Another technique! Freeform needleweaving

Here is another technique that I haven't tried before. Freeform needleweaving with beading. The design is VERY loosely based on one of my drawings from an historic fabric swatch in the V&A textiles collection. I outlined the motif with wire using a cordonet thread around the shape and filling in the interior with a variety of freeform needleweaving stitches with emrboidery threads and metallic threads. To add lustre I also used some beading. To stabilise the shape when finished I used buttonhole stitch around the perimeter. The wire enables you to bend the shape and it can be attached to a piece of work as a relief piece of raised work. Quite a lot of work for such a small sample but fun to do.

New Day New Technique

Image Bottom: The Frame and Stitching

Image Top: The Result - the work cut from the frame

I thought I would have a go at weaving and free machine embroidery with beading. As I didn't have a suitable frame I decided to improvise. It is amazing what you can do with a PG Tips box! No point in being a creative if you can't do Playschool!

So I made a frame, I did some yarn wrapping, I did a little free machine embroidery and hey, presto! Watch point: I didn't use any stabiliser on this so I had to take care not to catch the embroidery foot in the cross threads. This is the result1 Although I quite like the outcome it has limited possibilities; Maybe a greetings card.

Needlefelting with Embellisher

On the subject of techniques: I have progressed to using an embellisher. Unfortunately I am as adept at breaking needles on the embellishing machine as I am with hand held needles! Ooops! I really love the way that you can build up distressed surfaces and layers and "knock back" gaudy colours by overlaying with more subtle shades.

Colour Stories

We are encouraged at college to keep a "Colour Book" so that when we do projects we have a wide vocabulary of colour themes to use. Ideally I should be creating one new page for my colour book every week - I've been very lax, so here is one to start me off on the right path.

I love using black in my colour palettes, particularly for fashion ideas - although it creeps into my interiors and gift projects too. A visit to the Towner Art Gallery's "Dark Monarch" exhbition yesterday has certainly got my inspirational juices flowing and I think it will help me move out of my comfort zone colour-wise - despite the profusion of black and monochrome! I am itching to do some drawing and painting and to try out some new techniques.