what if ?

what if #17: magic marker ikat

magic marker on rag strips
woven and tacked to white poplin
6"x6"
cotton

what if #20: indigo thing revisited

after rag weaving with indigo on # 11, i wondered if i could use different patterns to form woven blocks. this time i used a  washed down and sun faded indigo dyed velvet and made various slits in sections, varying the fabric patterns used for the weaving. i think if i plan it out more carefully i can form patterns this way.

what if#25: integrated applique in silk

quite a while ago i attempted to  weave an appliqué into the ground fabric and was happy with the results.

i am inspired by this little scrap of silk that came out of an old swatch book. slightly glue stained. it is calling to me in some way to be integrated into #24. the colors are similar and i am wondering IF i can work this in some how using that weaving process. i am treading on thin ice here i think.

as an extra what-if to this adventure, i would like to note to myself that it might be interesting IF i start a digital archive of all antique and interesting fabrics in my collection. an inspiration depot.

to be continued....

what if #25: integrated applique-part 2

integrated applique is meant to describe a process of applying one fabric to another, and making them one by defining some sort of relationship between the two elements. i have picked the meeting point. a color and motif element that seems common to both. i will start here and try to work out the rest of the edges with some sort of sympathy to the observed harmony that seem to exist here. at least to me.

there are many ways to "weave" things together

(continued from part 1)

go to part 3

what if #22: part 3-sewing free

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.

unless i change my mind

what if #30: complete

continued from...the combination applique has been completed with rolled arms and an added level of variation.

it was the hair. how to cut and applique those tiny strands of wild hair.
normally suppose i would have left the hair as a direct stitched decoration after applying the applique, but it was already there. i cut the figure out and basted the edges under leaving some backing around the hair and then wondered what if i just stitch around it and over the ragged edge with the ground color and blend it in?

2 strands variegated embroidery floss, split back stitch.

the result was some magnificent mane of hair and sky.

her story is over at spirit cloth now 

what if #32: ragged patterned mola

molas have always intrigued me.  so  i was daydreaming and wondering what if  i try a ragged edge mola using patterned fabrics. and maybe let the patterns guide the cutting. so i layered a floral over a floral over a yarn dyed check. and i am thinking of cutting the background from the first floral away and letting the second floral show through for starters....
tiny back stitches outline the shapes first, then cutting and clipping. of course a machine stitch will also work fine. but this is an unplugged blog.
i suppose you could use a light box, or a window (staying unplugged) to position the 2 florals strategically, but i like surprises. especially on a commuter train.
after i finish the top layer i will cut to reveal the check here and there and then , no doubt, i will be wondering....what if i add more layers....because i like the way it is working.  continued

what if #32: ragged mola -part 2

...all three original layers are showing now. work is slow on this one, stitching and snipping, little by little. another layer has been added to the back and the outline stitching color has also started to become a design element.now there are questions like  like what if some small cuts with inserts for accents are added and what if some turned reverse applique is combined with the ragged edge?.....

continued from

what if #32: part 3

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.

continued from

what if # 33: blacks and whites

what if i just fool around with black and white, mola style. ragged. small.

6" x 6" study in edges and contrast.

permanent marker on loose weave linen

3 layers, linen, dotted cotton, white slub linen

in process while thinking about the different levels of intensity of the circles and the different levels of contrast between dark and light.

continued...