Class requirements for Jenny Bowker's 2-day class -

Images in applique

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© Jenny Bowker 2007
www.jennybowker.com

This workshop will teach you to turn any of your own photographs into a larger fabric picture. We use only tools which are easily available, and no drawing skills are necessary. All drawing is simple tracing.

You will learn which parts of your image are important and which can be simplified. You will learn how to build up your picture to give perspective and depth. Over two days your image will appear in fabric and ready to sew down and quilt. This image will be appliqued using Vliesofix and soft edge applique because it is fast, but we will discuss different ways to applique during the workshop.

We work with additional techniques to augment your image - free machine drawing and working with acrylic paint to make minor changes. We will also discuss ways to stretch the piece with 'extender' blocks in traditional patchwork to give a 'crystalline' picture.

Your quilt will be yours alone and highly individual.

Requirements for both days

A selection of photographs or images that you really like. This must be snapshot sized - please do not enlarge it or it cannot be used in class. I will help you to select one to work on in the class. It might help you with fabric selections if you bring a range with similar colours. Images with larger bold shapes will be easier initially. You can choose landscape, still life, city images, houses, details of flowers, birds or animals. You don't have to be traditional. Faces are very difficult unless they fill the picture, and are strongly lit with dark shadows and wearing sunglasses!

Please do not bring copyrighted images to class. Because I am being paid to teach you it means that I am the one who breaches the copyright law. Copyrighted images include anyone else's image - including paintings, photographs and prints and images in books or magazines.

Please, please doublecheck that you have each item on this list. Some items might take a bit more time to find so do not leave it until the day before. I have been careful to list everything that you absolutely have to have and I do not carry spare equipment when I teach away from Canberra.

  • FINE Overhead Projector pen, Permanent and black, as it must be able to write on acetate.
  • One sheet of Acetate (A4) - available in newsagents as Overhead Projection Transparencies.
  • One piece of tracing paper (A2) This large size sheet should also be at your newsagents or art supply shop. Do not use greaseproof as it is not strong enough.
  • Scissors for cutting fabric AND scissors for cutting paper. Small sharp scissors are also very useful.
  • HB pencil.
  • Some coloured pencils or textas can be useful, but are not essential.
  • Your iron.
  • Power boards and extension leads if the organiser does not supply them.
  • A good sized sheet of Glad Bake to protect your iron from the Vliesofix.
  • A ruler.
  • An old flat sheet, preferably cotton - the biggest you have and pale if possible. This will be used as an ironing pad, folded on the table in front of you to A2 size - so DO NOT substitute a plastic tablecloth in the impression that it is a display wall!
  • A good, broad selection of fabrics in the colour and value ranges you are likely to want. For example, if you have green trees you will need light, medium and dark greens. Look hard at the colour in your photograph and try to find the exact shades. Tone on tone fabrics like those in Jinny Beyer's palette or fossil ferns will be more useful than strong or big prints. Even small pieces of fabric can be useful. Hand dyes can be wonderful if you have any. If you have sky in your image you will need a piece of fabric as wide as your sheet of tracing paper. Avoid naïve, very demanding, or country style sky prints.
  • Half a metre of good quality calico, Quilter's muslin or homespun, prewashed. Lightweight is easier to trace through. This will be your foundation.
  • 70cm of fresh Vliesofix, full width - do not fold it but keep it flat or rolled.

MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL - bring a sense of fun and adventure and a willingness to stretch your skills!

Requirements for the second day only

  • Sewing machine in good working order. Please be sure that you are familiar with your machine.
  • Free darning or quilting foot. Useful if you have it but you can cope without.
  • A selection of thread in colours similar to the image you have selected. If you are not sure what to use, bring a good selection of colours and neutrals. I use cottons, but if the quilt is to be a wall quilt rayon thread can be used for extra sheen.

Those traveling a long way might choose not to bring these last three objects - only a few people get to the sewing stage in the two day class.