Textile Illustrations – Cat Rowe

Turn a favourite view, landscape, seascape, or harbour scene into a fabric picture. Working on a small scale you will learn how to simplify and translate your own photographs or sketched images into a piece of textile art. We will cover composition, colour, sketching, appliqué, and embroidery perse techniques. The ideal project for using up scraps of fabric that you have been hording! We will add the details and “drawn” parts of our pictures by machine or hand stitching. End the day by mounting your piece of work.
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS

-An image (or several) to work from.
Bring sketches, pictures, old cards or photographs, of a landscape or harbour scene. (Please be aware of copyright issues and bring along images that you have been given permission to use)
– Pencil/pen for marking paper
-Plain paper
-Tracing paper
-Paper scissors for cutting up your fusible webbing
Sewing requirements:
-Basic sewing kit
-Sewing machine (with instruction manual, please check the ability to drop the feed dogs and bring appropriate feet. All the stitching can be undertaken by machine or hand and this is entirely your personal preference).
-1/2 mtr fusible webbing for example ‘bondaweb’.
– Medium weight calico or similar light coloured fabric for backing your picture
– Selection of patterned and plain fabrics, (small – med patterns, although some larger patterns can work). Pick out colours that match the colour scheme in your image or photograph. These pieces of fabric can be small scraps. 
– A selection of embellishments, ribbons, sequins and buttons if you wish.
– Scissors, small embroidery scissors and a medium pair for cutting out larger pieces of fabric.
– Selection of machine and hand sewing threads in the colours of your chosen fabric. Consider harmonious and complimentary colours also.
– Tweezers, optional but highly recommended.
– Travel Iron and protective surface to use it on (a padded mat/tea towels work well). 
I have a supply of mounts square and rectangular in which to frame your piece of work at the end of the day for a cost of £2 per mount.