Detail from "Rain Dance," an original quilt by Sherrie Spangler

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Whidbey Island inspired scarf


This view from the kitchen window at our STITCH retreat on Whidbey Island is what started it all. The colors were so beautiful that I wanted to make something with them as soon as I got home, so I decided to make a scarf because it would be quicker than a quilt.
 

I laid out a strip of sticky Sulky Solvy and started layering bits of hand-painted silk and yarn from my stash, pressing them into the adhesive to hold them in place.
 


Some silk chiffon that I painted a few years ago.

 
After I was satisfied that I got most of the colors from the photo, I laid a piece of regular (not sticky) Solvy on top and safety pinned the layers together.


I stitched the layers with a gridwork using variegated blue-green thread in the bobbin and needle. The stitching went quickly because the adhesive Sulky was very stable, but I didn't like that it gummed up the needle. I'm not sure I'll buy more because of that. In the past I've used regular Sulky Solvy and it's floppier and you need to use a lot more pins to keep things from shifting. It's a trade off.

 
After swishing it around in a sink of water and squeezing it under running water, the Solvy and adhesive dissolved and I had an airy scarf that I squeezed almost dry in a towel and then hung for final drying.


Actually, most of the retreat had grey skies but I prefer to remember the day the sky and water turned blue and everything sparkled. I lightly pressed the scarf for its final photo, but I also like the rumpled look above.


Check out other fabric artists' work from this week at: http://ninamariesayre.blogspot.com/2013/05/finally-off-wall-friday.html

Have a colorful day

9 comments:

Lynda said...

Sherrie, Love this! I've been wanting to make one of these forever. Really pretty and a great way to remember the retreat.

Judy Sall Fiber Art said...

I love it! I was just thinking of your scarves a couple of days ago, and I'm heading to Jo-Ann's with a coupon today to buy the Sulky Solvy... thanks for the heads-up on the sticky version. Think I'll try regular with maybe a little adhesive spray if needed...

The Idaho Beauty said...

Beautiful soft lovely colors. Yes! Remember that day of your retreat. You might try using a titanium needle. I got on to these via Ann Fahl who does so much thread painting through wonder undered applique. They are more expensive and I did resist for awhile. But they truly do have a surface that doesn't pick up the goo like regular needles do. They might solve the problem with the sticky Solvy.

Robbie said...

Colors are great!!!! What an inspiration photo!

Anonymous said...

Very nice job!

Judy Ferguson said...

Your scarf is so wonderful. Truly unique. I know that Solvy can be a problem, but it certainly makes it possible to make unusual creations like this.

Lisa Chin said...

Very nice!

Sylvia said...

I have been meaning to try one of these scarves since I took a class from Rosemary Eichorn, must have been 2004??? or so. Love the way yours turned out!

landscapelady said...

What fun! And the colors are great :-)