Thursday, February 20, 2014

what if i experiment with hand stitch?

What if I'm just cruising along on a friend's blog and find a new book to purchase from Amazon? What if it's called Stitch and Structure, Design and Technique in two-and three-dimensional textiles, by Jean Draper? What if I actually skim the book cover-to-cover and stop on a section that talks about using hand stitch on water-soluble stabilizer (WS)? What if I had never thought of this? What if I find it very exciting? What if I made two small experimental pieces, over two days, and then decided that I needed to stop for a while, because my hand was hurting. What if I'll get back to it later?
What if I sandwiched thread waste and used teabags between the WS and then stitched with a running stitch? What if I knotted the thread intersections? What if I sandwiched strips of felted, thrift store wool between WS and then stitched with running and cretan stitches? What if I say there's an awful lot more to explore in this book? What if I say that I've actually finished my February bead journal, but am having trouble photographing it? What if I say that I'll return in the next couple of days>

8 comments:

Judy Cooper Textile Artist said...

I just ordered that book from Amazon a few days ago. Can't wait for it to arrive.

Anonymous said...

It's a very inspiring book. I've been playing with water soluble stabilizer, mostly by machine, but am intrigued by the hand embroidery possibilities as well.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I stumbled across three packages (why do I have three...one wonders) of water soluble stabilizer in my stash just yesterday and discussed with myself the wisdom of having so much of something that I have never (ever) used. Hmmm...definitely a fortuitous post from you!!

Beth@IHaveANotion.com said...

What if you put beads all over it?

I have some... of the stabilizer... too.

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

Thanks, everyone! If you own or are planning on purchasing it, there's far more than just hand stitch on water soluble, between those covers. Beth and MA, get out those packages girls!!! WS is great with both hand and machine stitch. Beth, beads are definitely in the plan for the next experiment!!

sweetypie said...

isn't that a great book, I had to go off and start sewing small flat stones together immediatelty, well done a good buy.

Anne Marie - Toronto said...

I do think so!! Of course, now I need to find some small, flat stones. Do you have a phito?

Ines Seidel said...

wow, these pieces are so beautiful! I got myself some of this water soluble magic stuff weeks ago, but have not done anything with it yet...