In the first example below I began by choosing one of my log cabin samples and stitched uneven lines of running stitch before gathering. Unfortunately because I stitched with normal sewing quality polyester thread, one of the lines of stitching broke. Thinking about this I came to two conclusions - the first was to use shibori quality thread next time, and secondly ungathered sections create a more interesting finished effect.
Log cabin sample:
Log cabin, stitched:
Log cabin gathered tightly:
In the next sample I chose some commercial striped fabric and gathered it more loosely than previous sample. I then rearranged the gathers in order to imitate, at least partially the lines in the image of the tiger's markings below.
Tiger markings:
Striped fabric:
Striped fabric, gathered loosely and then rearranged in an attempt to capture the tiger markings above:
Wrapping fabric strips with thread:
Instructions from "Three Dimensional Embroidery" by Janet Edmonds
Finely woven linen in first 'failed' black dye bath, wrapped in white crochet cotton:
Next step was to coil the above wrapped fabric into a pointed shape reminiscent of peaked shapes on tortoise shell:
I really like this shape. Definite possibilities for a possible panel for my tortoise inspired bag!
So I tried it again, this time using some of my more successful dyed black fabric, wrapping the fabric with white crochet cotton. Again I really like this little sample, even better than the one above, although sewing it into a coil shape was very hard on my fingers. Will need to remember to use a thimble next time and hope that needle doesn't break!!
Still wanting to experiment with a similar shape using a different construction, this time based on Jean Draper's "Raised structure with bound points" in her brilliant book Stitch and Structure, I created these little shapes. Though they have possibilities, I think I prefer the solidity of the above shapes for my bag. Reckon they will be considerably more hard wearing! :)
All in all a good day filled with lots of experimenting. What I enjoyed most was taking some of the earlier methods used in previous chapters and samples and adapting them in a new way. Happy to be moving forward in my ideas for my bag, and beginning to "see" it evolve........
References:
Three Dimensional Embroidery, Janet Edmonds
Stitch and Structure, Jean Draper
