Teacher resource 3- Embellished Textiles Embroidery and dissolvable fabric

Introduction and aims

There are a number of ways of creatively embellishing fabrics. The techniques below use free stitch embroidery to create drawings and patterns either directly onto fabric or on to dissolvable film. You can experiment with different colours and types of thread and you can transfer your own ideas from drawings, photographs and research to create colourful and creative embellishments.

Dissolvable fabrics will dissolve in water leaving behind any stitching or embellishments. It is a delicate technique that produces beautiful results, small samples can be made to get a feeling for the techniques and if a learner wanted to progress, smaller samples can be stitched together to create larger pieces for finished work.

Activity set up

Each learner will need to select an image, and fabric/film. The film or fabric h

Activity

  • Always use an embroidery hoop to hold your fabric or in place.Try not to touch the film as hands can begin to melt the fabric, some learners are best to handle the fabric with gloves.
  • For lower ability or beginners it is best to use a marker pen to draw on to the fabric/film. This gives the gives learner an idea of where to sew. More accomplished learners that are used to drawing with stitch may not need to do this.
  • Machine embroider on to the film using a straight presser foot or free motion embroidery foot. Keep the needle moving around the film and layer the stitches up over the film until you build up the desired effect. Adding pieces of fabric, yarns, and threads can also help create the sample.
  • Experiment with trapping frayed fabric, yarns, and threads in between the fabric or film. Using two pieces of dissolvable fabric/film and arrange the threads in a pattern. When the sample is complete place the other piece of dissolvable fabric on top.Cover with baking parchment, and iron together so that the pieces of dissolvable fabric stick together.
  • Then stretch tightly in an embroidery hoop.

Version 11© OCR 2017

Textile Design: Individual differences

  • Set up the machine for Free Machine embroidery: Drop the feed dog (teeth) below the surface of the feeder plate on the sewing machine. There is usually a button to do this. Attach the free machining or darning foot. Thread up the machine. Ease the frame under the presser foot, tilting it slightly if necessary.
  • Free machine embroider over your threads
  • Sew over the top of the dissolvable fabric in patterns, lines that relate to your project. Use different types or colours of threads to build up your samples.
  • When you are happy with the sample, remove from the frame.
  • Washing your fabric, take your sample and gently wash under cold water. Using a spray bottle of water can also achieve a softer effect.
  • The dissolvable fabric washes away, leaving your sewn threads.
  • To dry and flatten iron this under baking parchment. 3D effects such a beads can also be createdby wrapping the wet sample around an object and then leaving to dry or using a hair dryer to achieve a shape.

Extension

Try using different types of threads colours, metallics etc.

For larger embroidery samples or more complex images, try printing or drawing on a large sheet of paper and then pinning it to the fabric you interned to use. As a guide it can be stitched into and then the paper can be ripped away. This will eventually blunt the needle but the results are more accurate.

Version 11© OCR 2017

Textile Design: Individual differences