CREATING SWIRLING FOSSILS…an Art Quilt.

SWIRLING FOSSILS, inspired by my love for nature.

MY INSPIRATION

My work is inspired by nature. I love finding textiles with different textures to create art quilts. SWIRLING FOSSILS was started in a class with a wonderful teacher, Paul Schutte. That a piece of chiffon and a couple of strips of cotton fabric turned into a fossil art quilt, was quite a surprise to me and I want to share it with you!

YOU WILL NEED:

Backing 55cm X 75c
Loomtex Batting 55cm X 75c
A close-up of the materials I used.
100% cotton fabric 50cm X 70c
Interesting patterned chiffon
100% cotton machine sewing threa
DMC hand embroidery floss in different colours to match your background
Strips of 100% cotton in a contrasting colou
Strips of solid coloured chiffon
Shades of grey to blue Isacord machine embroidery thread, depending on your colour scheme.
Machine
Soldering iron

WHERE TO START.

Lay the backing on a surface
Put the batting on top of that and smooth it out
Lay the 100% cotton fabric on a surface
Set up your machine for free motion quilting
Put the interesting patterned chiffon on top and distort it. Stitch through all layers
Form the fossil shapes by using the 100% cotton strips in a contrasting colour and stitch through all layers
Use a soldering iron to burn certain areas.
Add in extra stitching/FM machine embroidery where necessary
Enhance your work by hand embroidering French knots and tacking stitches in strategic places
Square off your art quilt
Sew a facing on the back to finish off your work
Sew a hanging sleeve and a label on the back.
Hand embroidered French Knots.

If you are passionate about textiles and want to learn more about how to incorporate my innovative techniques into your work, follow me on Instagram @tillydeharde and Facebook, Tilly de Harde Fibre Artist & Teacher and visit my website www.tillydeharde.com & subscribe to my mailing list. Please don’t forget to leave a comment in the comment box below!