NOT WHAT IT SEAMS!
I did a number of samples using some bits and pieces from my stash. I can see that there are lots more things I could do on this theme and it has certainly made me more aware of thinking of seams in a different way.
This sample is very difficult to see because I have inserted a fringed rayon knitting yarn in maroon, pink and black into the seam. The top sample is sewn into the seam with a single layer of the yarn and in the second I used a double layer.
The top sample is white cotton fabric with a knotted bobbly fringe inserted into seam, so it was showing on the “wrong” side. I then sewed a row of straight stitching to hold the seam back out of the way and it has had the effect of making the fringe sit up.
The bottom sample is from a piece of white cotton voile (or similar, not really sure because it’s been around in my stash for ages). I sewed a very wide seam and then stitched triangles shapes out from each side of the seam. It looks good from either side really.
The top sample is fringe sewn into a seam in black cotton.
The bottom sample is two pieces of curtain fabric which has a really interesting fringed selvedge, which I would never have thought of using on the front previously. Unfortunately it is not showing up on the scan very well.
The top sample is the other side of the seam in which I had inserted the white fringe (above). It wasn’t until I had sewn it and pressed it that I realised the reverse was interesting too.
The second sample is a piece of white and piece of black cotton fabric joined. I pressed the right hand side of the seam towards the white fabric, and then cut triangle shapes out of the black seam. For the other half I made regular cuts into the seam and then pressed them alternatively over the black and white fabric.
For this seam I sewed a wide seam in the white voile fabric and then sewed a straight stitch line along each side of the seam, after which I frayed the fabric. I did think I could try catching bunches of threads into groups, but the threads are quite fine so I think they may break and just look a bit of a mess.
SIMPLE IDEAS FOR TRIMMINGS
RIBBONS
The left hand sample is a piece of my printed fabric with a Greek key design down the centre.
The right hand sample has a number of my printed fabrics cut in strips and sewn down the middle.
CORDS
I made cords in the way suggested in the chapter, with the first two being single pieces of printed fabric, the third being a bundle of printed fabrics and the final three being knotted. the first knotted one is a single strip of printed fabric, the second is a stitched bunch of printed fabrics and the last one is a group of four printed fabrics knotted together. Although I didn’t do any samples that were more complex, I can see that there would be lots of variations that would be possible, so I am thinking about the possible of something along these lines in my final piece.
TOGGLES
These were a little hard to scan because the knotted one on the right is so bulky. But I think they are clear enough. The left hand ones are fabric rolls, one with a waist and one without. The other is a bundle of 4 fabrics folded over and knotted.
