My “Falling Ginkgo” series will eventually have six pieces, all approximately the same size. Five are completed.
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| Falling Ginkgo #5 9.75x21.75" |
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| Falling Ginkgo #4 9.5x21.25" |
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| Falling Ginkgo #3 9.5x21.5" |
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| Falling Ginkgo #2 9.75 x 21.5" |
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| Falling Ginkgo #1 9.5 x 21.5" |
“Scribbles”
Copyright Susan Brubaker Knapp 2023
6.75 x 18.75"
An experiment in mark making. White fabric, acrylic textile paint, ink, cotton batting, interfacing. Painted, marked, free-motion machine quilted.
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| Lichen Study #2 Copyright Susan Brubaker Knapp 2023 7x15" |
Another lichen! Lutradur, acrylic textile paint, cotton thread, perle cotton, hand-dyed cotton fabric, interfacing. Painted, heated, machine free-motion quilted.
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| Lichen Study #1 (Copyright 2023 Susan Brubaker Knapp) 6x8” |
Mycologists are only recently starting to understand that lichens are composite organisms – they can be an algae and fungus; or an algae, fungus and cyanobacteria; or contain multiple fungi species. They live together in a relationship that helps them all.
This small piece is not meant to represent any specific lichen. I just tried to represent lichen-ness when I made it.
Lutradur, acrylic textile paint, cotton thread, perle cotton, cotton fabric, interfacing. Painted, heated, machine free-motion quilted and hand embroidered.
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| The Emperor (16 x 11") Copyright Susan Brubaker Knapp 2023 Batik, hand-dyed and commercial fabrics, glue, cotton thread, cotton fabric, cotton batting. |
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| The Emperor (detail) |
I’ve been moth obsessed (again) lately. Shown here are two smallish pieces, “The Emperor” and “Cinnabar,” that I made using a quick technique where I create a line drawing, then trace the pieces using a light box, and stick them down to the background (wonderful hand-dyed fabrics) using a little diluted school glue. The threadwork does the magic, adding the details and texture.
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| Cinnabar” (16x12") Copyright Susan Brubaker Knapp 2023 Batik, hand-dyed and commercial fabrics, glue, cotton thread, cotton fabric, cotton batting. |
I used my regular size (there's
guidance for measuring yourself and using the sizing chart that is very
helpful). The finished coat fits me very well. I love that it's not overly
bulky through the arms, because that can make you look like the Stay-Puft
Marshmallow Man. It has small darts at the bust that also help it fit well.
I chose this pattern because it is pretty simple, with large uninterrupted
areas for quilt pattern to show, and I made it simpler by leaving off the pockets
(because of the green and red applique design running down the front panels). I
also made it 6 inches longer. The original falls at the hips (usually not a
flattering look on me), and I wanted to feature more of the quilt design.
If you are working from regular fabric (not a quilt), the instructions have you cut out all the pattern pieces from all three layers of what quilters call “the quilt sandwich” – the top, the batting, and the backing – and then layer them and quilt them. I’d recommend cutting out all the pieces with about 1” extra, quilting it, and then cutting out the pattern pieces, because if you quilt heavily, it’s going to shrink in size, sometimes a LOT, in my experience.
There’s binding around all the
outer edges, but next time, I may just roll the edges under, like I did on the sleeve
cuffs. I also ended up folding under the front edges of the jacket (the placket)
and stitching them down, because there was way too much overlap (I think I cut
out the pattern designed for buttons and button holes). And I rather liked how
it looked with the pattern going all the way to the edge, without being
interrupted by a binding. If I do bind the edges, I’ll stitch the first side on
by machine and finish on the back with hand stitching. I can do a much prettier
job by hand.
You can order a paper pattern, but as usual, I wanted it NOW. So I downloaded the PDF pattern (it comes in tiles/sections and you print them out and tape them together.) I’m going to make this jacket again, probably with pockets. Maybe with a quilt of my own design. The main pattern comes with patterns and instructions for a welt pocket, and Grainline also makes a pattern for a hood, collar and patch pockets, if you want those.
