Hand to Thread: Improvisational Patchwork & Embroidery Instructor: Melissa Leandro Email: [email protected] Class Overview: This class will expand students’ knowledge of traditional and contemporary modes of manipulating and embellishing fibrous textile materials. Through daily classroom demonstrations and assignments, students will gain historical and technical instruction in a variety of needlework practices, hand and machine quilting, embroidery, beading, and shibori fabric resist dyeing methods. We will construct and deconstruct found and sourced textiles through trapunto, appliqué, reverser applique, visible mending and patchwork techniques, with a keen focus on practices of collage, fabric/scrap collecting, surface embellishment, and improvisational piecework. Students will be encouraged to pursue their conceptual concerns with the community support of their peers and faculty in group critiques and on-on-one advising. Expectations: 1. Technical or Machine demonstrations will take place at the beginning of class or immediately following lunch break. Typical day will be divided by demonstration/s and then dedicated independent studio time or one-on-one-meetings. You will be notified in advance if any specific supplies are needed for class demos. Please come prepared with Required Supplies (see below for list) to ensure productivity during class time. 2. Active participation is key. Student must be present, attentive and contribute in all course activities. Missing a Studio Day or arriving late on said day, will result in automatic no credit. 3. Submission of all in class samplers and final Project. All samplers and final project must be submitted on time, on scheduled Critique day. Project will be evaluated on student’s ability to fulfill the following goals: strong presentation of concept and composition, quality of craft and technical risk taking, and ability to follow through with proposed or sketched work proposal. This is a credit/non-credit course. 4. Studio Maintenance. Each student is expected to clean up their work area at the end of each class session. Lab facilities and lab equipment must be treated with care and left in good or better condition than how they were found. If you experience any issues with a tool or resource PLEASE COME AND ASK FOR HELP. My goal for you is to learn how to successfully work in a community with shared labs and resources. Required Supplies: Please!! Come to class prepared!! Scissors (for fabric) Please label with Name so they do not get lost Plastic embroidery hoop 6-8 inches DMC Pack of 16 embroidery needles, size 3/9 Sketchbook (Every day) Reusable Rubber gloves (elbow length kitchen gloves) Long apron (preferably waterproof) for fabric dying Purchase minimum of 8 yards of decorative or colored fabrics, 35-45” width, cotton. Optional: Highly recommended to ALSO bring alternative fabric materials also, old clothes, bags, pillow cases, bed sheets, socks, vinyl, shower curtains, table cloths, plastics etc. We will be cutting these items to use for sewing. Dritz Quilting Applique Sharps Needles 20pcs Size 9 Dritz Sharps Hand Needles 20pcs Size 9 Warm Company Batting 120-Inch by 124-Inch Warm and Natural Cotton Batting, King Small pin cushion Seam ripper Sewing pins (PACK OF 75-100) 2 Flexible rubber sewing thimbles. Recommended brands: Clover protect & grip thimble, dritz soft comfortable thimble Sewing or Quilting threads in various colors you’d like to work in. Recommended brands: Coats & Clark Dual Duty Quilting thread, Gutermann, Maxi-Lock -Most supplies for class demos will be provided in class, but you are responsible for any extra supplies listed in this syllabus (See above). There may also be instances where you want to experiment with varied materials/textures, so be open to bringing in or collecting materials during the course to have accessible. Project 1: Sampler Portfolio Through daily demonstrations in multiple sewing/textile techniques, students will build a collection of material samplers that demonstrate their knowledge of each technical process. Consider this collection a valuable tool and database when researching future projects, or using this portfolio as a professional teaching asset. It is recommended to label all samples with proper terminology for future research. Techniques to be covered: mola appliqué, reverse appliqué, trapunto, embroidery, beading, shibori, etc. Collaged Surface: Quilted Form Utilizing the techniques, we have learned thus far, quilting, applique, hand embroidery, beading, mending strategies, alternative fabric types, consider a way of thinking through the act of repetitive and layered making. How can we use our hands to create a collaged surface that reflects or questions our perceptions of personal histories, our