Texture - Fleur Maddern

Texture

For my "texture" quilt I attempted to re-create the clown from the "Song Title" quilt made in March 2014.

I really like the clown in the colorful version, and had already re-created him in "Monochrome" in Sept 2014.

So I wanted to see if I could make him / the quilt work with only 1 fabric, relying entirely on 'texture' to create the contrast. What do you think? 

I set myself some 'rules' when attempting to make this quilt:

rule 1: Only use 1 fabric - so that texture is the only contrast
                                               (I choose grey, I thought that neither black nor white would photograph well)
rule 2: No coloured thread allowed - so that texture is the only contrast
                                               (I used 2 different grey threads, a light grey and a darker grey)
rule 3: No 'shrinky' fabric allowed - I have used that 3 times in my art quilts already
("Art Nouveau" - January 2014; "Flights of Fantasy" -  Novemeber 2014; "In the Garden" - March 2015.)

I broke rule 1 because I used another darker grey fabric for the background.


But then again my rule was to use 1 fabric for the clown - so I guess I could say I achieved that.


So 'tick' for rule 1 "Only use 1 fabric"

For rule 2 I originally allowed myself to use black, white and grey threads, thinking that I was going to need the black thread to make some areas darker and the white thread to make other areas lighter.

However I decided that I didn't need or want to use the black or white threads.

I decided it was a bit like 'cheating' to use black or white thread.

And the black or white thread would have looked out of place.

So 'tick' for rule 2 "No coloured thread allowed"







For rule 3 - Yes it would have been easy to use 'shrinky' fabric (Texture Magic) for many of the areas in this quilt but I resisted and kept to my rule.

So 'tick' for rule 3 "No 'shrinky' fabric allowed"

Some Close-up photos with description of techniques used to create the textures.

Hat - twin needle with dark grey thread in 1 needle and light grey thread in the other needle.
Hat band - chenille

 

Hair - gathered strips
Face - pleated
Binding - grey fabric over window sashing rope (piping)

Star - clasp stitch in light grey thread
Face - pleated

Eye arch - gathered over window sashing rope
Eyebrow - corded over thin cord with twin needle
Eye - oval yo-yo with thin wadding
Iris - wide zig-zag in light grey thread (stitched in a circle)
Eye Outline -  narrow zig-zag in dark grey thread
Eye area - fused to 'shapemaker' a stiffener

Nose - gathered round yo-yo
Lips & Tounge -  trapuntoed
Teeth - padded strips, stitched with light grey thread (this is where I was going to use white thread!)
Chin line - narrow zig-zag in light grey thread.
Background quilting - straight stitch in dark grey thread

 The 3 Clown quilts together.

To see the other clown quilts click on the pictures.

Original Clown Quilt

Monochromatic Clown Quilt 

Texture Clown Quilt