what if ?

what if #22: silk sandwich (one) update

this project (continued from) has turned into a sew for no reason thing now. the silk windows work nicely and the sandwich holds it in place. the reverse appliqué being easier than regular appliqué on the slippery silk.

i didn't use the silk embroidery thread yet so that issue is still open....

and so the sandwich has a theme of pink bubbles that became things and now seem somewhat like alien lifeforms.

i don't like it yet.

but since this blog is all about fabric, let me mention a bonus discovery (at least for me). the silk layer in the middle imparts some wonderful drape and strength to the sandwich, like a magic liquid batting and i feel that a layer of silk between 2 lightweight fabrics would make a wonderfully warm but dreamy, creamy blanket. quilted of course. with silk maybe.

to be continued.....

what if#24: silk sandwich 2-quilting study

this if came off #22 after i realized the potential for silk fabric as a drape friendly batting.

i like this print. it has inspired me to revisit coloring book quilting .
i think i can cover the whole thing with stitches, millions of tiny stitches. 

the print and the silk are lightweight, featherweight, the back is poplin for some body.  i think if i quilt this full coverage, the silk will take all those stitches and still provide flow.
have to day travel for business, this will be a nice take along...liking it already. continued

what if #24: cont'd-quilting as embroidery

more stitching and i am happy with the result.

it is easy to tint a section with a new color because the stitches are so tiny they sort of blend with the background

the texture is wonderful.
...and the thin flowing silk sandwich has me thinking of a dreamy summer blanket.

the quilting in some way has changed into an embroidery technique.

a quick scan of the back shows an interesting result.

continued from

conclusion

what if#24: closure on silk sandwich 2

this project has been completed in terms of its goal, although it has now become part of # 25. the heavy stitching over the print and the silk sandwich is satisfactory. i have exposed the silk in the middle in a few spots to validate the sandwich and the original reverse appliqué premise.

what if #59: part 2-log cabin with a view

the snowy window needed to be framed/edged and since log cabin style piecing is easy and fun, i asked myself what if i use strips of neutrals reminiscent of  plaster and wallpaper to expand this block, a log cabin with a window in the center?

i seem to have unexpected time to sit and stitch so what if i quilt this all over and see how it looks before considering any further decoration? i will need to add a backing fabric for stability, muslin i guess, and no batting. i have a nest of neutral thread scraps. i will use those. and what if i vary the amount of strands for the quilting? more texture.
18" x18" so far. in the back of my mind i am asking myself what if i try this log cabin with a view as a quilt, smaller blocks, many little windows? maybe these blocks could be a nice border with regular log cabin blocks in the center. maybe maybe maybe.

part 1

what if #77: see through patchwork

well it was what if (?) i use sheer fabric in patchwork this time... the seam allowances are usually the issue here, i plan to iron and tack the seam allowance toward the opaque fabric to clean the window edges... this is cool and merits more experimenting. and then what if (?) the batting is something to be seen as a shadow effect behind the window....oh gosh you could go on and on......

3.5" square block cut and dirty dyed from old sheer linen embroidered napkin.

for applique version go here.

#155: Stuffed dots

So Dee asked if I was stuffing the dots and I wasn't...until I asked myself what if I do?  And what if I use indigo shibori?  I tried silk and cotton but the silk worked the best because the shine shows off the relief.  They are stuffed with cotton batting recycled from an old stuffed animal.  I placed a ball of batting in the outlined circle, covered it with a larger circle of shibori and needle turned the dot catching the batting inside, working within and against the outline.  Pressing on the dots spread the batting to edges. Nice texture. imagine lots of them.

I am working on the patched knee of my old jeans which I cut off to make shorts.