Boro and Beyond February in July

I'm determined to get caught up on blog posts from the last 6 months! The focus will primarily be on student work but I might throw in a few posts about my own work as well!

Here is work from the Boro and Beyond: The Versatile Running Stitch workshop that I gave in February at Artistic Artifacts. On the first day of class, we focused on using the Running stitch to create different types of line and pattern.

The second day focused on patchwork, applique and reverse applique, weaving and collage. We also played with surface darning and using running stitch to distort fabric.

I'll be teaching this workshop again on October 20 & 21 at Artistic Artifacts. Here is a link in case you want to sign up!

https://www.artisticartifacts.com/product/10110202018.html

Boro and Beyond October 2018 Workshop Day 2

On the second day of my workshop, Boro and Beyond: The Versatile Running Stitch, we explored a number of more involved samplers. Students used running stitch to construct patchwork four-squares to work on. Other options for bases on which to stitch included a collage-style format and a sliced and woven base.

Woven base.

Students tried different techniques in each square...starting with Boro mending. After cutting tears in the square, a repair was made by patching from behind and "melding" the layers together with running stitch.

Other experiments included surface darning (creating a new fabric within an open area)--though technically not running stitch, the same in and out motion is used to weave over warp threads. Students also played with more challenging techniques such as suspending an inlay patch within an opening and weaving around a floating patch.

Surface darning.

Inlaid patch.

Finally, some students used running stitch to "distort" fabric using Kantha-style stitching and a fun ruching technique.

Distorting fabric with running stitch.

Ruching.

Thank you students for an enjoyable weekend of stitching and exploring!

I will be scheduling another session of this workshop at Artistic Artifacts sometime in February 2018. I'll announce the date as soon as it is on the calendar.

To see the first post about this class go here.

Boro and Beyond October 2018 Workshop Day 1

I had the pleasure of teaching my Boro and Beyond: The Versatile Running Stitch workshop at Artistic Artifacts on October 21 and 22. What a mellow and creative group of 14! In this post, and in the one that follows, I'll share the students' work from this workshop.

Students working diligently on their samplers.

For the two days, we explored a number of ways to use the running stitch. Day 1 focused on line and pattern. I first asked students to look at a list of adjectives and to draw lines that reflected those adjectives (for example: curved, meandering, spiraling, radiating). Students then stitched using their drawings as jumping off points.

We also covered pattern and in particular the difference between Sashiko-style and Pattern Darning patterns. Students experimented with stitching both types of patterns. The first style uses rows and columns of uniform sized running stitches stitched vertically, horizontally and sometimes diagonally.

Pattern Darned patterns are created using closely stitched lines of running stitch where the size of the stitch and the space between changes to create the patterns. A number of students worked on spiral patterns.

The last technique we worked on during Day 1 was lacing rows of running with floss or yarn.

In my next post, I'll show more student work showing how the versatile running stitch can be used to mend, patch, construct and distort.