Day 7- An Applique Adventure

3/2/14

I'd been saying for a few days now: "tomorrow I'll do a garment." Today is finally tomorrow.

I wanted to get back to some of the applique I experimented with on the first day so I chose a thick jersey that wouldn't need much tailoring to make a pencil skirt and allow me to focus on the applique.

I pulled out a dusty teal silk velvet from my Parsons senior thesis and resumed the paper cutting technique for an applique pattern that I used on Day 1. Between the colors and the shapes, I wanted a sort of dark forest feel. 

Because velvet sheds so much and silk is a fidgety fabric, the applique was a major challenge to apply and I actually almost quit in the middle. After adjusting the width of the zigzag stitch on my machine several times I found a setting that made it easier. 

After all the velvet was applied I wanted to embroider some of the hand dyed yarns I had originally bought to match the velvet. I considered a binding stitch on the edge of the velvet, but decided to attempt a technique I had been thinking about: a zigzag stitch over yarn. It worked perfectly. I'm thrilled with the result and will definitely try that again on another project. 

I used both a grey wool yarn to match the jersey and the hand dyed teal yarn that is a silk/wool blend. I inserted a lining in the same grey jersey (thick jersey lining = amazing control top!) and a velvet waistband that is jersey on the back so it stays stretchy enough not to need a zipper. 

Grey pencil skirt: Cotton/poly blend jersey with silk velvet applique and wool and silk yarn embroidery

Eunice is a wonderful model.

Really love the way the applique came out. Going to keep working these techniques! The potential for texture and dimensional quality is excellent.

Take a minute and find the poll on the upper right corner of the page to choose what material I'll be working with next! 

xo,

Arielle