Drawn from Nature: The Textured Cloth

DESCRIPTION
The potential of nature to inspire sets the stage for this workshop; the natural world around us and also the nature of how various types of fabrics can be transformed through manipulation. Observations from nature and personal expression will guide our choices for design as we develop ways of adapting ideas for both the surface and structure of fabrics. Drawing and sketching in our journal, along with sample making will be our focus as we explore a wide range of methods and processes for creating textured cloth. Techniques include piecing and shrinking fabrics with disparate shrink ratios, felting, folding, fraying, slashing, embroidery and more. A final 2D or 3D project of choice will be made from one or more of the techniques created in our sample making.

This workshop will provide a rich engagement into the creative design process with critiques, conversations and lots of slides to view.

Basic intermediate sewing skills and a sewing machine are required.

SUPPLY LIST (Please label your own supplies)
• Sketchbook or journal for drawing (unlined)
• Drawing pencils 2B & 4B, eraser
• Drawing color pens, chalks or pencils (optional)
• Permanent black marking pen (narrow tip)
• Glue stick
• Fabric white marking wax or small piece of soap
• Cloth measuring tape
• Sewing pins and sewing machine needles (for thick & thin fabrics)
• Thread for machine sewing (include white & black)
• 100% polyester thread (extra strong)
• Elastic (bought rolled on a tube - the thickness of fat thread)
• Small mesh lingerie bag (with a zipper - not with a tie string!) - minimum size of 5" x 7"
• Assortment of sewing needles plus long large darner or Sashico style
• Press cloth or scrap bed sheeting
• Clear plastic bendable gridded ruler
• 6 small binder clips
• X-acto knife (pointed tip)
• Rotary cutter with cutting mat
• Scissors - one for paper & one for fabric
• Manila file folder (or lightweight cardboard)
• Bubble wrap - approximately 10" wide by 20" long, small bubbles
• 2 plastic baggies - 1 quart size
• Fabrics:

• PLEASE Bring the following fabrics and PLEASE make no substitutions!
  Note: ALSO bring several pieces of fabrics that you are working with now OR fabrics you are interested in working with for a potential project. Any fiber content.

• One half yard each:
  • 100% polyester known as “China Silk”, black or solid dark color
  • 100% polyester organza or crepe, solid color only (semitransparent)
  • 100% cotton, black tight weave cloth the weight of medium to heavy muslin
  • 100% cotton, white or natural (same weight as the black)
  • 100% single knit jersey, polyester or cotton/lycra blend
  • 100% single wool knit - if you can find it!, any solid color or stripe (note: single knit fabric curl if pulled on the cross grain)
  • 100% wool scraps, any small pieces of yardage or old sweaters
  • Misty Fuse, a fusible interfacing - if you can't find it then buy Wonder Under
  • Yarns/Linear materials for stitching surface embellishments (bring a needle eye size to accommodate thickness of materials you bring)

MATERIALS FEE PROVIDES:
Some of the fabrics required for our samples: shrinking wool, wool gauze & cotton gauze, and wool fleece fibers

If you have any questions about the materials list or the course in general, please > email Jean