Readers, I need your help/comments/suggestions today... I need to make some flowers to go on a quilt- and I want them to be "3D" - i.e. raised off the surface, not flat and stitched down. Although this flower is not exactly what I need, it has been formed the same way- I need my petals to curl up like you see here. I received this "rose" (I think it's a rose??) at a conference a while back, I believe... two fabrics (tightly woven batik) have been fused together, right sides out, petals cut and then the petals have been shaped - curled - whatever. This is exactly what I want to do. I think there is a product on the market for this, but no one I have asked knows the name of it. I'm going to try Steam a Seam, but I don't think it will give enough "curl", and I need it to stay permanently in that shape.... Anyone got any suggestions - or better still, tried and true results? Anyone know the name of this product that I think exists?? Or is it just in my mind????
Friday, March 11, 2011
I Need Your Help....
Readers, I need your help/comments/suggestions today... I need to make some flowers to go on a quilt- and I want them to be "3D" - i.e. raised off the surface, not flat and stitched down. Although this flower is not exactly what I need, it has been formed the same way- I need my petals to curl up like you see here. I received this "rose" (I think it's a rose??) at a conference a while back, I believe... two fabrics (tightly woven batik) have been fused together, right sides out, petals cut and then the petals have been shaped - curled - whatever. This is exactly what I want to do. I think there is a product on the market for this, but no one I have asked knows the name of it. I'm going to try Steam a Seam, but I don't think it will give enough "curl", and I need it to stay permanently in that shape.... Anyone got any suggestions - or better still, tried and true results? Anyone know the name of this product that I think exists?? Or is it just in my mind????
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7 comments:
Linda would a very stiff laundry starch do the job? There is a product called petal porcelain that you might want to experiment with too. It turns silk flowers very stiff with a porcelain look. I have a bottle of it but have yet to use it.
Your flower was probably made using Heat & Bond (Heavy). Bond two pieces of fabric, wrong side together, let cool. Cut the shapes that you want, i.e. petals and leaves. Reheat with your iron and form the shapes before the glue is reset - use a wooden dowel or knitting needle to curl the edges, make folds, etc. Once they are set they should hold their shape permanently. Have fun!!
The Heat & Bond sounds like it should work. You might also want to try a bottle of "Stiffy." It's kind of like watered-down glue. You put it on the fabric, shape it, and let it dry. I bought it in my lqs. Good luck!
I think I saw Stiffy one time at Town & Country Quilts in Quispamsis?? (are they still around?!) You can make your own stiffener by diluting white glue - Aileen's or Elmer's. You'll have to play a bit to see how much to thin it, but it will dry almost clear.
There is a product available that might work. I used it for stiffening snow flakes for my Xmas tree. They were made from crochet thread and it really worked well. However my snowflakes are white! so I dont know how well it would work on coloured fabrics. It is a liquid starch I bought from Michaels. I think someone there would be able to help you.
I have done what karen said with fabric, and made flowers... with fabric. I just put mine over a bowl till it dried. I only do 3D quilts now.. but my flowers are different, if you like them, in my gallery, i can email and explain how I do it.
Thanks for all your suggestions. I got some heavy duty Heat'n'Bond this evening so am going to follow Sandi's suggestion and try that first. I'll let you know how successful I am...
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