Samples 2016: Week 9, Web/Stone

For cobwebs in stone colours I turned to free machine embroidery on Lutradur again -a thin one this time, thoroughly zapped with a heat gun after stitching.

I could've used a dissolvable film, but for this design Lutradur is much quicker and more effective. You can get away with much less stitching, and the curves keep their shapes better.

I'm pleased with this one, think it's got potential for framed pieces.

Samples 2016: Week 8, Filigree/Rainbow

I just had to get rid of the background fabric for this theme! (any excuse?) And I fancied criss-crossing spirally curlicues.

So my first thought, as usual, was free machine embroidery on dissolvable fabric. But I soon realised that was going to take far too much stitching to make it stay together. So I settled on Lutradur, a heat sensitive synthetic fabric.

It might've helped to draw out a design first, but I just improvised with each colour in turn - fun bright rainbow colours rather than subtle realistic ones. For speed it's just straight stitch, four times over each line. 

Finally I melted out the design using a fine-tipped heat tool (like a soldering iron).

Samples 2016: Week 7, Growth/Bronze

This didn't start well - no "bronze" fabric or thread. But I did have transfer foil...

I free machine stitched the little shoots on calico, using heat bonding thread on the bobbin. This thread is thick and poorly twisted so I couldn't use it through the needle and had to work from the back.

Then I ironed bronze transfer foil over the stitching, and it stuck nicely to the bonding thread - magic!  
 

Samples 2016: Week 6, Ripple/Fireworks

The pattern is "ripple", and the colour scheme "fireworks" - but my ripples look like firework patterns anyway! It started out as the concentric rings you get from dropping something in a still pool.

I used a flower stitcher attachment on my Bernina to make little circles of zigzag (straight stitch didn't show up enough). On black cotton backed with craft Vilene.