Supply List

Flower Power

Susan Brittingham, Instructor

Students should feel comfortable making their own decisions about process and construction with input from the instructor.  While a few photos and patterns will be provided, you may also use your own photos of favorite flowers to develop an original pattern.

SUPPLIES

Fabrics

We will be looking at many different techniques and size options, so it is not possible to give specific fabric requirements.  You will be making fabric choices throughout the class as we work on different projects.  

Eventually, you will need background fabric no smaller than 9"x 12".  Size options will be addressed in the early lessons.  The background should be selected to contrast with your flower or suggest background foliage.  Hand-dyes and semi-solids are good choices.  We will also look at pieced backgrounds.  At the least, you should wait until you have chosen your flower color before you select a background fabric. 

Flower Fabrics:  You will need a variety of green fabrics for leaves

Patterns will be provided for

• a daylily or tiger lily (orange and yellow fabrics suggested)
• an iris (blue, purple and yellow fabrics suggested)
• a Morning Glory (blue, purple and magenta suggested)
• or you may develop your own pattern from a photo and select fabrics accordingly

The amount of each fabric will depend on what size wall hanging you wish to make.

Threads

• a variety of lightweight decorative threads including cotton, rayon and metallic to match, blend and accent your fabrics. 
• additional decorative threads,  if desired.
• invisible thread: polyester invisible thread (such as Sulky Invisible or Superior) is recommended.

Stabilizers

• Tear-Easy or other tear away stabilizer. This should be as large your intended quilt and may be pieced if necessary.  Stabilizer (Stitch and Tear) may be purchased from a bolt to obtain larger sizes.  
• Optional: Dissolvable Stabilizer. You will have the option of making a free-standing appliqué with this item. Heavy weight water soluble stabilizer such as Romeo or Solvy "Ultra" are good choices.  You may also use Dissolving paper stabilizer.
• Optional: Tulle will be used in conjunction with the dissolvable stabilizer to create a free standing appliqué.  It can also be used for collage work.  Many colors of tulle are available. You may wish to have about 1/2 yard each of a light and a dark color.

Other Stuff

• A large (8" x 10") photo of a favorite flower, simple is better. If you do not have a photo your wish to use, there will be several to choose from in class.
• Clear Acetate sheet or other clear plastic sheet on which you can draw or write. Transparency film for overhead projectors will work, so will plastic page protectors. This is for working directly from a photograph.  If your picture is very clear and sharp, you may be able to substitute tracing paper.
• Tracing paper.  It is helpful to have tracing paper as large as your desired finished quilt size.  Tracing paper can sometimes be purchased on a roll in 18", 24", or 36" widths from art supply or architectural supply stores.  
• Optional: freezer paper.  You will need this if you plan to make a larger quilt using freezer paper appliqué.  Freezer paper is a heavy paper with a plastic coating on one side. The plastic coating makes it possible to iron the paper onto fabric.  Freezer paper works well for making templates and turning under the edges, if it is available.  In the US, we find freezer paper in the grocery store along with other supplies for freezing food, such as plastic bags and aluminum foil.  It is also available (at higher cost) in individual sheets.
• Optional: fusible web: If you prefer to fuse part or all of your flower
• pair of small, sharp, pointed scissors
• permanent felt tip pen such as a Sharpie™ Ultra Fine Point (preferred) or Pigma pen
• permanent felt tip pen to draw on freezer paper, fine point
• pencil and eraser
• colored pencils, crayons or felt-tip pens
• machine needles
  • embroidery size 75/11 and 90/14
  • sharps, size 80/12 and/or Metallica needles
  • size 60/8 or 70/10 for use with invisible thread
• Optional: machine embroidery hoop if you would like to try thread painting
• Sewing machine, clean and in good working order with a darning or quilting foot and the ability to drop or cover your feed dogs for free motion sewing.  Must be able to sew a zigzag stitch.
• extra bobbins
• pins, scissors, seam ripper

OUTLINE

Lesson One

• Preparation for realistic flower portraits
• Photography and working with images on the computer
• Tips on selecting a flower photo
• Making changes to the photo
• Preparing a drawing and enlarging if necessary
• Bonus Lesson: Quick and Easy Collage

Lesson Two

• Making a value study of the line drawing
• Selecting flower fabrics and sorting by value
• Selecting a background or type of background
• Pieced backgrounds

Lesson Three

• Appliqué techniques: Advanced Upside-Down appliqué
• Learning to work in multiple layers
• Construction Details and Tips
• Free standing appliqués

Lesson Four

• Freezer Paper Appliqué
• Bias Stems
• Fusible Appliqué
• Decorative stitching for leaves, petals and stems
• Faced Appliqué

Lesson Five

• Adding machine embroidery and embellishments
• Thread Painting
• Dimensional Hollyhocks
• Borders, quilting and finishing

You may check the Class Supply Glossary in the Library for generic descriptions of products that may be sold under various names in different countries. 

If you have trouble finding your supplies locally in the US, many of our items are available online at Batiks Etcetera & Sew What Fabrics.  International students can check our Class Supply Sources.