How to manipulate fabric?
People who work with fabrics to create things like clothing and quilts may use many different methods of fabric manipulation to create more dimensional effects. Smocking is a method that involves gathered fabric and stitching to create shapes like tubes, squares or pinwheels. Trapunto, a method that comes from Sicily, involves outlining shapes and then stuffing them with extra batting to give them more dimension. Sometimes the effect is further emphasized by contrasting those areas with stippling stitches that flatten other sections of the fabric. Shirring is a method of gathering fabric along parallel stitched lines, while ruching gathers layers of fabric on parallel sides and then attaches them to a underlying fabric layer. Finally, pleating is a way of folding fabric back on itself, which can be pressed to provide sharp edges or left natural for a softer effect.
What is a shirring pattern?
Shirring is a method of gathering cloth along two or more parallel stitched lines to create a sense of wavy dimension. It can be done with regular or elastic thread in patterns that might include zigzags or waffle patterns. A related method is ruching, in which layers of fabric are gathered on parallel sides and then sewn to a layer underneath. You sometimes see this fabric technique on the tiers in the sides of prom and party dresses.
What is smocking in art?
Smocking is an Anglo-Saxon word with origins tracing to decorations used on early peasant clothing. This method of fabric manipulation uses stitching to gather fabric, creating areas of tension and release in a sculptural effect. Think of it as raised areas on the fabric that might look like tubes, squares, or pinwheels. Artists may use complicated grids and patterns on the fabric to tell them where to place stitches and pull the fabric together. Smocking requires a fabric to be not too stiff or thick. Silks, linens, and cottons work well.
What is the difference between ruching and shirring?
Sometimes the effect is further emphasized by contrasting those areas with stippling stitches that flatten other sections of the fabric. Shirring is a method of gathering fabric along parallel stitched lines, while ruching gathers layers of fabric on parallel sides and then attaches them to a underlying fabric layer.
What is Fabric Manipulation?
In her book “The Art of Manipulating Fabric”, Colette Wolf defines fabric manipulation as ideas about sewing cloth. She describes the sewing process as techniques that change the look and feel of a piece of cloth with the assistance of a threaded needle.
How to fray fabric?
A great way of fraying fabric is cutting the fabric and then rip the edges so fraying occurs. The sample below was created by cutting strips of denim and sewing them to another piece of denim. After the strips were sewn I frayed the edges.
What is an appliqué?
Appliqué is a technique in which fabric pieces are stitched or sewn to another piece of fabric and then embellished. It’s a great way to upcycle little pieces of fabric scraps into something beautiful.
What is a tuck in fabric?
Tucks are folds in the fabric which are sewn from end to end. Their purpose is to add texture and self thickness to a piece of fabric.
Why do corded fabrics warp?
When you sew corded fabric, the cord warps as it’s sewn through the fabric which creates a lovely pattern on the right side of the cloth.
How does smoking secure fabric?
Smoking secures the folds of fabric though hand stitching on a piece of cloth. Smoked fabric will have the same thickness as its pleats and will be secured through either decorative stitching or invisible stitches.
How to shibori fabric?
One way to shibori your fabric is using ropes and restricting them around the middle section of the folded piece of cloth so you can get a pattern on the cloth.
What is the process of sewing small pieces of fabric together?
2. Patchwork. Patchwork is the method of sewing small pieces of fabric (patches) of different patterns and colours together to make a big fabric piece. This technique is also called piece work ; You can make stunning garments and accessories with patchwork fabric.
What is applique sewing?
Applique is the method of sewing pieces of fabric onto other fabric bases in beautiful designs. You can stitch the applique pieces by hand as well as by sewing machine.
What is smocking in sewing?
Smocking involves stitching together gathered folds of fabric with pretty embroidery stitches in a definite pattern. Smocking is a means of controlling fullness as well as adding beautiful embroidery to the fabric.Checkout the post on smocking
What is ruching in embroidery?
Ruching is basically gathering fabric so that there are patterned folds in the fabric; It is also called puffing in heirloom embroidery. Ruching is usually done along the bodice of dresses and sleeves along the centerline which is ruched creating attractive folds on either side of the center stitching line. You can ruche fabric by sewing the fabric with elastic. This is usually done with thin, sheer and transparent fabric as an overlay or a drapable cloth. Checkout the detailed tutorial for ruching fabric here.
How is thread sewn?
The thread is laid on the surface of the fabric in a pattern and it is sewn with small stitches by hand or by sewing machine.
How to reverse applique a design?
This technique involves adding a layer of fabric underneath the base fabric and cutting away a portion of the base fabric in the shape of the design so that the fabric underneath is revealed . You can add multiple layers of fabric underneath for a beautiful effect. Here is a post to learn more about Reverse Applique.
What stitches are used to add texture to fabric?
Check it out. The bullion stitch and french knots and other knot stitches are also great for texture. Check out the 10 beautiful background hand embroidery stitches which are meant to give texture to the fabric. Then there are the 12 types of 3D flowers you can make with embroidery.
