Page 3 Making up a small section of the design

I traced an a4 sized part of the design which incorporated the different samples and cut out areas.


I then selected the top left section of the design to make up as outlined below.

The coloured tracing was traced out again, laid over the background fabric and the lines of the design were machine stitched. The tracing paper was then removed.

For the cut out areas in sample 1, threads were removed and then machine stitched in a royal blue colour. Orange fabric was zig-zagged in place. Using the developed samples shown on page 1, these were applied using small running stitches. On the sky blue fabric a lighter blue thread was used and on the navy blue a sky blue colour was used. Very carefully the orange areas were cut out.

Overall I think for a small piece it works, the colours blend very well - the sky blue and navy blue fabrics look seemless and reflect each other - while the orange colour creates contrast but blends in with the blue stitching. Having reviewed the sample I think the cut out areas need to be stitched in a darker colour. I also think that if this was a larger size piece there may need to be more contrast and interest - I could look at adding orange running stitches around the orange areas or maybe running along in the design in a finer thread.

With this in mind I have decided to develop a further sample with more contrast in colour and something which will look more interesting over a larger area.

Sample 1

With sample 2 below, I don't think the photo looks as good as the one above, however the sample looks more dramatic and contrasting. I started off by removing threads from the cut out areas and used a zig-zag whip stitch with navy and orange. This brings the orange colour in a subtle way in to the main areas. I like this effect.

The orange fabric was twin needle stitched in place and the navy blue fabric was cut out. The navy and sky blue fabrics were hand-stitched in place using a contrasting light coloured thread using a wobbly herringbone stitch (to reflect the stitching and cut out shapes).

Finally a running stitch in orange was used around the cut out orange areas to further highlight these areas.

From a distance this looks more interesting than the first sample and I feel this would work better on a larger sized piece. I like the randomness of the stitches, contrasting colours and the way the orange colour has been brought in to the design in a very subtle way.

Sample 2

Page 2 Planning work

For the cut out areas of the design, I thought a decorated fabric behind would create added texture and interest. In this example, organza has been bonded on to a navy background then twin needle stitching was added. The areas between the stitching were burnt through. It has created a very uniform effect - I was wanting something more random and textured.


In this example the organza was twin needle stitched prior to bonding to navy background. The areas between the stitching were burnt out using the soldering iron. I like the texture and depth which look like additional cords when placed behind the cut out areas of the design. You don't tend to see a lot of colour behind - I'm thinking that an orange colour would be good so it creates a slight orange colour in parts of the design.

Page 1 Further planning work

Following the receipt of my feedback I have continued to develop the samples to be used in the final design.

I have developed sample d on page 6 of my previous submission. In the sample below, in some of the cut out areas I have used small pieces of either navy or sky blue silk twin needled without the sewing hoop so it becomes distorted and gathered. Using bonding powder these have been stuck behind the machined piece. Unfortunately some of the loose bonding power stuck to the front of the sample. In view of this next time I am intending on using bonding paper. I have then burnt through in lines using the soldering iron. I like the overall effect.

As the sky blue colour in the design is covering large areas I wanted to create more interest with the stitching and textures. In the example below I have combined the stitching used in samples a) and c) of page 5 of my previous submission. This has worked very well - the lines of the straight whip stitch reflect the twin needled cut out areas - creating the illusion of erosion and netted/webbed areas.

Page 6) Development of embroidered surfaces

Sample 6a

Withdrew threads - then zig-zagged - I like this effect which could be used in the white areas of the design

Sample 6b

Cut out fabric - then placed water soluble fabric over top - straight machine stitch - the stitches look good but there is a more definite edge underneath which I don't like.

Sample 6c

The previous orange samples have had more circular shapes. In some cases they were also not the correct shade of orange. The following sample was dyed using pumpkin orange acid dye which created the colour that I was seeking.

I wanted to create something with more definite lines to replicate some of the blue samples that I like but maintain the shapes of the orange paper. I used twin needle stitches in orange - I then twin needled in blue in places cutting away some parts organza. Ad-hoc vertical tucks were then made.

This sample looks beautiful. I think this would look stunning as a larger piece.

Samples 6d

I then decided to try some further samples using the above technique in sky and navy blue. From a distance these look stunning although I am a little concerned that there may not be enough embroidery detail on.

Page 5) Development of embroidered surfaces

Sample 5a

Straight whip stitch on silk leaving some areas unstitched - then placed over woven fabric - further stitchery added - then cut out - withdrew threads from fabric underneath - zig-zagged open threads. This has worked very well picking up the textures and colours of the tissue paper although I would have preferred the background colour to be bluer. This fabric was dyed using procion and it has only picked up some of the colour.

