Module 4 - Chapter 9 - Stitched Edges

Experiments with stitch to decorate the edges of hand made paper:

0901

The paper edge was folded and glued to give a firm surface. A punch was used to create holes. Raffia and hemp were threaded through the holes forming an over-cast pattern.

0902

A synthetic fabric was wrapped over the edges of the paper. Overcast stitching was used around the edges to hold the fabric to the paper. The excess fabric was then melted away using a heat tool.

0903

An automatic machine stitch was used to decorate the edge of the paper. This was combined with blanket stitch, hand stitched around the edge.

0904

An automatic machine stitched was worked around the edge of the paper, placing thread fibres underneath the stitching to give a soft, irregular appearance.

0905

An undulating rhythm of rough jute parcel string was couched down around the edge of the paper with contrasting cyan embroidery thread. 

0906

Fly stitch was worked around the edge of the paper in groups of three. The turquoise stitch on the outer edge was beaded.

0907

A thin, torn strip of indigo scrim was attached to the edge of the paper using small groups of blanket stitch worked in gold thread.

0908

A piece of blue handmade paper with an irregular edge was attached to a slightly larger sheet of white handmade paper with a more regular edge. This was decorated with randomly spiralling brown free machine stitching, and then in contrast, a row of gold automatic machine stitch in a star pattern was worked close the the edge.

0909

Lock stitch was worked around the edge of the paper with a clump of blue threads stitched around the outer edge, and beige/gold threads stitched around the inner edge. The outer edge was further decorated with beads.

Samples 0906, 0907 & 0909 were inspired by Jan Beaney & Jean Littlejohn's book 'Stitch Magic'.

Module 4 - Chapter 8 - Stitchery into Paper

...so, last year I was incredibly stuck on this chapter.

The idea was to embroider into the papers with the embedded grids, made in the last chapter, using any type of stitchery. The stitching should echo some feature in the research theme of lettering and media patterns.

...then Christmas got in the way!

Fortunately, inspiration struck in the New Year.

040801

Groups of withdrawn threads were bound with buttonhole stitch to create hotizontal bands of stitch. Straight stitches were worked into the paper borders to extend the pattern.

04802

Herringbone stitch was worked in rows to form blocks of pattern. These blocks were then worked perpendicular to each other, diagonally across the grid.

040803

Fly stitch was worked in groups of 3 and overlapped randomly in blue and black thread.

040804

Metallic gold cretan stitch was worked over a machine stitched grid. Torn strips of black fabric were tied to some of the stitches.

040805

Long legged french knots were worked in varying thicknesses of black, blue and red thread, at right angles over the grid.

040806

Straight stitches of blue rafia were worked into a metal grid in geometric shapes to echo hieroglyphs.

040807

Cross stitch was worked in various sizes using varying thicknesses threads.

040808

Using the sewing machine, threads were cable stitched vertically across the grid. Horizontal rows of blanket stitch were worked in various sizes, thicknesses, and colours of thread.