Polka Dots

Another way of stitching down raw-edged circles is to stitch across the middles. On this coat the circles are transformed into polka dots all over the garment.

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                       Connect the Dots  by Jessalyn Matthews Frank


As you can see in the detail photo below, the stitching lines cross in the centers of the layered circles. And again you achieve textural interest from gentle fraying, but in this instance in the exposed quadrants of the circles.

 

detail photo of Connect the Dots by Jessalyn Matthews Frank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stitching lines also serve as quilting. The stitching is done in several colors of Sulky rayon thread.

Circles or Dots?

The last post showed the hem of a skirt called Asian Wrap. Above the hem you can see other circles of cloth simply placed as part of the collage (a subject to be addressed at a later time). I am posting the picture again here, since I failed to size it correctly the first time.

Hem detail from skirt called Asian Wrap by Jessalyn Matthews Frank

Detail from vest called East Goes West by Jessalyn Matthews Frank

This photo shows a raw-edged circle used in the same way. The collaged circles were stitched down 1/8" to 1/4" inside the outer edge of the circles. With continued wear and laundering some slight fraying occurs. At that point texture becomes an additional feature of the circles.

Simple Circles

When you begin a journey you generally have a starting point and some thoughts about a destination. In this journey of blogging, I have a destination but no particular starting point. Since my current fiber art project uses circles, I am beginning with that subject.

Circles are such a part of your daily life and things surrounding you, that perhaps its many creative uses don't seem obvious. Think of the forest vs. the trees. And even if you have already used circles, perhaps these thoughts and photos will inspire you to do further exploration.

 A simple circle cut from cloth becomes the "binding" for a quilted piece or a garment. Here it finishes the hem of a skirt.