Chapter 8 - To Apply Paper Pulp to a Woven Fabric

I didnt think I was going to have any time to start this chapter before we go travelling this Friday....but I was keen to 'have-a-go'last weekend ....mind you it was pouring with rain and I had to use the garage floor so didnt have much fun in the end!! Some pieces have dried ok but I'm disappointed with the overall results. See what you think. I hope to take some edges to stitch whilst we're away then may do some more of these later.















The loose threads on the above piece wouldn't adhere into the pulp...I suppose I could cheat and glue them! ...














I had great hopes for this sample from the last chapter (a frayed fabric grid with machine stitching) but it hasn't turned out at all well...disappointing!















I am very pleased with the above piece, the colour of the pulp went just how I wanted and the paper performed ok as I layed it over the hessian














The sample above just about works although may have been better with some pulp over the grig as well.
















I tried this one with string and really like the effect once it has been cut off the frame....feel i could experiment using this technique a little more.














This is my sainsbury's bag from the last chapter dipped in to pulp, I think it will look better off the frame!

Chapter 7 - Wrapped Frames to make Grids

Its taken me a long time to get back into module 4 not sure why but this year the summer has got in the way!! I did find withdrawing threads very time consuming and often got carried away taking out too many or changing the pattern mid-way! Really enjoyed chapters 6 & 7 and it was good to get back into the flow.



















1. Threads wrapped both ways across the frame followed by straight and zig-zag machine stitching to form a new fabric and grid, this fabric is fairly firm.

2.Wool wrapped over the frame in bars and machine satin stitched bars in 2 colours carrying the threads across the sample. One of my favourites.




















3.Wrapped novelty threads stitched in bars with blanket stitch creates an interesting design across the grid.

4. 'Sari ends' wrapped and then woven through to create this grid.




















5. Here I used tassel threads to wrap the frame and free machined circular letter shapes to secure the grid, I feel thicker threads could be added to this sample.

6. Frayed strips of my sample fabric used to make the grid with machined stitching to hold it together. I would like to use this sample in chapter 8 and added it to paper pulp....may be suitable to use in some form in my final piece....not sure yet.


















7. Luckily Sainsbury's plastic bags are in my colour scheme! I think I will remove the blue ties and try this grid with paper pulp in the next chapter to see the effect.

Chapter 6 - Drawn Thread Work Stitchery

1. My first sample here shows a variety of stitchery ideas, a) threading a frayed ribbon, b)weaving thick yarns, c)tieing up withdrawn threads, d)e)&f)handstitching across withdrawn threads- variety of stitches and threads.

2.Needleweaving in various ways and blanket stitch down columns of threads creating spirals.


















3.Loops created across the fabric then machined over as tucks...loose threads woven back through the loops to create letter shapes.

4.Small sections withdrawn then rethreaded in a variety of ways.






















5. Here the threads haven't been withdrawn completely and then wound back into the piece creating interesting pattern shapes.

6. The threads have been pulled back from the centre and machine stitched to fringe the edges ....then previously withdrawn threads thickly woven back in.






















7. Shows diagonal stitches on the Bars based on the traditional technique of Hardanger. Here I used a selection of novelty threads...gives an attractive appearance to the fabric.

8. In this sample I used machine stitching on the bars and cross-overs which pulls the threads together and could be done in different colours to create steps.




















The above sample has looped threads drawn in wards and threads pulled through to show letter shapes. An attractive way of doing this but I think the threads would need to be knotted or fastened around each loop.

Chapter 5 - Drawn Thread Work

I did this chapter whilst away in June and took some photos then and now realise that I then went on to do drawn threadwork stitchery on my other samples without photographing them. So I apologise Sian for only showing 4 pieces in this chapter! The others will appear in Chapter 6.


































Pulling threads inwards to create loops, turning this one around the loops look like the letter M or W!

Surprise -Surprise !!

This is a first for me as I have only posted course work on my blog in the past....but today I had a big surprise ....so have decided to share it with you!!
The Embroiderer's Guild I belong to has just had an exhibition which went very well and as an extra all members were encouraged to submit a piece for the member's competition. We were given a CD case with fabric and 2 reels of silk plus a 2inch square card photocopied from an inspirational abstract picture. From this we could do what ever textile design we liked but could only use colours from our card. Visitors to the Exhibition voted on their favourites. Imagine my surpise when I found out I'd won!! It's given my confidence a boost!! Below is my piece with the card I had underneath.

Chapter 4 - Papermaking

Paper making - 1st Attempt



Great weather for this activity!


















First 2 pieces of paper: top one is thickish on an interesting mesh.. the next one I tried with less pulp to see how thin I could go....this is a massive learning curve for me!



















Adding bits to the surface of the paper.















Creating texture by using a knitted mesh....very difficult to remove afterwards as it got stuck in the knitting!















Adding texture to the paper















Paper Making : Take Two

Laminating - adding texture and colour inbetween 2 pieces of paper.....I think my paper was a little too thick as the coloured threads which are inbetween are very vibrant and don't show through too well....interesting texture.



















Fringing - Adding long pieces of thread which are ripped out carefully when nearly dry....I like this idea and will added more threads next time now I see the result.















Making a piece of paper in the shape of a letter - C - worked well, would be interesting with blended colours.



















Making a piece of paper with a hole in the shape of a letter T.... this took me a few attempts! I had trouble getting the shape off the mesh as I used a floppier one. Now I know it wasn't the right one to use!!


















Here I made a thin layer of paper then added orange and blue pulp randomly on the mesh using a turkey baster before placing it on a cloth to dry. Believe me this looks better in real life than here!
















On this final piece I scooped up alternative colours of pulp to lay on the mesh overlapping slightly as I went. This works well and might be useful later in the module. It does seem to make a fairly thick piece of paper but now I know the technique may be able to make a thiner piece if needed.

Chapter 3 - Grids