BERNINA Corporate Blog -NOT JUST LONGARM QUILTING!
A little while ago I was busy quilting on my Bernina Q24 when I suddenly started thinking that there must be other things that I can create with this wonderful machine apart from using it to do longarm quilting!
The type of fabric I create.
In my textile art practice, I often find that I have to create fabric for some of the art that I produce. There is quite a lot of fabric burning that takes place when I do certain works and unfortunately, there is not a ready supply of fabrics that I need in the shops.
RECYCLE IN ORDER TO CREATE.
People who know me, know that I do not throw anything away. I believe in recycling in order to create…not always but for this work, definitely! I used recycled synthetic felt that was donated to me as the base. Before I started, I checked that everything that I was planning to use, could burn. Yes, I know it sounds crazy but it has to be able to burn!
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO CREATE YOUR OWN NEW FABRIC:
- Synthetic felt
- Machine compost (make sure these can all burn!)
- Three or more different colour machine embroidery thread (make sure these can also all burn!)
- Organza
- Angelina fibres (optional)
- Pins
- Foot 24 or your darning foot.
HOW TO CREATE NEW FABRIC.
Spread the machine compost all over the felt.
I pinned the felt to the leader cloth as if it is the backing of the quilt. Then I collected all my ‘throw away’ threads which are mostly collected from my machine embroidery. I call this my machine compost. These I spread all over the felt. After the threads, I sprinkled a bit of Angelina fibres around just to give it that little shine. Once all of the loose stuff was spread over the background, I put a layer of organza on top and tacked it to the backing as if it is a quilt that I am going to quilt.
Dense stitching through all layers.
Using a machine embroidery thread that blends into the background and my open toe free motion embroidery foot (Foot 24) , I free motion stitched through all layers. I then changed threads a couple of times from a blending thread to a contrasting thread until I achieved the background fabric that I wanted. The stitching is quite dense so that none of the loose threads in between the layers will move. Now my fabric was created and I was ready to go onto the next step but more about this in my next blog!
Angelina fibres give my work a glimmering appearance!
You can follow me on Instagram #tillydeharde and on Facebook, Tilly de Harde Textile Artist to see more interesting things that I do and classes that I teach. Please remember to leave a comment below!
I have done this since many years…it is very easy. You can use any fusible backing that washes away….but even more fun is using Angelina that you use an iron on. There are two types of Angelina. You can burn holes and play any way you wish with it. You can leave it 2D or 3D. I made large cones and filled it with other art work.
Hi Kahryne, I’m pleased to hear you have been doing this for so long! So have I but this is my first try on the Q24! Keep up the creative spirit!
Looks so FUN! I too have save a bucket full of threads.
Hi Sheron, now you know what to do with all of that! It really is fun! Remember to watch the next blog as I am going to take you a step further!
Ingenious!
Hi Geri, I agree! Such fun to use up all those threads!
I would love to see a video of this technique!
Hi Cindy, check out my Facebook and Instagram pages for more interesting snippets!
What a great idea, Tilly!
Hi Bea, I think so too! What a lovely and creative way to use up those unwanted bits and pieces!