Driven to Abstraction: developing abstract imagery (Supplies)

Instructor: Sue Benner

The supply list has been provided by the instructor. If you have any questions, please contact the instructor at benner.sue@gmail.com

Supplies Participants Should Bring

INSPIRATIONAL IMAGES or source materials for your work in class—photographs (especially closeups/details), sketches, sketchbook doodles, designs, magazine pages, etc. Concentrate on shape, pattern, repetition, and movement. Sue will have source material handy if you don’t know what to bring.

ABSTRACT ART/ARTIST INFLUENCE–a reproduction of at least one abstract image (or book) of an artist’s work that give ideas for layering or layered structure. I ask that you look outside the quilt medium for this.

FABRIC! Almost anything goes:

  • Fiber content: cotton, polyester, rayon, silk, wool, etc.
  • Recycled garments: 5 whole or partial garments to cut up or that are already disassembled.
  • Recycled household linens: especially ones that are no longer useable due to stains or holes.
  • Beautiful and “precious” hand-dyed/printed fabrics that you haven’t been able to use.
  • Sheers like chiffon and organza—curtains, anyone?
  • Another 5 garments to put in a class stash for anyone to use.
  • Any other fabrics you want to bring.
  • Scraps/leftovers you think are intriguing and have been hoping to use sometime, fused or not.
  • Don’t sweat the fabric choice too much. We can work with almost anything! Really!
  • 2-3 yards of backing fabric.

Pre-washing is not required but highly recommended. I wash all my fabric except my weirdest stuff, including and importantly, the recycled clothing.

FUSIBLE- Any of the following will be fine:

  • 15 yards of 805 Pellon Wonder-Under or
  • 15 yards of MistyFuse or
  • 15 yards of Steam-a-Seam 2 Lite or
  • Equivalent of Soft Fuse or
  • Equivalent of SpunFab (www.museumservices.com)

GLUE- your favorite fabric glue or glue stick

Release Paper/Surface

  • Roll of parchment paper (Reynolds white smart-grid the best)
  • Teflon baking sheets or Goddess Sheet (MistyFuse)

Pins

  • Straight pins (a pin cushion-full)
  • Quilting safety pins (about 20 OK)

Batting and Ironing Surface

  • Twin-size 72×93” or equivalent in pieces, 100% cotton if possible, like Quilters Dream Cotton
  • White cotton fabric, 1 yard, to make ironing surface on a table with part of the batting above Art Supplies

Art Supplies

  • one or two soft-lead pencils (2HB Ticonderoga good, my favorite)
  • two soft-lead, colored pencils (like Prismacolor), or your best approximation of these pencils
  • 10 sheets letter size paper, a few sheets tracing paper
  • thick and thin Sharpie
  • masking tape
  • 3 assorted paint brushes (e.g., 2, 1, and .5 inch wide)

Iron

  • Steam iron
  • Tacking or sealing iron (optional, only if you have one already)

Cutting Tools

  • sharp scissors (small and large)
  • cutting mat
  • rotary cutter (a large and very small, 18-mm, would be ideal)
  • gridded ruler (24” x 6” or larger is good)
  • gridded square (6 1⁄2” or larger)

Sewing Machine–capable of straight stitch, zigzag, and free-motion stitching plus about 10 colors thread

Hand Stitching (optional)

  • embroidery thread or pearl cotton
  • suitable needles and thimble

Digital Camera (your phone is probably fine for this)

Press Cloth (optional) of 100% cotton, low lint fabric like Pima cotton is best.

Example of your artwork to show to the class (optional).

IF NOT SUPPLIED BY TEACHING VENUE: extension cord, surge protector/power strip, design wall, additional lighting or lamp

SUPPLIES I WILL HAVE ON HAND

  • Pile of recycled and thrifted fabric scraps.
  • Other fabrics and surfaces to work on
  • Paint and palettes
  • Paint brushes
  • Tools

Please email or call (benner.sue@gmail.com or 214-796-8089) if you have any questions about the supply list!

After reading this list you may ask yourself, what is the least I can bring and get away with it?

Answer:
Fabric (see list)
Iron
Scissors
Pins
Glue stick
Fusible
Parchment paper roll
Hand sewing supplies and thread
Phone/Camera
Masking tape
Paint brushes
Batting

Just don’t ask your neighbor to make up the difference! 🙂