Autumn Leaves - Experimental Appliqué

Course Details

The shapes and colours of Autumn leaves are always so inspiring and make the perfect subject for an embroidery and for trying out the wonderful technique of appliqué. Join me to explore the beauty and variety of leaves and their markings to print, cut out and create appliquéd shapes, which we will combine to make a beautiful hand-embroidered piece on a felt background. What does appliqué mean? It's simply a cutout design, that is sewn on to a piece of material. Traditionally, this was done using blanket stitch, but in this workshop we will learn the technique of raw edge appliqué, which means no fiddly stitching around the edges of your shapes. You can simply enjoy the process of selecting and applying your fabrics and then hand embroidering on details such as the leaf veins or outlines. During the workshop, we'll consider ways of simplifying shapes and experiment with using negative space and contrasting colours and threads. Observe the structure of leaves and learn some simple hand embroidery stitches to enhance and compliment your appliquéd pieces. You will create a beautiful and unusual piece and come away with lots of ideas for future works. Materials are provided and I will have a range of interesting and unusual hand printed and naturally marked fabric for you to use. Have fun choosing the shapes and colours of Autumn leaves and enjoy some lovely hand stitching, in this relaxing and inspirational workshop! Why not make a day of it and treat yourself to lunch in the cafe and a look round the beautiful Denmans Gardens in the afternoon?