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I gave up on the painted batting that just didn’t work. I used gray felt for the batting which was perfect. The gray felt is covered with gray organza squares. I started tearing my organza pieces to collage, but the plain gray areas were not working for me so I took a deep breath and painted some marks with black paint.
It is drying and hopefully, this will work. At any rate, I am having fun, again.
I also did a test swatch of cotton stitched to pre-felt and then shrunk in the washer and dryer. Not thrilled with this. I think that silk works better.
We had a nice father’s day family time yesterday. I made oven fried chicken, roasted potatoes, asparagus and a couple of salads. Stephanie made the annual strawberry shortcake for Mr. C. She bakes the best biscuits.
I am finally feeling rested and able to get caught up on every thing that I have been neglecting. My mojo has returned!!
For the shrinking thing…I use loomstate calico (you might call it muslin?) the thicker kind that you might use in soft furnishings. Anyway, the top fabric has to be prewashed. Then you stitch to the calico/muslin which has NOT been prewashed. I think you have already worked out that you need a bit of distance between the stitching to leave room for the shrinking. Then wash on hot setting. The loomstate fabric will shrink and create the texture.
I have done it with silk, satiny fabrics, velvet, etc. I have done it with cotton, but it really wants something which will look different from different viewpoints – like a nap or crossweave. So a shot cotton would probably work better.
I have only done a variety of grids before, so I have been enjoying watching you discover what happens with stitched lines or rows.
Sandy in the UK
Love the direction you are going with the red piece. The black paint will add some interesting spots. Keep having fun! (That’s what it is all about, isn’t it?)