This month’s Swatch of the Month explores a new way to showcase embroidery techniques through an application we call ‘Transitional Embroidery.’ Our three new kits—The Cropped Car Jacket, The Slim Scarf Kit, and The Scarf Kit—inspired us to experiment with this application.
Transitional Embroidery is a combination of embroidery techniques applied to a fabric. As we stitch across the fabric, the techniques transition from one to the next revealing a new textile design.
Swatch of the Month Inspiration featuring: Fabric Swatch in Anna’s Garden Sand using a variation of June’s Transitional Embroidery technique; Beads and Sequins; Fabric Swatch in Anna’s Garden Forest using Negative Reverse Appliqué; The Maggie Dress Pattern in Anna’s Garden Navy; The Cropped Car Jacket Kit; Left: “Untitled c. 1954”; right: “Untitled c. 1955” by Agnes Martin from Agnes Martin by Frances Morris and Tiffany Bell.
We’ve experimented before with 3D applications like Natalie’s Dream on page 134 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. Certain stencil designs lend themselves to placing or assigning specific embroidery techniques with a designated stenciled area or shape. With Transitional Embroidery, we can apply it to any all-over stencil design and choose, based on our measurements and design choices, where to make our changes (or transition) in the technique. The flowing pattern of Anna’s Garden makes it an easy-to-transition stencil choice.
Swatch of the Month inspiration featuring: Journeys in Natural Dyeing by Kristine Vejar and Adrienne Rodriguez; The Slim Scarf Kit; Studio Bundle #2; The Scarf Kit; Embroidery Floss; Fabric Swatch in Anna’s Garden Forest in Quilting.
Transitional Embroidery allows us to see a transformation of the fabric, the progress of our work, and gives us endless opportunities to explore stitches and embroidery techniques. We share below a listing of embroidery techniques we chose for our new kits, but invite you to experiment with your own combinations.
Subscribe to Swatch of the Month for our year-long exploration in embroidery.
Find our new DIY Kits—The Car Jacket, The Slim Scarf Kit, and The Scarf Kit—among recent designs and favorites in our collection.
DIY Kit Transitional Embroidery Techniques
The Cropped Car Jacket Kit: Negative Reverse Appliqué, Reverse Appliqué, Outside Reverse Appliqué with knots on the outside
The Slim Scarf Kit: Outside Reverse Appliqué, Reverse Appliqué, Negative Reverse Appliqué with knots on the outside
The Scarf Kit: Outside Reverse Appliqué, Reverse Appliqué, Negative Reverse Appliqué with knots on the outside
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