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