Textile Tuesday

As you can see bags are really popular at class and some 

are now known as 'Bag Ladies'!

Beryl had unpicked some of the binding on her Batik Bag

(Bag in the middle above) 

and added the buttons.

The box style bag used the twisted squares technique.

These small alterations just made the difference.

Its all about finish.

its knowing how to move on a design or how to 

make the best of what you can do.

Val showed us her new Laptop bag she had made,

again an adapted pattern.

It is the fixtures and finishings that make

this look so'Designer'.

You can find good bag fixings at this website

HERE

This is where Val found her stainless steel twisted fixings

fo this bag. 

Twisted Square Japanese Inspired Cushion

Val used Japanese inspired fabric charm pack to make twisted squares

for the centre of the trellis pattern in her cushion.

It really showed off the technique really well.

The twisted square has been really popular.

Sandra's rose fabric cushion (top picture on the right)

uses the same twisted square pattern but it gives a totally 

different effect.

To see more twisted squares and items,

click the written label below. 

U3A Patchwork and Quilting Workshop

In March I taught the Down Market U3A Patchwork and Quilting Group

Twisted Squares and Folded Patchwork, shapes and strips.

(U3A, "university of the third age").

Every hour, there was a new technique and ways of continuing them

on, into patterns which could be parts of wallhangings, cushions or quilts.

Some, liked the Twisted Square,  a bit of magic. Others like the 

folded hexagons these can make your eyes and fingers go twitchey. 

The Cathedral Windows made as doubles and the Twisted Strips 

something different!

Origami in fabric is always a good exercise because you are taking a 

2D flat fabric surface and making it into a 3D with folds, tucks, pleats and

stitch. The manipulation of the fabric add another dimension 

you can't get any other way

Everyone enjoyed the day and you can see by the table of samples,

lots of good results. It also opened many boxes in the brain

 that hadn't been opened for a long time.

I like stretching the brain muscles with simple exercise

that turn out great results.

From this the group decided to make a block up from the squares

for the Sampler Quilt they are each making.

I was asked if I would teach the block

"New York Beauty"

 at the next workshop in June.

See more of the folded patchwork 

by clicking the written labels below.

Cafetiere Cover

Hilary learnt how to do the Twisted Square and Cathedral Window

combined at class and then made this great Cafetiere.

It looks really stylish and very Japanese inspired.

See more folded fabrics by clicking the written labels below.

Folded Strips

Every week at classes I teach different techniques to 

encourage participants to look at different ways

of creating textiles.

Here are a selection of the folded and twisted Strips.

They start off with a 3.5" wide strip as long as

you can handle and then box pleats.

These can be use for add 3D interest on textiles

and make great handles for handbags.

Often it is making the new or having a go at

techniques that inspires other projects that you want 

to do but not had the courage to try.

I am also into keeping brains healthy and

origami is a healthy brain and body activity.

Jennie Rayment is a real inspiration,

I have to translate the techniques so I can do them :)

Visit her site HERE

See this video of her having some fun 

HERE

Also you thought pleats could be so much fun

watch this video HERE

Monday City and Guilds Textiles

City and Guilds Creative Textiles is half way through now and 

everyone has lots of work to show and are really cracking on 

with their projects. There is techniques to learn each week

 and students also bring in items that they 'Show and Tell',

that is relevant to the session. This week it was buttons,

Hence the buttons on the bag and Twisted Squares and Hexagons.

I started teaching with origami and then went through to showing 

how to make the fabric folded squares and hexagons.

Everyone has enjoyed the challenge and like the little bit

of 'magic'.