A 3-Day Workshop
On Saltspring Island, British Columbia
With Karin Millson
This course is suitable for all skill levels
When: April 27, 28 and 29th
Time: 10 – 4 (1 hour lunch break)
Cost: $290 + Booking fees
Materials List will be supplied
SALES OPEN FROM 3PM 22ND FEBRUARY
Examples of what you will learn
Have you ever thought :
“How do I get this sewing machine to sew how I want it to?”
or even,
“How can a
sewing machine sew in space?”
Sign up for this workshop
with Karin, and you will learn how to do these things and
more. Karin likes to challenge
the instruction manual. She will teach you the rules and then how to wilfully break them.
Judicious use of sewing machine needle types allows challenging threads can be worked concurrently. Here thick DMC crochet cotton with fine metallic machine hread
Join Karin and you will be able to make your machine stitch in ways you didn't know were possible, with threads that you would have thought were of no use to a sewing machine and on surfaces that one doesn't naturally think of as sewing machine fabric. You will use the machine as an art tool.
Machine stitching on multiple layers of ironed bubblewrap
One participant’s partner
remarked “Honey, I think there is something wrong with your sewing machine”
after he was surprised by the textural stitches that had been produced during
the class.
In fact there was
nothing wrong with the machine and the course participant was able to make
adjustments, at will, to create flat stitches, even stitches and looped
stitches in patterns and shapes that were not even in the instruction manual
and she could even make stitches in thin air.
And so she had learnt how a
sewing machine sews in space.
During the workshop you
will also be encouraged to make marks on white fabric in an innovative and
non-intimidating way:-
-: and then mimic those shapes, lines and visual textures with the new stitch
techniques that you learn.
Black, white and silver drawing, mimicked in varied machine stitchery on organza, paper and metal
with some machining in free space
-----------------------------------------------
FAQs
Do I need to bring my sewing machine?
Since this class is based heavily on the use of a sewing machine, participants need to bring a machine that is suitable (see below)
Karin has 2 such machines
available for use in the class.
Email her at ioftheneedle@me.com
to book one.
Exploiting the possibility of changing tension settings to create looping and dotted stitches
Can my machine do this?
If your machine can do the following it will be suitable, I will teach the less experienced how to do these things:-
The type of machine that is optimum (though others are suitable) for the studies is a basic, mechanical, sewing machine. The ability to do zig zag, free motion, vary both stitch length and width at will and easily adjust top and bottom tensions (a vertically loaded lower bobbin is usually the best, but other machines can be accommodated) are required. If you are new to free motion stitching, please contact me (details below). Even a machine that you think cannot do free motion can usually be given a disguise to make this possible.
There is no need for numerous fancy stitches.
·
The machines
will be worked in free motion setting for some of the class. A suitable foot should be brought to
class, or a modification might be possible Karin is happy to discuss this. Karin has several free motion feet for Bernina and Pfaff machines for class use, contact her to book one.
Do I need any previous experience?
Certainly not.
Karin is the recipient of
a 2018 Saltspring Island Arts Council Grant.
She will bring elements of her
current work on an adult puppet show to the workshop to help demonstrate the
usefulness of the techniques learnt.
Skeletal creature - machine embroidery in space
Machine embroidery on waxed paper.
Register for the workshop here:-
Follow the instructions to obtain your ticket.
SALES OPEN FROM 3PM 22ND FEBRUARY
