Fibre Arts - Stitched Birds

This will provide each student with a basic materials kit used for sampling at the beginning of the course, plus other sundries as needed within the workshop.

If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact the instructor at saskia@saskiadesigns.com or www.saskiadesigns.com.

Design Equipment:

• A notebook and plain paper for notes and drawings. If you keep a sketchbook, please bring it along to work with or add to.
• Pencil, eraser, paper, scissors, glue stick, and masking tape

Optional: 

Inspirational material, such as pictures of birds, surface textures, patterns, shapes, plants, and landscapes, urban and natural, that interests you. Birds, designs, artwork, items in the form of, etc. that you find inspiring to draw and look at. The instructor will also bring along materials to share with you.

Sewing Machine Equipment and Accessories:

• Domestic sewing machine in good working order, extension cord, and the manual for reference, especially if you are not totally familiar with your machine.
• Spare machine needles, size 70, 80 and 90's
• If your machine has a sewing table attachment, bring it along; no need to purchase or make one. Contact the instructor for more clarification if needed
• Free motion foot (or darning foot, quilting foot or similar)
• Standard sewing threads, e.g. Guterman, Mettler polyester or cotton, bring a variety of plain colours. Bring variegated, metallic threads and rayon or acrylic machine embroidery threads if you have them. The instructor will have some Madeira rayon machine embroidery threads available to purchase by the bobbin, please bring extra empty bobbins in case you would like to try these.
• All common & useful sewing equipment, e.g. scissors, pins, hand sewing needles, chalk pencils, disappearing ink fabric pen if you have one, etc., that you like to use or would like to try.
• Embroidery hoop approx. 8" diameter. A good hoop is smooth and made of hard dense plywood and will cost about $10-15. The hoop should have a screw for adjustment and not be higher than approx. 1/2" so that it can slip under your machine foot! 

Fabric supplies:

• A variety of plain, natural, non-stretchy fabrics, silks, cottons, etc., will work best. However, I recommend you bring along as much fabric as you wish; the more selection the better, of fabric you have and like.
• Muslin (spare plain cotton) to back your work and to sample with.
• If you like working with or would like to bring vintage or repurposed materials to work with, please do.
• Bag of Stuffing, at least one type OR a mix of different ones to try. For example, polyfil, raw wool, raw cotton, shredded or cut-up recycled/scrap materials like quilt batting, sweaters, etc.
• There will be a variety of extra fabrics available to purchase from the instructor if needed.
• There will be some scraps and sample fabrics to share.

Other items:

• We will be sampling and testing water soluble fabrics and bonding fabric applique. There will be sample pieces in the material kit, and there will be extras available for purchase as needed.
• If you have water soluble fabric and or stabilizer and or stitch witchery (fabric bonding glue sheets), already bring that along in case you need more.
• If you have beads, buttons and trims, bring a selection along; they may be useful for extra embellishing or details.
• If you have small gauge wire, covered stem wire or similar, bring a selection along; it may be useful.
• There will be an iron and board to use in class, but feel free to bring your own if you prefer.

Mandatory Studio Safety Practices

Your health and safety is our priority. Our studio environments can have a number of objects, tools and chemicals that require personal protective equipment (PPE) or other consideration for your well-being. All persons (including faculty, staff and students) are asked to observe the following while in the shops and studios:

• Wear sturdy and appropriate shoes such as sneakers, closed leather shoes or work boots open-toed shoes, flip-flops or high heels are not allowed
• No long, dangling clothing or accessories (scarves, flowing sleeves, chains, long necklaces, etc.)
• Long hair must be tied back
• No bare skin if exposure to chemicals or tools/machinery is likely
• Appropriate PPE is mandatory when operating tools and equipment within the studios.
• Please consult with the faculty or studio technician to determine the appropriate PPE required for specific machines and studio processes.
  

Fit tests are required for courses requiring a respirator as noted on your material list. Arrangements will be made on-site. As these are mandatory safety practices, we will follow up directly with students who may have oversighted the above. Individuals may be asked to address any concerns before continuing to work in the studio. Be sure to buy appropriate, good-quality safety articles and equipment, i.e. safety boots, protective eyewear, hearing protection, work gloves, x-acto knives, etc. - ask your supplier for advice.