Hand Stitching Continued Summer 2020: Dimensional Stitches

Jill B.: "Unfurling" Rhododendron using a variety of dimensional stitches. 

This summer, a number of students from my beginning Hand Stitching Class (taught through The Art League School), asked that I offer a condensed version of my Hand Stitching Continued class. In this class, we continue to explore hand stitches...this time focusing on dimensional (often composite) stitches including needle weaving and buttonhole laces as well as using stitches to manipulate fabric to create dimensional effects. We also covered a variety of techniques to create stuffed forms. We used Nature as our muse throughout the class. I'm excited to show you the work produced during this three session version of the class. This is the first of three posts of student work. I also want to let you know that I will be teaching a five session version through the school starting on January 27. For more information about that class please go here. If you have questions about the January class, please feel free to leave a comment here.

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Before the class started, I asked students to find a muse or muses from Nature that they wanted to explore using stitch and fabric manipulation. A muse could be an actual physical object from nature, or photographs of natural objects or landscapes. Even related topics such as circular forms or concepts such as "unfurling" were explored.

Barbara B.: Exploring circular forms.

Our first class covered dimensional stitches including varieties of needle weaving and buttonhole laces.  During class time, students learned these and created a stitch sampler.

Jill B.: Stitch Sampler

Irene C.: Stitch Sampler

Myania M.: Stitch Sampler

Roberta A.: Stitch Sampler

Sherry W.: Stitch Sampler

Each week, students got a Journal Exercise and planned a Stitch Challenge piece inspired by their chosen muse, using techniques from that week's class. Some students really jumped in and explored even further!

Jill B. explored the concept of "unfurling". Below is her muse photo and Journal page. See the first photo in this post for the final stitched piece.

Roberta A. was inspired by the textures, colors and shapes found on this tree trunk.

Judy P. got inspired by the beauty found during beach walks and the land/seascapes of Cape May. She did some plein air stitching along with creating this awesome horseshoe crab.

Sherry was inspired by cowrie shells and fell in love with needle lace!

Heidi O. was inspired by the view of a  sunset over water while looking through a gate.

Myania M. dove right in to explore a variety of possible approaches to her wasp's nest muse. She experimented with both cloth and paper and jumped straight into working three-dimensionally (more to come!)