Magic Fabrics, Special Effects (Barnes)
Instructor: Christine Barnes
Supply List
Fabric
As you might suspect, fabric is everything when it comes to creating special effects. What constitutes a magic fabric? I often describe them as “shot with light,” mottled, or dappled. They usually display variations in value-light areas among darker areas, for example, or light-to-dark gradations. The result can be a subtle glow, as if low light is just below the surface, or a pleasing “sweep of light” across the surface.
Batiks, hand-dyes, and hand-painted fabrics give a quilt an airy, ethereal quality. Organic, irregular patterns (as opposed to even, repeat patterns) impart subtle movement. Woven plaids can glow, and even appear iridescent. As AQT grows closer, I will e-mail students images of fabrics I consider magical.
Strive to bring these colors in a range of values (lights, mediums, and darks):
- Yellow
- Yellow-orange
- Orange
- Red-orange
- Red
- Red-violet
- Violet
- Blue-violet
- Blue
- Blue-green
- Green
- Yellow-green
Not all your fabrics must fall into the category of magic fabrics-you need others to act as a foil for your hand-dyed, hand-painted, or dappled pieces. These supporting-role fabrics are usually more consistent in their value and more regular in their pattern.
Other supplies
- An original design, if you choose that path. Bring your design enlarged to the desired finished size.
- Rotary equipment
- Glue sticks (two or three regular-size or one large one-make sure they are fresh)
- Sewing machine
- Basic sewing supplies
- Fusible web and a foundation fabric, if you plan to do a collage quilt
Lab fee: $7. I will bring a selection of fabrics for you to dip into for your color studies.
Feel free to e-mail me regarding your original design or your fabrics: cebarnes@sbcglobal.net or www.christinebarnes.com