Stitch, Fabric & Thread

Table Of Contents

Introduction 6
Before the stitches 8
Tools: everything or nothing 10
How a sewing machine works 12
The importance of sketchbooks 13
What is thread? 14
What is fabric? 16
Colour 20
Behind the stitches: The quilters of Gees Bend 22
Altered images 24
Toning it down 26
Humble stitches 28
Straight ahead: running stitches 30
Exploring straight stitches 32
Lovely jubbly 36
Pojagi patchwork 38
Intentionally random 40
Kantha fishes 42
Behind the stitches: Boro textiles 44
Visible mending 46
A leaf out of my book 48
Type matters 50
Varsity letters 52
African mask 54
Colourful cords 56
String theory 58
In the loop: chain and blanket stitches 60
Exploring blanket and chain stitches 62
Japanese binding 66
Behind the stitches: Saving your pennies 70
Penny wall hanging 72
Fluxus & mail art 74
Stitched memories 76
Silhouette-a-hula 78
Stitching on knits 80
Texture: introduction to raised stitches 82
Exploring raised stitches 84
Mini quilt 88
Drawing with Stitch 90
Dreamtime lizard 92
Seamless repetition 94
Talking knots 96
Natural dyes 98
Behind the stitches: The rise and fall of Buttony 100
Making buttons 102
More than stitches 104
Shibori 106
Pleats, folds and pinches 108
Texture and illusion 112
Worn and loved 114
Behind the stitches: Mola reverse appliqué 116
Mola: chicken or egg? 118
Chunky rouleaux 122
Drawn thread 124
Behind the stitches: Marriage quilts 126
Trapunto Graffiti 128
Gathered Circles of Joy 130
Behind the stitches: Not to be sniffed at 132
A Christening gift 134
Mirror, mirror 136
Mudlarking 138
Fibonacci flower 140
The poor sewers embellisher 142
Paisley Park 144
The stitches 146
Templates 152
Glossary 158
Further Reading 159
Index 160