The old techniques are still fun

Painted Bondaweb has been a favourite technique for many for almost as long as I can remember. I first saw it demonstrated about 30 ago (goodness, that’s a bit scary) but there are still occasions when nothing else will do. Another technique from about the same time is one that uses up scraps of threads, and I recently found myself returning to it to make some quick cards. I actually remembered to take some photographs, so I thought I’d share them with you to either bring back memories – or show you something new. It’s quickly started on the sewing machine.

You need:

A backing fabric (I used a space dyed one, but almost anything will do), hand threads of almost any description (maybe this is an ideal opportunity to use all those odd ends that you can’t bear to throw away), a chiffon scarf in a suitable colour, an embroidery hoop and a toning multicoloured machine embroidery thread

stitched chiffon

I’ve already started to prepare in the above picture. I’ve chopped up a mix of hand threads and scraps of machine embroidery thread. You can see them on my background fabric. A red chiffon seemed the best for this mix, but always audition several to make sure you are achieving the right effect.

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Spread the chopped bits out onto your backing. If it’s space dyed you can leave a few small gaps, but you will probably want to covei the whole area. Next cover with a single layer of chiffon and place into the embroidery hoop.

I dropped the feed dogs of my machine, set it for the widest zigzag but made sure that the stitch length was zero. It isn’t essential to use free machine stitching, you could always stitch a grid using ordinary straight stitch.

Stitch at random, moving the hoop fairly quickly. The idea is to secure the edge and the threads so that they don’t escape during the next step.

Once everything is safe you can remove the fabric from the hoop and trim it. I used a Madeira Polyneon, it’s ideal for something like this. This is just one of the colours available – and they are all yummy.

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Now audition some hand threads

Mix and match. Your choice will change the character of the finished item.

Cover the surface with areas of stitching. French knots, seeding, little woven wheels, they are all good – and create very interesting effects

Add beads, cords, whatever takes your fancy. I can’t show you the finished item yet as it’s for a special card that’s still a secret. The technique, however, is suitable for a number of other items including little bags or book covers. Let me know if you give it a try – sometimes the ‘old’ techniques are worth remembering!

Remember this?

You may remember seeing this photograph a while ago

It is shown hanging on the line to dry after dyeing and was very quickly sold. This morning I had a lovely email with a link to this blog. It was my lovely friend Pam that bought the skein, and I just love the way she has used it. Pop over and take a look. There is more information about the scarf in her Etsy shop which is also worth a visit. Incidently, part of it is one of the images that I chose for one of the changing images at the top of this blog.

Have you made something using items purchased from me either online, by phone, Etsy or at a show? If you have written about it somewhere why not send me the link – it might end up being featured here too.

I’m continuing to add to my Etsy shop. There will be more later today. Each dyed item is unique – there is only one and I won’t be dyeing another like it. Previously I have added a few repeatable collections, from now on that will cease – everything will be a one off!

It’s only just over a week away – but there is still time for a couple more enrolments on the Busy Bees dyeing course. Based in Newport, S Wales, Busy Bees Patchwork are recovering from a devastating fire in which everything was lost. They are now in the process of preparing to open in new premises, and I’m delighted to be able to support them in this endeavour. I wrote a little bit about the course here, too.  For speed contact them by email – details on this page. I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone down there – and to hearing news of the re-opening. As usual we will have a few bits and pieces with us – some of our machine threads, the chiffon scarves and, of course, some of our hand dyed items.

 

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Did you know?

Following a conversation earlier today I realised that maybe some of you don’t know that I have a few views on the Embellishers currently available here.

These are a couple of things on which I’m currently working – the embellisher was in use and also the sewing machine.

These both include our hand-dyed Vegetarian Silk, and one is further embellised with our scrim. Both are machine stitched using Madeira Polyneon Astro threads.

I used the Janome FM725 to create the areas of texture