Have you ever heard of Big Stitch Quilting? Someone on instagram saw a quilt that I'm in the midst of working on and suggested I google "Big Stitch Quilting" and so I did!
It's a hand quilting technique that uses big stitches and there are lots of tutorials (and here) all over the internet. There are books, online classes, and entire websites dedicated to the topic. I have to say, I've done lots of Big Stitch Quilting before, but I didn't realize it had a name.
Back in 2017 I took a class with Frances Holliday Alford (and blogged about it here). She uses a lot of this "Big Stitch Quilting" in her work -- although she never referred to it that way.
And the little quilt I made in her class had some Big Stitch Quilting too...
...which I just referred to as "Big Fat Embroidery Stitches" at the time.
Back in 2011, I worked on some small intensely stitched quilt pieces, like this one:
I even taught a class at The City Quilter in New York City on how to make this kind of quilt! I think it falls under the "Big Stitch Quilting" header, don't you?
This is a kind of stitching that I love doing and have done for years. I'm delighted to have a name for it.
I recently participated in Cloth Paper Scissors "Road Test" section, where they ask artists to make something with a particular product. They sent me a roll of red Kraft-Tex.
I had experimented with Kraft-Tex a few times before. It's a fascinating product. It's paper, but you can wash it and sew it like fabric. It has some similarities to leather in appearance. It doesn't tear and it takes paint easily. A lot of people use it for bags and journal covers.
If you know me, you know that I always want to do something different. I wanted to make something that took advantage of all of Kraft-Tex's unusual qualities. After sitting and thinking for a while, I decided to make a decorative bowl -- creating the bowl shape by stitching.
I used my Dramatic Floral stencil to create a pattern inside the bowl, but I left the outside plain.
I love the way it turned out! You can find step-by-step instructions as well as other artist's experiments with Kraft-Tex in the current (and final) issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Magazine!
Put on some black clothes and this cat mask made from felt and you're ready to go! Watch the video for the how to:
I used two different kinds of felt to make the mask: acrylic craft felt for the mask base and stiff felt for all of the decorative elements. The one negative about cutting acrylic craft felt is that it really messes up your mat. It takes a long time to clean all of that fuzz off of the mat and I hate cleaning. The stiff felt, on the other hand, leaves behind almost no residue. I do share my mat cleaning tips in the video, but if I were to do the project again, I would probably use stiff felt for the base so that I wouldn't have to take the time to clean the mat.
Use a brayer to strongly adhere the felt to the mat.
Use the metal spatula to help pull the felt pieces off of the mat.
To get the most out of your mats, clean the felt fuzz off of the High Tack Fabric Support Sheet right away using an alcohol free, fragrance free baby wipe & the metal spatula.
This is a fun and easy project with great results!
I hope you give it a try!
Also, if you're not a costume person and you just want to decorate, there are some super cute new cut files for sale on CanvasWorkspace.
I used the treat box cut file (upper right in the image above and larger below)...
...but added my own flair with some glitter...
...and a few bats (one of the built-in cut files in the DX225):
You're supposed to put candy inside the box, but I thought the shadow was too cool to do that:
I love that it's so easy to add your own personal touch to any of the cut files you purchase -- choose your own colors, add elements, take away elements. No one says that you have to create the item as intended. Add your own flair!
Thanks for stopping by!
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P.S. I am a paid spokesperson for the Brother ScanNCut. It is a machine that I love and use. All projects and opinions are my own.
Hey everybody! I've got a bunch of ScanNCut tips & tricks for you today!
Did you know that you can cut stencils from a wide variety of materials when you have a ScanNCut? I often get asked about the "right" material to use for stencils and there isn't just one. It's all personal preference. Generally speaking, I tend to use either readily available stencil film:
You can watch a video of the two methods I used for stenciling this tag here.
You can also use your ScanNCut to cut stencils from transparencies, thin chipboard, acetate, cardstock, and more! My ScanNCut is a stencil cutting beast!
The most popular ScanNCut video I've ever done is my "how to transform a .jpg to an .fcm file" video. I decided to update the video by showing you (a) how to do that process in CanvasWorkspace for PC and (b) how to edit what you get from the transformation! Enjoy!
I love that I can easily turn my old artwork into new cutting files.
CanvasWorkspace for PC gives me all kinds of tools to get the results exactly as I want them!
Speaking of getting the results you want, I'm showing you how to create single line cuts or "slits" using CanvasWorkspace Online, CanvasWorkspace for PC, and your ScanNCut machine:
Why would you want to cut a single line? How about to make this card with ribbon woven through it:
A single line cut is useful for creating boxes and envelopes -- anything requiring a tab being inserted -- and more!
Finally, ScanNCut makes it "sew" easy for me to make fabulous fabric crafts of all kinds, like these pillow covers:
I scanned a simple sketch into my ScanNCut and manipulated it using the built-in software to create a larger more complex shape.
Notice the smaller shapes? I welded two hearts from my ScanNCut's built-in designs to create them. All of the pieces were cut from hand-dyed fabric and then stitched in place.
I think it's so cool that ScanNCut makes it so easy to create personalized designs from so many materials -- including hand dyed fabric!
Stiffer fabric is best for intricate designs. Starch your fabric (I like Terial Magic) and/or use fusible back on the back.
You can cut fabric without fusible or starch. Basic shapes are best and be prepared for some fray.
When cutting fabric that has fusible web on it, I remove the paper backing from the fusible web and put the fabric face down on the mat (i.e. fusible side facing up).
Start your cutting using a Standard Blade at a depth of 4, pressure of 5, and speed of 1.
Always do a Test Cut and adjust your settings afterwards.
For the first time in podcast history, Mom and I are in the same room to record this episode of the Adventures in Arting Podcast! I wonder if there's any difference in how the podcast feels? You'll have to let me know!
If you do not see the podcast player above, please click on this link. You can listen to a podcast anywhere and at any time. It is a recording that is available to you whenever you'd like to listen. If you'd like to download it to your iTunes library, click here. You can also pause and rewind or fast forward as you desire. I like to listen to podcasts while I'm making art. It's a little like hanging out with friends while you art. Please subscribe to our podcast in iTunes or wherever you listen and be sure to leave us a review! Thanks so much!
As mentioned on the podcast, I've got a bunch of teaching gigs coming up:
August 31-September 2: 3 Classes at Whimsodoodle in Florida.
Please note that some links on this blog contain affiliate links and I receive a small percentage of those sales. Rest assured, I never recommend a product that I don't believe in. :)
