The Art of Fabric Collage

Fabric collage, a simple and fun quilting method developed by Rosemary Eichorn, uses soft-edge appliqu and other embellishments to piece fabric together in unusual and surprising ways. Starting with simple-to-understand and useful design ideas, Rosemary leads you through every step to make the wonderful garments showcased throughout The Art of Fabric Collage. The methods are easy to follow, and Rosemary encourages you to express your creative energy.

Experiment with color, design, and fabric while learning how to do a variety of surface-design techniques, including free-motion stitching, continuous-strip prairie points, and interesting closures. Rosemary also shows principles of composition illustrated with examples of collages she has created and used for vests, jackets, quilts, and wall hangings. Adapting garment patterns for a variety of figure-flattering styles is a snap with the step-by-step instructions.

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1: DESIGNING THE COLLAGE
But I Don't Know How to Sew!
Finding Inspiration
Translating Inspiration into Designs
Creating a Sample Collage
Design Principles: Assessing Your Work

Chapter 2: DEVELOPING A FABRIC STASH
Assessing Your Stash
Finding Your Inner Landscape of Color
Choosing Fabrics for Variety and Emphasis
Preparing and Storing Fabrics

Chapter 3: FREE-MOTION SEWING
Machine-Quilting with an Attitude
This Old Machine Is Going to Do What?
Putting the Right Foot Forward
Getting Started on Free-Motion Stitching
Using Novelty Threads
Stitching Techniques to Embellish Your Collage

Chapter 4: BASIC FINISHING TECHNIQUES
It All Comes Out in the Wash
Shaping Up the Collage
Finishing the Edges: A Nontraditional Approach
Final Laundering
Creativity Begets Creativity

Chapter 5: COLLAGING A VEST
Designing a Vest Collage
Modifying a Vest Pattern for Collage
Identifying Your Size
Fitting the Vest Pattern
Making a Clean Copy of the Pattern
Making a Muslin Shell
Cutting Out the Muslin Underlining
Cutting Out the Lining
Collaging the Vest
Making the Lining
Free-Motion Stitching on a Garment
Using Your Pattern to Cut Out the Laundered Vest
Camouflaging the Shoulder Seams
Finishing the Edges

Chapter 6: COLLAGE FOR OUTERWEAR
Choosing a Pattern
How Much Collage Is Too Much Collage?
Planning Placement of the Collage
Selecting Fabrics for Collaged Outerwear
Constructing a Coat
Constructing an Unlined Sleeveless Tunic
Camouflaging Seams

Chapter 7: LININGS ALIVE: ENHANCING THE OTHER SIDE OF ARTWEAR
To Line or Not to Line
Selecting a Lining Fabric
Flat Lining a Collaged Garment
Embellishing Linings

Chapter 8: BRINGING CLOSURE TO THE TASK
Which Is the Right Button?
Jazzy Closures
Care of Special Buttons
Snappy Closures
Manila-Envelope Closures
Brass-Hasp Closures

Chapter 9: LITTLE EXTRAS MEAN A LOT
Adding Prairie Points
Making Plied Cords
Adding Tassels
Applying Shisha Mirrors and Flat Disks by Machine

RESOURCES

INDEX