Using creative sewing to tell a story..

When I stumbled upon a tropical frog themed cotton print at a fabric show, it really spoke to me. It held my attention and I had to buy it.   The colors were vivid jewel tones and blended beautifully.  The frogs and tropical leaves were quite detailed, and it seemed like I saw a new detail every time I looked at it. As I drove home, I reflected on all of the beautiful fabrics I had seen that day.  I couldn’t stop thinking about those little frogs!  You see, that print reminded me of the perilous plight these tiny creatures endure while they try to survive not just global climate change to their habitat, but the impact man has had on their survival.

When my fabric shipment arrived a few weeks later, I felt compelled to create a design that would illustrate the plight of the poison frogs when man interferes with nature.  I wanted to show that when too many frogs are removed from their environment, it upsets the balance of nature. The best thing for both man and the tiny animals is to let nature alone and leave the animals in their natural environment.

Before I began sewing, I thought about my project and brainstormed different ideas and possible sewing techniques.   I wrote all of my ideas down on a notepad and selected the 4 best ideas that I felt would best convey my storyline.  Next, I wrote the “story” and sketched out my project on paper.  The outline was very rough; but, I had a better vision of how my design would look.  I studied the design outline and evaluated if I needed to move any of the elements.   (I like everything to flow, not appear random).   Once I was happy with the look, I got to work.   I selected my fabrics and created a project color chart.  I also selected threads that complemented and enhanced the fabrics.  Some areas were to be highlighted, so I used Sulky Sliver fabrics.  Other areas were more somber, so I used more muted colors.  It was very important that I had the correct balance of highlight and lowlight thread colors.

It took quite a while to complete my “story” since I used various piecework techniques, applique, and free-motion sewing.  I started with the areas where I knew what I wanted.  I then tackled the piecework sections.  Once I had the “easy” stuff out of the way, I went in and filled in the missing details until everything was complete.  Slowly, my story transformed from a concept to a reality.  The entire process was time consuming, but worth it. I am very happy with the results.

The take away:

Creative sewing is a great a way to convey a message or tell a story. Before starting a story telling project ask yourself:

1. Do I want to tell a story?
2. Will people realize that I am telling a story and not just creating another work of art?
3. Will people who see my work truly understand my message?
4. What techniques or colors can I use to emphasize my ideas?

If you develop a clear strategy, you too can enjoy a successful and fun storytelling project!