Seams behind the scenes
I had been randomly stitching hexagons with whatever scrap fabric I could find. The result was a large collection of tiny, penny-sized hexes but no intended design.
I got to feeling a little bit lost in the project, so I printed off a hexagon page (from the graph-paper generator) and got to work with some colored pencils. Now I have some order and a direction. Now, with some structure, I am able to begin the long process of joining the pieces together and creating something cohesive.
I’m using the ladder stitch to join the into little flowers. It’s awesome because you can barely see the line of stitches. They are all hidden away — tucked into the folds and creases of fabric. They hold things together, but you don’t think much about them. This is a very interesting concept, psychologically.
Sometimes you want your stitches to show. Jude of Spirit Cloth writes about intentionally showing stitches on her What If blog.
For some reason, on this project, I want to hide them away. I think it has something to do with my process on this blog, actually — the way I reveal some things, but not all things, about myself and my work. Even still, burying the process a little bit from time to time is valid as an artistic and therapeutic choice.
What about you? Are you in the mood to show your process, or hide it? Visible or invisible seams?
No related posts.
oh my, they are so darn cute! I’m behind on my blog reading…
I was up for showing my process, which I did, Now I feel like I purged my experience to much…
Weird huh?
trying to stay focuses, with this busy month, and a new awful event is occurring… Illness = death to come soon to a member of the family, life’s crazy things it throws at you… trying to not spaz out, and just get done what I need to, and not go over the top. For me, in situations like this Finishes are welcomed… so i am digging out a lot of old abandoned projects, and letting life take it’s course.
Comment by V — 5 May 2009 @ 4:17 pm
These are very cute! It’s funny, I’ve just been doing hexes myself!
Haven’t started joining them together yet, so not sure about stitches showing or not. I think I don’t mind in this case. After doing a bunch of machine sewing, I’m glad for the change and wouldn’t mind the hand stitches showing.
Comment by Wendymoon — 5 May 2009 @ 8:06 pm
Oh wow! those hexy’s are really coming on nicely, still can’t get over their gorgeous teeniness. I think we all do the hide some reveal some bit, on blogs, stitching and life. I see it as a security mechanism, I always hide what reveals vulnerablity. Though what that reveals about your hidden ladders I don’t know!
Comment by aneela — 6 May 2009 @ 1:35 am
Beautiful!
Comment by Felicia — 6 May 2009 @ 12:31 pm
lovely work Mal, you’ve prompted me to show my little hexagons, I’ve just been to a miniature doll house show, so am feeling all inspired again – and thanks for the link to the page of hex’s, much easier than trying to draw my own
Comment by Erica — 7 May 2009 @ 5:44 pm
You’ll laugh… but I have all these prints in my scrap bag too. =D
Currently making a king sized quilt as a wedding gift for my son. Loving it on the one hand, but finding the sense of ‘have-to’ a bit off putting. Something I’ve observed before about my quilting, I just want to ‘play’, hardly any thought or agenda or even recipient in mind seems to be best. My chance to drop out for a while.
Love reading you, refreshing.
Comment by Leslie — 12 May 2009 @ 2:07 pm
I think it depends on the end result the piece has–if i want it to be functional, i hide seams and have no (or minimal
) raw edges, but if it’s purely “Art” i *let* the ends be all adanglish!
Comment by arlee — 13 May 2009 @ 4:25 pm
First, thanks for the idea of how to store my hexagons. I bought a container that I thought was adjustable. It wasn’t. But it will work great for containing hexagons until I’m ready to stitch them together.
I tend to do invisible stitches. However, since starting to do that blanket stitching in black, I’m leaning more towards visibile decorative stitches. You see, I was once a professional embroiderer until arthritis made working on a schedule impossible. Nowadays, the best I can do is cross-stitch and I’m fine with that. But I do miss decorative stitching and am going to do more experimentation for connecting hand pieced items. Thanks for the tip!
Comment by Stephanie in MN — 14 June 2009 @ 10:04 am