Playing with sheers and a new project
This week I revisited a technique I played with years ago, maybe 12? I was inspired by the book: Fusing fabric by Margaret Beal. I played around at the time, got a soldering iron and the whole bit, but it languished as my teaching life ascended. It was time to return to that and have a go:
This is not even half of my sheer stash and they are packed in there tightly!
I chose my color palette and cut up chunks of each color (I’ll do this differently next time)…
and layered them on top of a sheet of water soluble stabilizer, topped with a light colored sheer to capture the little bits. I was semi-purposeful with my color placement.
It doesn’t look like much at this point.
I defined my border with a triple stitch of WonderFil 12 wt poly thread – Accent. Oh I looove that line – beautiful, beefy, perfect stitches from my BERNINA and the gorgeous sheen of that big ole fat 12 wt poly. Yummmm!
I marked this design with a blue wash out marker which was a little marginal – remember, it is a water soluble stabilizer.
I machine basted it all together with Superior’s Vanish Lite. If you work with this thread, you must protect it from moisture by storing it in plastic. And don’t forget to store the bobbin in there too. Don’t ever forget – that thread looks like regular old white thread and if you have water soluble in the bobbin and then get your quilt wet…..it’s instant Chia Pet!
This is my “starter project” and I have plans that I hope I have time to play with soon.
I wish I had more time because really, it’s only going to take an hour or so to stitch that up and then I can remove the negative space with scissors or soldering iron and boom, it’s done. I’m sooo close.
I saw this pillow at my local quilt shop, Meissner, Folsom and loved it! It was made as a store sample by Julianne to feature the fabric. I asked her permission to do my take on it and she agreed, so I’m calling my pillow, “The Julianne”! Here’s my start:
It doesn’t look like much either at this point, but I have plans!
I did have a fabulous time with the Santa Rosa Quilters this week – what a fun and inspired bunch! It was a full class of eager newish free motion quilters and we accomplished a lot in a day. I am always torn about whether to post photos. Well, first off, I forgot to take them, but really, to the viewer, don’t all classes look pretty much the same? Maybe I’m missing a marketing opportunity?
I think I said this before, but I do think my desktop computer problems have been solved by doubling my already substantial RAM with entirely new hardware. Fingers crossed. I will have hours more in a week if my computer and laptop simply do what I tell them to do. Hallelujah! I think…
And yes, still taping, oh so time consuming but I’m making steady progress. I hope to bring in a “lifestyle photographer” next week to supply me with excellent photography for my course and marketing. It’s a first for me to use Upwork and it’s pretty slick. How else would I find someone in my area who has textile experience to come to my home and take photos ?
Oh I hope to be over the hump by next week with some completed projects and much closer to launching my class.
I’ll be linking up:
Nina-Marie’s Off the Wall Friday
Fun projects! Good luck with your class!
Thank you Angela!
I can’t wait to see your finished “sheer project”.
I marked a practice quilt top, partially, with blue “water soluble” and partially with “Air soluble”. I used plain water and rubbed lightly on the water soluble. Most of it came out… but still a few blue spots on it. The “air soluble” completely disappeared. I’m a fan of air soluble, as long as you’re going to get to it right away. I’m not sure what to do about remaining blue. Should I try plain water again?.. or add some soap to it? Im hesitant to add heat for fear of permanently setting the blue.
Rubbing is not enough – you must immerse and swish for 5 min. The stuff you thought disappeared with a mere rub is not gone, is just waiting on the back of the fabric or in the batting for you to wash and/or dry. Then the stains will make themselves known in the form of yellow/brown tabacco-ish looking stains that will not come out. Please immerse!
Sheer fun. And Thank You Jenny. I’m (sort of) looking forward to trying my hand at sheers.
Oh how I love sheers, hope you do too!
Oh it sounds like such great progress! I love how you are using all the wash away items with your sheer project. Cheers.
It keeps me off the streets Betty Jo!
Both of these projects look like great outlets for your creativity, and I’m so looking forward to seeing these “lifestyle photos” of The Quilter In Her Habitat! I have never heard of this Upwork thing.
I hope this photographer can capture some good shots, I’m kinda nervous about it.
That fabric fusing looks interesting
We’ll see! I hope to get something done this week.
Love working with ‘sheers’ I too have a massive amount of them and really must do something with them, they are so pretty. Got the soldering iron and other gizmos for use with it too ha ha. Look forward to seeing your finished item.
Oh do show what you’re doing Janet! I’d love to see it.
This fabric (the big flowers, leaves, etc.) looks very interesting. Can you tell me what the name is and where it would be available for purchase?
So sorry Doreen – I used up every bit and cleaned my trash out, so no scraps even!
Doreen, we still have some of this floral fabric here at the Meissners in Folsom, it is by Quilting Treasures and the name of it is “Mika” #1649-7816-z
I don’t have Doreen’s email address or I would send this to her. I hope she sees this. Thank you for providing!