Module Two. Chapter Three.

Using machine stitching to show tonal effects.

It was great fun using the machine stitches and adjustments to the stitch length and width in a purely decorative way. I've been using the sewing machine, primarily for dressmaking, since the age of 11 and having worn out my old Janome sewing machine a couple of years ago I am now the very lucky owner of a Bernina that has some interesting embroidery stitches. I took this opportunity to purchase a spare bobbin case so that I could make tension adjustments to produce the cable stitch samples - I've not been brave enough to try this technique before.

Each image below has a notation describing how the tonal effect has been created.

The cable stitch was surprisingly easy to achieve and even layering up the stitching was quite easy – I kept waiting for some resistance from the machine but it even coped with some quite dense layering.

Stitched Strips.

Below are the stitched strip samples I produced at this time – I think these are a bit uninspiring – although I had begun collecting animal images at this stage I hadn’t done any of the drawing. Now that I have done some drawing and produced my dyed fabrics I will go back to produce some more samples that I think will better reflect the animal markings I have used for inspiration.

I think the stitch patterns themselves are satisfactory but the calico background is a little stark.

Perhaps I should try printing over these strips? The samples shown in the course materials are very effective – I think using my own dyed fabrics will produce some pleasing samples.