understanding of landscapes, architecture, pattern? Consider the Slow and Fast paced actions of our hands, when working with a sewing machine or hand embroidering small stitches; these movements naturally build up, bind, mend, or hide elements of a pattern and material. Create a collaged image that transforms found or sourced fabric into a finished quilt form. Consider elements of abstraction, composition and color as ways to generate image. Course Schedule: Please bring your essential supplies to class every day: SCISSORS! various drawing tools, sketchbook, tools for hand sewing, scrap fabric (of your choosing), works in progress. This schedule is a guide and it is subject to change. Please check with professor daily. Tuesday, Intro - July 27th • Arrival to Oxbow • Bring all fabric and quilting supplies to class. Wednesday, Day One - July 28th Morning: • Class Introductions. Review syllabus, class project, and materials. • Discuss quilt construction, crazy patchwork design. Begin research and sketches for quilt top and overall presentation. Afternoon: • Demo hand stitching and machine quilting techniques (Sewing Machine Workshop) using scrap and bought fabrics. Fabric terminology: Seams, hems, bias, patterns for quilting, etc. Proper use of cutting mat, rotary cutter, quilt block, seam allowance, sewing terminology For Next Class: • Continue quilt top. There is no size requirement and final project can take on any form, think outside the box! Thursday, Day Two - July 29th Morning: • Sample appliqué and reverse appliqué techniques (by hand). Discuss mola appliqué history. • Distribute batting to each student • Quilt demo: Free Motion Foot (also called Quilting/darning foot) on sewing machine for finished quilt. Hand stitching for embellishment practices and quilting 3 layers of fabric. Quilt Binding demo continued/review Afternoon: • Open Studio Time • Discuss history of Kantha Stitches and Kantha as binding method For Next Class: • Bring Rubber Gloves and clothes you do not mind getting stained for next class. • ALSO Bring Embroidery supplies to Class on Tuesday (hoops, embroidery floss, embroidery needles, fabric) for next class. • Continue research and quilt project for Final day work presentation. Consider material ideas, scale, layering of techniques. Friday, Day Three - July 30th Morning: • Demo Shibori stitches • Demo Fabric Dying using Indigo and Rit Dye packets. Afternoon: • Introduction to Embroidery Demo, hooping, accessories, basic stitches (chain, straight, cross stitch, back, beading, French knot, weaving, basket, couching, feather). • Open Studio Time For Next Class: • Begin working on well-developed image to explore learned stitches, free form embroidery. Consider if you want to add stitches to your quilt top. Saturday, Day Four - July 31st Morning: • Open embroidery and quilting studio time Afternoon: • Trapunto demo For Next Class: • Bring in final quilt project, this may be installed in or outside of class for viewing. Optional bring Embroidery piece, shibori samples to be displayed in class. Sunday, Day Six - Aug 1st Morning: • In class work time. Afternoon: Final Critique for Project • Bring Camera if you wish to document • Good Byes! • Clean up! Attendance/Tardiness Policy: Studios are open 24 hours. Class hours are from 9:30-5:40pm with an hour lunch break at 1pm. Attendance will be taken promptly at 9:40am and upon returning from lunch each day 2:10 pm. Lateness is marked as a half absence. A missed critique may result in a grade of “no credit”, please reach out to me as soon as possible if anything prevents you from attending these critiques so we can work together on a resolution. Cell phones/iphones are not allowed in the classroom, please turn them off upon entering class. Laptops are generally not needed in this class – unless the instructor has given you permission. Diversity Statement: It is my intent that students from all diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well served by this course, that students’ learning needs be addressed both in and out of the classroom, and that the diversity that students bring to the class be viewed as a resource, strength and benefit. As an art educator, it is my goal to present materials, ideas and activities that are respectful of diversity in multiple facets: culture, race, age, sexuality, gender, disability, and socioeconomic status. If you ever feel these goals are not being met, please feel encouraged to speak with me independently or to the group about any issues. Your suggestions on how to better serve you and your peers are encouraged and always appreciated. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on improving the course throughout the week, so we can have a wonderful and fruitful class! .