Stupendous Stitching: Adventures in Surface Design
Set your sewing machine and imagination free in this fun exploration of embroidery designs, decorative sewing machine stitches, couching and binding.
Introduction
Fiber artist Carol Ann Waugh began quilting years ago, then stopped. After a decades-long hiatus, she returned to create Stupendous Stitching.
Materials
An array of threads, a variety of stitches, ribbons, yarn and more go into this extraordinary artwork.
The Stitch Bible
Find out what your machine can really do on your way to composing a stitch bible.
Backgrounds
Some fabrics lend themselves to Stupendous Stitching, others don’t. Learn to choose the good and avoid the bad and the ugly.
Couching
Once you’ve chosen fabric, it’s time to pick the cords, yarns and threads, then start couching. Carol repeats her mantra: There are no rules or mistakes.
Decorative Machine Stitching
Open up your stitch bible and roll out the thread collection. Then sew decorative lines beside your couching.
Hand Embroidery
Hoop up! In this session, Carol guides you through French knots and running stitches, and how to use variations on the theme to enhance your piece.
Sandwiching
Once the fabric, batting and backing are sandwiched together, add machine quilt lines to enhance and embellish.
Trimming and Binding
Measure, then trim your piece to its finished size. Next, Carol takes you through the steps of binding your work to enhance and stabilize it.
Mounting Your Art
No more stitching. Instead, get ready to put your fiber art on display with a little carpentry, a little painting, more measuring and plenty of glueing.
Other Uses
Think you’ve just made a wall hanging? Think again. Incorporate Stupendous Stitching into checkbook covers, iPad cases, glasses holders, shoes (yes, we said shoes!) and jewelry.
