Layered Surface Design: The Hand-Made Stitch on Hand-Dyed Cloth

There is enormous potential in the interplay of patterns and textures found on hand-dyed fabrics and in hand stitching with beads and threads. In this workshop students explore contemporary mark making and texture making through hand embroidery using a wide variety of stitches with beads, embroidery threads, and other embellishments on hand-dyed fabrics.

Class time is a mixture of design exploration, learning and utilizing a wide variety of hand-made stitches, sharing what we have learned and created with one another, and viewing examples of bead embroidery and contemporary hand embroidery on hand-dyed fabrics. Examples will be provided in physical form, in print, and digitally for inspiration and technique illustration. We will explore design considerations such as creating translucent overlays of pattern and texture, embellishing lines and found patterns within the hand-dyed fabrics, and various techniques for highlighting some fabric areas while obscuring or transforming others. Special attention is given to the interaction of bead and thread finish/texture and fabric pattern(s).

Each student will take home an art quilt, embellished cloth collage, or wearable art piece that contains the stitches and design principles explored. They will also take home a detailed booklet with information about stitches, bead and thread selection, and other important information for continued exploration of bead and thread embroidery on these special fabrics.

Materials fee provides students with workshop booklet and some beads and embroidery threads. I will put together a more detailed supply list for students as well. All levels welcome. Comfort with a needle and thread is helpful.