do more trial dyeing over prints. i am really liking the backs of prints. the muted design looks great with the dirty dye and doesn't fight the shibori effect as much. refined slub printed cotton poplin with grey over dye. back and front.
....
a simple question, what if i reduce the distance between the shibori dots by folding the fabric and stitching it in place. that works. i need to play with this idea some more. before and after. simple as that. the fabric is gauzey so the extra fold made no difference. eyes.
this patchwork weaving trial (continued from) has gone well. stretching the strips on a frame (an old picture frame) holds everything in place nicely. as opposed to this method.i actually thought what if i just quilt it while it is still on the loom. it was very easy to handle and stabilize this way. this is a small piece, 6" x 12" , to be used as part of a lion applique over here, but i can think of many more things to do with this going forward.
after the piece was removed from the loom. it held together just fine without a backing. i am excited with the feel, the texture and the possibilities.
and there is a survey going on over on the other blog, in case you don't visit there.
reviving some old doodles (even though it is not wednesday) and wondering what if you make your own prints? diluted textile paint and micron pen over an existing dot print. cotton twill. i don't know too much about tossing repeats or motifs, but who cares?
what if you forget your needle on the commuter train? panic? always carry fabric and a permanent marker or 2.
cotton canvas plus a dash of magic marker was the recipe for relief. i made this an edge treatment and i am thinking now, what if i experiment with borders a bit?
( the person sitting next to me was awakened by the smell of the marker )
to be continued....
the edge is messy so what if i just use added cutouts to cover the gaps?
this is a great way to refashion a floral. like planting a garden.
after the third layer was exposed i wasn't sure what to do about the next one. there were so many organic shapes... the only thing i could imagine was a grid of some kind. my desire for order always surfaces. i just drew in an angled grid to soften the effect, a harlequin type diamond pattern ( a sort of cut-away patchwork) is what i envisioned. the lines are stitched with a single strand of variegated floss doubled back on itself to shorten the repeat of the color change and the cutting, although confusing to follow, shows signs of pleasing me.
another layer of soft lightweight cotton has been added with no intention other than stabilizing layer 4. all other what-ifs will be additive.
so it came to be that i asked myself ...what if i just forget this one? ( continued from... ) i mean i wasn't liking it a lot. so it went into my what if it just isn't working basket for a while. sometimes it is just a good idea to step away . before i "junked" it i cut holes in it and cursed and started to tear some of the stitching out and well it was really irritating. this morning it caught my eye as i left (in a hurry) to catch a train and i wondered what if i just sew again for no reason, just to sew.
there was the smallest scrap of silk shibori on the floor leftover from something else. i was thinking what if i just patch up those holes?...with silk again and ....
so here it goes again. still liking the feel of the silk inside and now liking the depth of the ragged silk cut-outs. what if i just keep sewing and see what happens? this is starting to be more about embroidery.
single strand embroidery .
just a quick test this morning on the train.
although reversible is an option here i think i will stick to one side because of the tiny stitches and detail required. not worrying about the back frees up my style a bit. i may back and quilt this little piece of fabric to hide the mess i anticipate.
each face is less than 1/4" across
i love the built in stippling created in the weave.
to be continued...
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