Even More Samples

Having received the final week of learning new techniques I feel very well equipped for the brief.

This week we learnt how to crazy patchwork, which I really enjoyed, although struggled with some of the more extravagant hand stitching. Although we were a bit restricted with materials I still quite like this sample. 

I was also inducted onto the saddle stitch machine which has a very limited function, but does imitate hand stitching excellently, meaning that you can still get a nice "hand stitched" effect that is far less time consuming.  

Finally I was also inducted onto the Pfaff machine, which has enabled me to experiment with over 80 different, very complex and intricate stitch types. I think that this machine is absolutely amazing and hope to use it again soon!

Also over Easter were told to turn our hand to either hexagon patchwork or log cabin patchwork and I was quite proud to present this sample.

Refined Samples

During Easter I had some fun making some more refined samples having done some more research on Pinterest

 http://www.pinterest.com/neongirlxxx/fair-grounds/

I decided that I quite like the colours and shapes of ferris wheels.

I thought it would be fun to make a ferris wheel out of Kantha stitching, using a vibrant, colour changing wool. I am very pleased with this sample and think this might be something I will consider using later on.

This little sample was just and experimental piece of knitting, using the wool I purchased from Liberty, to see if I could effectively recreate a ferris wheel. I was quite pleased with the result however I feel if I were to use this technique in my final piece I would be straying from the quilting skills I have learnt so far.

Investigation - Samples

I have learnt a few new techniques this week which have been good fun.

I have learnt Kantha stitching, which although time consuming, I think gives a very nice effect especially when using  some of the more colourful threads. Most of the other girls in the group opted to use plain fabric to stitch into, but I felt this checkered fabric gave me a geometric advantage.

This sample is an experiment using a see through front fabric, inserting ribbons and cord and experimenting with using ribbon as thread. I love the variety of colours in this sample and the idea of using some thing a little different to sew with. 

This sample is just simple bead work, I have chosen to use a fabric that has an opaque pattern with a transparent negative pattern and decided to experiment with wadding by knitting a bright pink middle layer. The beads really remind me of the little lights that light up fairground rides and I think the two contrasting colours really work.