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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 8, 2014 15:37:46 GMT
Marilyn, I have seen some intriguing stitching embellished felt wall hangings in scrolling through various blogs, and some of them are stunning! Would you be doing hand stitching or by machine?
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Feb 8, 2014 21:58:32 GMT
Wool scooped, silk scooped, wensleydale tops scooped too all from Scottish fibres. Had a limited budget but great fun trying to get the most and the interesting. Be brave and go for stitch. Been on a cake decorating course today with one of my daughters now covered in glitter and icing sugar. Edinburgh is a very beautiful city. Fitted in a gallery day. Flying back on Monday.
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Post by Pandagirl on Feb 9, 2014 1:45:05 GMT
Cathy, I would try machine stitching. I did the hand stitching on the eyeglass case and it took me forever besides my hands seizing up from arthritis. :-). Fay hand stitching I do will be minimal.
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Post by zed on Feb 9, 2014 11:42:45 GMT
It sounds like you're having a great time, Cathy Marilyn, your idea for stitching on the silk paper is great. I just assumed you meant machine stitching. I should write that down, or I'll forget
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 9, 2014 14:56:39 GMT
Marilyn, How are you able to control the speed of the stitching on a delicate work? Do you do free-motion stitching? I tried machine embroidery during a class with Richard Box a few years ago, and I found the speed made me nervous. Whereas we did both machine and hand embroidery, I felt that I "lost control" with the machine--although sometimes the speed can be seen as an advantage. Obviously, if you have health issues, there's no choice.
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Post by Pandagirl on Feb 9, 2014 15:13:07 GMT
I meant to say "any hand stitching would be minimal" I was just thinking about doing the machine stitching. I will try it on another sample piece. I like the way the silk paper piece turned out so I probably won't do anything more with it other than figure out how to hang it,
Cathy, I've never free motion stitched on anything. I bought a foot for it, but when I put it on it's really meant for quilting which I don't do. Ruth and Lyn do a lot if stitching on their felt perhaps they can weigh in here.
Zed, I'll try to remind you. :-)
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Post by MTRuth on Feb 9, 2014 15:48:47 GMT
I love machine stitching on felt. But it does take a bit of practice to feel in control. I usually suggest starting on heavy interfacing. It's inexpensive and you can practice without using a hoop. Once you feel a bit more confident, then you can try on felt. But the nice thing is the stitching doesn't really have to be perfect. Just follow the outside of your designs on the felt to start and it will look great because it adds more depth to the piece.
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Post by Teri Berry on Feb 9, 2014 18:59:30 GMT
I'm not an expert but have done a bit of free motion embroidery, I think the best pieces of advice I was given when starting out were: - run the machine moderately fast but move the fabric / felt slowly (if you have a speed control dial on your machine this will be a great help) - try not to keep stitching over the same area, this is particularly relevant if you are "painting" blocks of colour with machine embroidery, less so if you are sketching lines when I find running over the same lines 2 or 3 times helps to give definition and tidy up minor wiggles.
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Post by Teri Berry on Feb 9, 2014 19:04:42 GMT
Here is my (?first) offering for the Q1 challenge. I've been tinkering with it for weeks now and I'm still not sure I like it but I don't think turning it into an embroidery sampler is going to make me like it any more..... I also can't decide which way is up for this piece, this orientation is closest to the original that inspired it but part of me thinks the blue should be at the bottom and the yellow a sunset above water...?
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Post by Pandagirl on Feb 9, 2014 20:17:47 GMT
Thanks Ruth and Teri for the advice. I will try the machine embroidery.
Teri, I think the piece is lovely in either direction. There is a lot movement and interest. Do What feels right for you. Although, I know personally that is not always an easy decision.
Just a suggestion, perhaps adding just another color stitching or yarn that runs through the whole piece would pull it together a little more, if that's what you feel is missing.
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Post by carole aka craftywoman on Feb 9, 2014 21:00:55 GMT
I like this a lot Terri, I think you've captured the Pollock vibe beautifully, I really like the opp colouring with felt and stitch, and I agree maybe one colour across both halves would be quite effective if that's what you think it needs.
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Post by luvswool and dyestuff on Feb 9, 2014 21:07:11 GMT
Thanks also to Ruth and Teri for machine embroidery advice. My sewing machine is not fancy and the only way to control speed is the foot pedal. However, I do feel inspired now to try it again, perhaps on the interfacing first!
Teri, the piece you did reminds me of the ocean and I see serpents and fish swimming, and I think it's terrific! I can appreciate Marilyn's recommendation, but for me, less is more.
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Post by MTRuth on Feb 9, 2014 23:28:42 GMT
Great challenge piece Teri - I do think the portrait orientation might make it feel more cohesive. I love the textures you have achieved.
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Post by Teri Berry on Feb 9, 2014 23:50:18 GMT
Just a suggestion, perhaps adding just another color stitching or yarn that runs through the whole piece would pull it together a little more, if that's what you feel is missing. Thanks Marylin, that's a good suggestion and what I was trying to do with the yellow and blue embroidery (I was trying to bring the 2 halves together and give it more cohesion), maybe some red / pink will help. Maybe I should get my sewing machine out and just let it wander all over the piece a la Pollock style....?
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Post by lyn on Feb 9, 2014 23:51:23 GMT
I've turned my head this way and that, then that way and this to view your 'Pollock' Teri and I've decided that I like it best the way it's displayed in the photo. I love the colours and the swirly movement and it makes me think of planets and outer space.
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