Decovil explorations – Part 2
The next stage….following on from a workshop with Kay Leech (https://feltingandfiberstudio.com/2025/02/27/decovil-explorations-part-1/ )
This is where I left you – at the end of the workshop and having started some hand stitching.
I was pleased with what I had taken home although it was so very far from complete. Then I noticed that some of the applied elements were lifting off the glue. From workshop discussions with Kay in this regard, she had not had any problems over the years with her vases despite them being well and truly man-handled, but….she had fairly heavily machine stitched her work!
With this in mind, it was decision time – do I continue with the hand stitching or, almost start again by machine stitching it all. The latter demands time (a precious commodity at the moment!) at my machine, the former I can do whilst finally relaxing of an evening. Finally, I made the decision – I would not be happy if elements continued to lift, so….
Change the number of hours on the clock to 36!
Not totally happy, I removed some of my hand stitched elements, before then machine stitching the various ‘stone’ textures in different ways on the fabric, netting and tissue paper pieces.
The final elements for machine stitching were the white mulberry paper pieces. I loved this ‘holey’ paper and thought that I should create circles to reflect the holes. But….I was not happy with my first attempt. The needle holes really punctured the white mulberry paper and somehow didn’t look right. We all learn from our mistakes….so out the stitching came!
I don’t do FME every day and certainly don’t stitch small circles, so I practiced on a scrap patch and actually decided I liked the back ‘bobbin’ side better. Whereas the front just produced holes, the back with a seemingly tighter bobbin tension, created a more interesting texture with ‘lines’ which being more prominent, took the eye away from the holes.
Mmmm….now I had a problem….The mulberry paper pieces were randomly placed and were not visible from the reverse side of the Decovil, but it was important to me that I got the circle stitching in the right place to echo the holey paper.
Woohoo….by sheer chance I discovered, thankfully, that the Decovil is surprisingly not totally opaque as it first appears. So, I traced the pattern on the reverse side with a heat sensitive pen (Frixion), by holding the work up to the window (the sun provides a great light box – I was lucky as the continuous morning rain and clouds had vanished about 30 mins before!).
To get a clear run with the circle stitching, I then decided to totally whip out all the remaining hand stitching….oh well – it should make for a better finish!
Before undertaking the circle stitching again, I decided to close the ugly, offending former stitch holes by carefully dampening the mulberry paper and ‘nail-wiggling’ (smoothing) the surface gently. It worked a treat. But when the paper was totally dry it had decided to remove itself from the Decovil glue – no problem – just iron it back in place!
At this point you might already be ahead of me!
I took the piece to the machine to ‘reverse’ stitch the same piece of mulberry paper (now on the underside) ….there was NO pattern marked on the back….REALLY?….I could have sworn I had done it!….
….I’d completely forgotten I had used the heat sensitive Frixion pen which, I’d inadvertently ironed off 😜 so it was back to the window!
Circle stitching was definitely a challenge as the Decovil was not in a hoop (I think it would mark and stretch the material) and is quite ‘slippy’. Another problem is that the needle picks up the glue after a while, so it is not as free-running as normal sewing. Kay recommends using a special needle and had given each of us one for our machines.
12 Detail of the circle stitching texture
Now I’m happy that I have everything anchored – I can entertain, once again, hand stitching whilst relaxing.
The intention of the workshop had been to create a vase for which Kay had been saving (and cutting to size) empty plastic bottles. From the beginning I’d already cut my painted fabric to allow me to wrap both a narrow tall and wide short bottle to create a set of two coordinating vases.
Now, having solved the peeling-elements problem by machine stitching, I started to have further wonderings, better described as ‘construction’ thoughts….”If my calling was to loosely interpret stone, then I could veer away from the vase being a simple wrapping around a cylinder”….Mmmm!
More research was required. So back I went to various ceramicists’ creations….more pages were printed for inspiration….definitely food for thought! 🤔
As this post (written a while ago) goes live, I realise it will be 6 months since the workshop. Where has the time gone? It has simply evaporated! My Decovil creations are complete….sadly….only in my head!
In order that you are not all left hanging for another 6 months I’d best find some precious time (maybe by looking under my Decovil stones 🤣) and finish this WIP hoping you will tune in to Part 3.
14 thoughts on “Decovil explorations – Part 2”
Your WiP is absolutely gorgeous. You’ve got a real essence of stones while incorporating some beautiful golden shine that really lifts the overall look in a very appealing way.
