Thursday, 16 February 2012

Stitching a blackbird

It started with a grainy photo of a blackbird feeding in our garden...


First step was to try printing the photo on some fine white linen.
This is much easier than you would think- see below for my method.


Next, layer the fabric image on contrasting linens with a little batting in between.
I kept the edges raw and simply overlapped to create a frame for the small square of linen imprinted with my blackbird.


The stitching served several purposes. Not only did it hold the fabric layers together, it also gave the fine linen some body... which in turn added depth and a third dimension to the little picture.
Finally I took a needle in hand and stitched a beady yellow eye, some snowy texture to the pot and a little red heart for Valentine's day.


The result combined three of my loves: photography, fabric and stitching.


HOW to PRINT on FABRIC:

  • Iron your fabric to be nicely smooth, choose a finer fabric if you want more detail in your print.
  • To help the fabric through a bog standard ink jet printer you will need to stiffen it. The easiest way is to iron the chosen fabric onto waxed freezer paper. (You can buy freezer paper via Amazon if it's hard to find). Trim the fabric/paper combo to A4 size, ready to feed into the printer. Be sure to print on the fabric side! I squeezed 5 small images onto a page in Pages, but you can use Word etc.
  • Peel off the freezer paper and you are left with the fabric print. (Being an inkjet printer it is not a waterproof image)
  • Now you are ready to start stitching.
Love to hear if you have a try.
The trees are printed ready for working on next week.

6 comments:

Jenni said...

Really different. You're really spreading your wings!

Marji said...

It worked! Beautifully, I might add. You are on to something here. Have you tried a silk organza for a luminous effect? Exciting! Keep working on this, it's a good thing :)

Red Red Completely Red said...

Wow, I can't believe a printer can do that -- amazing! I love how the stitches add another layer. Such a cool blend of your talents!

blandina said...

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !!!!!
This is superb work, what a creative idea, I love this technique a lot and if I had a jet print I would try.
Well done Ingrid!

Claire said...

I must, must, must try this method this year.
I have been wanting to do this for so long, but always seem to get side tracked with other projects.

You make it sound so easy and the effect is stunning.

Claire :}

beth said...

i love all your trees....

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