Quilting Arts

Finishing tips

• When the painted and stitched
  organza foreground is complete,
  brush stabilizer solution over the
  entire sheer fabric. Hang it to dry,
  and then press and straighten it.


• To minimize any fraying on the
  cut edges of silk organza, apply a
  thin line of anti-fraying solution
  on the cut edges directly from the
  applicator bottle. A thick line of
  anti-frying solution will create a
  shiny line so keep the line as thin
  as possible. To fi nish edges on
  polyester sheers, use an electric
  stencil burner to cut the edges.
  This will melt the polyester and
  stop any fraying.

“The Promise” shows the evolution

of my painted sheers experiments.

It has a separate, painted top layer

of silk organza plus a painted and

heavily quilted ‘base’ that is below it.

These 2 layers are attached only at the

top edge, so the organza overlay will

gently fl oat away from the base if a

breeze wafts by.

Lessons I’ve learned

• Always use synthetic thread for this technique. If natural fi ber thread is used—such as cotton or silk—submerging the fi nished
  piece in warm water to remove the stabilizer may cause the thread to shrink, rippling the fi nished piece.


• Brushing the piece with stabilizer solution will help discourage fraying of the cut edge of the foreground overlay.

Thoughts on color

Leaves, fl owers, and most elements in nature are not just

one color. In the shadow areas are darker colors and in

the sunny areas you will see lighter colors. Light colors

advance, dark colors recede. If you color a stem in front

of a leaf the same value/color as the background leaf, the

stem will disappear into the leaf. You must make the leaf

a darker color around the stem area so it will pop out. It

will be darker in shadow areas, may have some yellow at

the tip, or it could have some orange or brown in it. Don’t

be afraid to try some purple in the shadows.

Finishing tips

• When the painted and stitched
  f d ilt

“The Promise” shows the evolution

of my painted sheers experiments.

It has a separate, painted top layer

These 2 layers are attached only at the

top edge, so the organza overlay will

gently fl oat away from thehh base if a

“The Promise”

(detail showing

organza layer and base)