QUILTsocial Fall 2014 Issue | Page 8

It’s important to use stabilizer behind all of the decorative and machine embroidery stitches. Audition each of the technique pieces below to explore the layout, of the handbag. Determine how you want to cut the crazy patch pieces as you go. Creating yarn art felting and embroidery Stitching using the circular attachment Multi-line decorative foot Fabric Magic 8 QUILTsocial .com ● fall 2014 felting techniques 1. Draw lines on the front fabric to mark the placement of the yarn strips using a marking tool, or be creative freehand. These lines can be drawn oval or circular. Place the yarn on the fabric front. 2. This yarn strand can be machine felted into position, or it can be stitched down using a decorative beading foot 2-3mm and invisible thread using a small zigzag stitch or decorative stitch to accommodate the width of the yarn strand. Remember have fun. 3. If the artistic oval piece is to be felted, select rectangular cotton print fabric, and machine felt yarn right to the fabric. You’ll have the opportunity to choose which side you like the best after it has been needle felted, front or back of fabric. Cut the fabric to the shape desired. In this case it’s oval, however create any shape desired. Add this to the front of your handbag after all of front handbag is completely assembled. Stitch this into place. 4. Felting fabric for covered buttons can be done creatively using assorted threads, wool pieces, or yarns on the background fabric. And the fabric used for these techniques can also be from a great selection of cotton, silk, linens and any other natural fabric you can think of. Remember, it’s easier to shape it around the covered button if the fabric is light to medium weight. See manufacturer’s instructions for covered buttons. circular attachment techniques 1. Choose your fabric to be decoratively stitched using your Circular Attachment. As with most techniques it’s advisable to always experiment and have fun with stitches before going to the project fabric. Select an assortment of stitches to explore. 2. The top layer is your fabric, behind is a tea r away stabilizer or stabilizer of choice. Select a decorative stitch. Determine how large you would like the circle by moving the measurement guide to desired measurement. 3. Place your circular attachment in place and push the special pin into the fabric and through the stabilizer. Place the push pin into the circular attachment located along the measurement guide. See manufacturer’s instructions. Stitch decorative stitches in circular motion or shape desired using templates. 4. You may choose to use a portion of this decorative stitching for the handbag, or you may use the entire piece. Cut to desired size. Remove excess stabilizer. fabric texturing techniques 1. This technique was achieved by placing Fabric Magic under the cotton fabric for the front of the handbag – red fabric in bottom right corner. 2. Cut the Fabric Magic larger than the cotton fabric choice. 3. Use the multi-line decorative foot on the sewing machine, select a stitch and decorative stitch that will show well on the surface. 4. Use the guidelines on the multi-line decorative foot, stitch row after row of decorative stitches. Create a grid of stitches. Serpentine stitches work well, zigzag, straight, and a variety of others. Experiment. 5. When the stitches are complete, use the burst of steam from a steam iron and hover over top of your fabric surface. The Fabric Magic will shrink as will the cotton fabric with it. This creates a wonderful textured surface. Cut this to desired size for your crazy patch design.