Sample 5b

I decided to use navy and sky blue acid dyes for the silk. The sample below dyed in navy has created a beautiful petrol blue colour which replicates the tissue colour very well. This time I have used straight whip stitch but left more of the fabric showing. I've then made small tucks. The silk fabric works very well - it's delicate like the tissue paper - has a beautiful richness and manipulates very well.

Sample 5c

The following sample has been dyed using sky blue acid dye. This has worked very well and goes with the above darker blue sample. I have used straight whip stitch as per above.

Page 4) Development of embroidered surfaces

Sample 4a

Twin needle over wadding - cut out in places - fabric looks a little bit pale - would have like fabric colour stronger but overall I like this design - would probably want to use blue threads next time so it brings the blue and orange colours together better.

Sample 4b

Twin needle in blue - cut out in places - this works very well and looks more interesting using blue threads.

Sample 4c

Twin needle over wadding - cut out in places. I used blue and orange threads which look very effective.

Samples 4d

Cable stitched spiral shapes on soluble fabric - both of these look very good and replicate the textured surface of the paper

Page 3) Development of embroidered surfaces

Sample 3a

Twin needle - placed over dark blue fabric and in places used shirring elastic. I like the contract but would be better with some blue threads and maybe a shinier type dark blue fabric - the orange fabric still looks a bit yellowy in places.

Sample 3b

Pulled threads in both directions - placed over blue fabric - straight machine stitch - could have perhaps quilted this and maybe distressed further

Sample 3c

Cable stitch - shirring elastic -created a beautiful textured effect.

Sample 3d

Twin needle - feel this may look a little bit plain over a larger design.

Sample 3e

Twin needle - using different colour blue - if gathered and additional hand stitching added feel this would work well

Page 2) Translating the decorated papers in to embroidery

Sample 2a

Cable stitch - then shirring elastic used in some of the areas - to create rough bubbly texture - feels this looks good over a big area but if a small section is revealed feel the textured effect is lost.

As above but using organza over cotton. Burnt out some of the fabric. As the fabric behind is too pale this is not very noticeable. I like the shineyness of this sample.

Sample 2b

Sample 2c

Zig-zag cable, tucks and machine stitched some areas using variegated thread. This feels like it would look a bit flat for a larger sample but if slightly gathered or cut through would create depth.

Sample 2d

Unfortunately the dying for this piece of organza turned a bit yellow. Bubbled over a candle and machine stitched around the bubbles. Looks a bit flat when placed against the blue sample above.

Sample 2e

Dyed the organza again - unfortunately turned a bit too red this time - used similar stitchery as in blue sample. I feel this looks too plain.

Page 1) Design development

Following feedback in February, I worked on developing further ideas using 2 papers and the cut out orange shape used in a previous design. This first design that I made looked a bit busy and the orange shape did not show up as much as I wanted.

Design 1a

In the second design I have used a decorated tissue paper with orange textured paper underneath. I like the organic random nature of this design. I feel it replicates peat erosion very well with the shapes, textures and colours. I have chosen this design to enlarge and make up in to a wall hanging.

Design 1b

I considered the feedback given on proportion and rather than the standard A1 size I enlarged the design in to a longer rectangle shape (approximately 16 inches wide x 48 inches). I drew out the enlarged design and coloured using gouache and acrylic paints. The picture taken looks lighter in colour than the original design above. Please note I am intending on using the colours illustrated above.

Design 1c

Page 4) Development of designs

Original idea

Scarred - bubbling - decomposed - filters
Two plain colours

Roughly slashed/stabbed out rough circular shapes using end of a pen - the paper has bleached out outlines of a bird to reflect extinction/conservation. I placed the design over a blue paper but this didn't create sufficient contrast.

Design placed over an orangey/brown paper - looks like blobs of orange colour thrown randomly on paper - liked the roughness of the design - loose edges and bits.

Page 3) Development of designs

Original design

Worn - damaged - decay - destruction - erosion - affected
Two plain colours

Randomly placed torn strips on background paper - some folded back loosely

Stuck on contrasting edges

Cut into wider blue areas to create further erosion/decay - placed over contrasting textured paper - I liked the random shape - it looks a busy design

Page 2) Development of designs

Original designs

Buffer- important - protect - paved
Bare - degraded - damage - dry - unique

Original ideas in 2 plain colours

I wanted to incorporate these 2 designs together to reflect damage and decay alongside something to reflect protection/a buffer - for the buffer I cut thick and thin strips of paper - I decided to lay these across a decorated paper randomly - I then cut out the eroded area in the centre using a scalpel then cut in to the lines using zig-zag scissors. I was initially going to place the buffer strips in straight lines but preferred them to overlap

Final design showing overlapping buffing strips. This design idea came together very quickly - it's very striking and dramatic - I feel the buffer strips work well with the design of the cut out centre