Definitely don’t want to have to wait another 6 months before seeing the end results. So, as my mother and I say to each other ‘don’t work too hard but get your jobs done!’
Thank you Lindsay. Needless to say the handstitching will inevitably add more lichen to the pieces and I have just prepped some some small plastic elements in preparation.
A recent workshop (3 weeks ago) involved printing with potatoes then hand stitching to create pebbles. ‘Me thinks’ my research in preparation for that will feed into the Decovil project.
Thanks for the proverbial ‘kick’ 😜
Tempus fugit – and the older we get it seems to go even faster! There is never enough time for fibre fiddling is there?
The circles on the white mulberry paper, by stitching on the wrong side, are very effective – the effect is ethereal.
Oh, we empathise with your frustration whilst trying to achieve your aim and applaud your tenacity.
Your colour choices for this project are a delight and we hope your slow stitching is enjoyable. We’re really looking forward to seeing what you use instead of the plastic bottles.
Ladies….tempus fugit definitely. We just need to slow and somehow expand our hours to achieve our fiddling aims!
I’m glad you like the colours, which although not seen in real life (the copper etc), was part of the workshop experimentation.
I’m working (mentally) on the final construction/shape which will then hopefully inform my application of hand stitching. I certainly think I need to keep it simple.
Yes, I’ll definitely be tuning in for Part 3, and I echo the others – get on with it!
I’m finding your thought processes and your steps very interesting and thought provoking, but I’m not going down that rabbit hole – not enough hours in the day.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who irons out frixion marks. I once transferred all the marks from a dress pattern to the fabric because I couldn’t be bothered to do tailor’s tack. Served me right for being lazy as I had to do them in the end. I’d pressed open some seams and away went the marks. I bet we’re not the only ones either.
Ann
Another encouraging ‘kick’….thanks Ann. Fellow encouragement is always much appreciated.
I feel your pain with your dress making shortcut that was a ‘longcut’! At least I could laugh at my stupidity and make a note to self – not to undertake a repeat performance! I agree with you that we can’t be the only ones to have done this.
It looks wonderful and the addition of hand stitching will definitely add more details and fiber delights 😉 I haven’t used the Frixion pens but keep thinking I should get some. But I would have done the same thing as I’m always adding the iron on things to flatten out or restick or whatever. I was thinking that since the Decovil is stiff, that you wouldn’t need to have an insert. Especially if it isn’t going to be a vase to hold anything but an art piece? How big are the pieces now? And I agree, get on with it so we can see the end result. Ha!
Adding the hand stitching will be a bit of fun that I’m looking forward to.
Ruth you are quite right, I can use the stiffness of the Decovil to advantage and am planning the best use of the pieces. I’m currently thinking of combining them and am referring to various ceramists for my final form.
Judging by the comments so far….I’d best get on with it! 🤪
As I read through your wonderful post I could nearly hear lot little grey cells clicking together and coming up with solutions Antje. Sounds like the class left you buzzing with ideas and they are coming together beautifully. Love the colour scheme too.
Ok so, definitely want to see this turn from a WIP into the finished pieces, no pressure!
hugs
Helene
Thank you Helène, I’m glad you approve. Yes both this workshop, and our recent pebble one, have prompted ideas.
I’m now sporting so many footprints on my butt 🤪 that as I sit here the WIP has come off the shelf and is being worked on! Whilst the hand stitching is keeping my fingers busy, the little grey cells are working hard to visualise the finished piece and how to best achieve it.
Xxx
Very cool. I will be interested to see how what you add to it and the hand stitching . Will they be sleeves or will you make a bottom for them?
I’m currently working on the hand stitching, particularly on the fabric elements that I’ve not machine stitched.
To sleeve or not to sleeve….that is a very good question, which is keeping my few little grey cells quite busy. I’m also making it a little more complicated for myself as I want to introduce some 3D shaping too! Watch this space 🤪
That WIP of yours definitely lights up something in my brain, Antje! It’s just so lovely to look at.
As for the Frixion pen situation, have I ever made the same mistake, more than once? No, why do you ask? 😂
I can see the glow from here….So pleased I’ve light up your brain 🤪
I doubt that we are few in number to iron over Frixion….there should be a warning label attached (assuming it would be read before use….mind you as women – we probably would😜)