The old quilt I used had extremely thin batting (before cutting it open, I wouldn’t have believed that it had any batting at all). I think it may have been hand-carded cotton. I love how lightweight and drapey it is. So when I do it again, I will probably use the thinnest cotton or wool I can find. I haven’t done any kind of closures yet, and I may not do any.
https://grainlinestudio.com/products/tamarack-jacket?variant=22533585502290
Tamarack Jacket ($20 for paper pattern, $18 for a PDF)
Tamarack Hood, Collar & Patch Pockets Variation Add-on ($12, PDF only)
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| All In (Copyright Susan Brubaker Knapp 2023) |
There
are times when I despair over the state of my country, and of the
world. Climate change; economic, racial and gender inequality; poverty;
gun violence; terrorism; war; immigration… We need to be “all in” and
have everyone speaking out, volunteering, and participating in changing
the world for the better. I made this piece in the last few days to have another example of this technique, which I will be demonstrating on “Quilting Arts TV” Series 3000. (We shoot the series next week!) This piece measures 25.5" x 13.75". It is made from white cotton fabric, acrylic textile paint, cotton batting, cotton thread, and cotton backing; and is wholecloth painted, stenciled, and free-motion quilted. |
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| “Asian Persimmon” 15.5 x 11.5" Copyright 2023 Susan Brubaker Knapp White fabric, acrylic textile paint, cotton batting, cotton batting. Wholecloth painted, free-motion machine quilted. |
I took the photo on which this piece is based a long time ago, and have always wanted to make it into an art quilt. I believe I took the photo at a supermarket (the lighting in supermarkets is often quite good for photography, surprisingly!)
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| “Infectious” 19.5 x 20.25" Copyright 2023 Susan Brubaker Knapp. White cotton fabric, acrylic textile paint, ink, cotton batting, cotton thread, cotton backing fabric. Hand drawn, wholecloth painted, free-motion machine quilted. |
During one of the last Covid outbreaks, I started doodling this funky
looking virus on fabric using a pigment ink
pen, and used acrylic textile paints to color it in. Then I set it aside.
This
past week, while emerging from a horrible cold and hating viruses even
more, I got it out and started quilting. The background on the virus is
cross-hatched in ink, and I quilted it heavily to make the protrusions
stand out more.
I used echo quilting to give a feeling of motion, that the virus was pulsating, spreading its infectious particles out into the universe.
I am so sick of thinking about sickness.
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"Deliciosa" |
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| Falling Ginkgo #1 Copyright Susan Brubaker Knapp 2023 10x22" White cotton fabric, acrylic textile paint, ink, cotton thread, cotton batting, cotton backing fabric. Wholecloth painted, stenciled, free-motion quilted. |
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| “Chinese Lanterns” 36.5 x 41.5" Copyright Susan Brubaker Knapp 2023 White cotton fabric, acrylic textile paint, cotton batting, cotton backing. Wholecloth painted, stenciled, free-motion quilted. |
I completed this piece a while ago, but haven’t faced and finished it yet, because I was mulling over whether to crop it, vertically or horizontally, or not at all. I even asked advice on social media, something I almost never do, because I was so conflicted (unusual for me!). In the end, I think I will keep it as it is, like this.
I think the problem arose because I usually work from my photos, and decide on the composition and cropping as I am taking the photo. In this case I worked from my drawings of individual lanterns, and set up the composition so that I could crop in later. Then once I was done, I was uncertain, and perhaps a bit hesitant to hack off the lovely bits at the top and bottom, and wasting all that time painting and quilting.
The results of the polling on social media were mixed, but if I did crop it, I think I would have gone with cropping in on the sides.
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| “Hollyhocks” Copyright Susan Brubaker Knapp 2023. 19" x 30.5" Commercial cotton and batik fabric, silk, sherpa, cotton batting, cotton thread, cotton backing fabric. Raw-edge appliqué, free-motion machine quilted. |
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