You may be wondering, "What on earth is freehand machine embroidery??"
Let me tell you, my friends:
This is the first step and the most physically demanding.
I use natural and synthetic dyes to color my cotton canvasses, some of which dyes include onion skins, black beans, and avocado pits.
Each piece gets a hot water bath inside a huge pot in my backyard. I don insulated gloves and work the dye waters and fabrics with my hands. It's a great core workout, haha!
Once the fabric has been dyed, rinsed, machine washed, and dried, nearly a week has passed! Totally worth it, though, don't you think?
Brainstorm Time!
This part is where I get excited:
There is nothing quite like grabbing a square of mottled golden canvas and dreaming up the picture that it will carry.
That is of course, easier said than done, but the challenges of this craft make it all the more special.
Using a heat-erase pen, I carefully sketch a preliminary design onto the canvas face. Even this first sketching takes some caution, as it is the "bones" of my final sewn picture.
kssh-kssh-kssh-kssh-kssh
That is the sound of my sewing machine needle as my hands steadily guide it along the lines that I have drawn with my heat-erase pen.
I am drawing with my sewing machine by the direction of my hands and eyes; no programming is used for this embroidery.
This part is slow.
It always takes me longer than I expect to finish stitching a piece, often because I decide the lines are not dark enough or that there needs to be another color added. Whatever the reason, I am still teaching myself not to call a piece finished until it really IS. Patience is key.😌
Listening to the plodding of my sewing machine while bringing the image in my mind to life may take persistence, but it is also excellently cathartic.
See how crinkled these pieces of canvas get while dyeing? Sometimes I will iron them before I draw and stitch on them; sometimes I will wait until afterward.
Mmm! Crisp and clean!
In this case, after I had ironed off the heat-erase ink, I took my squirrel picture back to my machine and added some black shadowing threads.
Frames, the final touch.
Which frame gets used depends entirely on my interpretation of a piece: I thought this squirrel deserved a bright, peppy, and new frame to contrast his darker, frayed background and complement his stark white threads.
Other times, an antique or gently used frame is required. Going by feel and inspiration is how I do it!
First off, it is not easy. But I love what I do!
Second, it really is not easy! Perhaps that is why I love it.
I have removed the presser foot from my machine, simply to clear my line of sight.
For the record, I have sewn through my finger before, and even though that was two decades ago, the memory is still fresh enough. Therefore, I insist that you do not try this at home! I am a professional with years of experience and have learned how far I can push my boundaries...and my fingers.
Barefoot Canvas embroidery and art prints are listed for purchase on Etsy.
Copyright © 2023 Barefoot Canvas - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy
Welcome!
If you would like to receive emails with Barefoot Canvas news, follow the button link below to subscribe.
Thanks for stopping by!
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.