pfaff sewing machine induction

These three samples are from my induction on the pfaff machine, showing a wealthy amount of variety stitching that is available on the pfaff machine, my best stitch was the elephants! I am very interested in using this miraculous machine again, maybe using it to create an extra detail onto patchwork or simply to decoratively sow my layers together. 

http://gb.pinterest.com/welaao/unit-x-fairground/

hand stitched quilt making samples

These are my hand stitched quilt making samples, showing different stitching that's possible by simply just using a running stitch. The sample underneath on the left was my first attempt at quit making, this contained two, plain cotton and a thin wadding between both cotton and a variety of simple stitching to keep all layers together whilst also decorating the top layer. The last three images include the same method of quilt making but only using a running stitch. The last image I personally think is more successful as the collaboration between the printed fabric and the hand stitch crosses over each other and looks very illusive and hypnotising. I enjoy doing hand stitching samples and would like to do more on top of printed fabric. 
http://gb.pinterest.com/welaao/unit-x-fairground/

inspirational quilt making from the hobby craft show

I recently attended the hobby craft fair in Manchester, where they showed a variety of crafts including quilt making. Here are some of the quilt making work that was on display and attracted my eye as they all looked extremely colourful and very neatly done. The top left image interests me because I love the metallic look on the fabric used, as it changes colour and creates its own sort of print by doing this, I also like how the artist has matched up the colours on the patchwork. The next two images use the same techniques and although it looks quite simple the attention to detail on both of these work are immaculate. The bottom right image was my personal best as it contained a variety of quilt making methods, it's very bright and lively also it contains a slight narrative feel to it as it contains the little funny shaped people dancing. 

http://www.eventcity.co.uk/whats-on/creative-stitches-hobbycrafts/http://gb.pinterest.com/welaao/unit-x-fairground/

Suffolk puffs samples

One method of quilt making is creating a wealthy amount of Suffolk puffs, and then neatly sewing them all together by their sides in order to create the shape wanted. Here I have tried my own sampling of the Suffolk puffs using a small circular template in order for them to sheer into quiet small Suffolk puffs. I have chosen to use a variety of fabrics consisting of different width, colours and properties. As seen underneath the thicker fabrics such as the cotton worked better and created a wider inner circle, although of this I personally like the other three samples more. Both of the samples at the bottom interests me much more as they look more fun and somewhat childlike, also they remind me very much of a big puffy hair bobble I had when I was younger.

http://gb.pinterest.com/welaao/unit-x-fairground/

sampling with faux fur

As I want to include faux fur in my final work I have been sampling faux fur using different techniques and different stitching. On the top left I have sampled the faux fur using printed cotton on top of the faux fur and stitching grids on top of both layers, and then I have carefully cut into certain parts of the grid lines exposing the faux fur. I like this sample as its very alluring, I might sample more using different materials with the faux fur. Both right side images consist of faux fur with back faced to back of a furnishing type of fabric with printed, elegant, blue flowers on it, as I have stitched both layers together using a domestic machine creating diamond shaped pattern on them, in order to see if it would be noticeable on the faux fur. I have also done this on the other sample only using a satin stitch and a thicker faux fur, which did not work as well.

http://gb.pinterest.com/welaao/unit-x-fairground/

Inspiration from indian elephants

Something that has truly inspired me in this brief is the decorated Indian elephants in Jaipur festivals. These have greatly inspired me, as of the amazingly bright colours have inspired me to use a variety of vibrant and lively colours in my work and also I might try and collaborate my work with Indian fabrics such as silks and beautifully detailed Shari silks. I have also an interest in using the mirror like circles shown on the bottom image in my work.

 http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2013/08/painted-elephants/freger-photographyhttp://gb.pinterest.com/welaao/unit-x-fairground/

my piping samples

Above is three of my piping samples, here I have used a variety of colourful, bright fabrics and two different types of stuffing. On the top left sample I have hand stitched two vibrant, printed fabrics together also using drinking straws in between the two fabrics. I like this sample as the top fabric is extremely lively and full of summery colours and is slightly transparent and so you can see the straws lines through the fabric. On the right top is another sample I did using the flexible plastic straws as stuffing, indifferent to the first sample I have used a sewing machine on this sample, but again used very lively, illusive fabrics. Both of the bottom images are of the same sample, here I tried being a bit unordinary and used cardboard toilet roll as the stuffing between a synthetic, illusive, printed fabric and a stripe cotton. 

http://gb.pinterest.com/welaao/unit-x-fairground/