Sachiyo Oishi II

Sachiyo Oishiyo's beautiful hand embellished jackets.

Sabrina Shirazi

Hand and Lock embroidery prize winner Sabrina Shirazi came to Adam Smith College to give a Master Class yesterday, and certainly gave the NC fashion students plenty to think about. We were given an information packed presentation and workshops in shape manipulation and hand embellishment.
Thank you Sabrina and thank you to all the NC's for working so hard and making this such a successful day.

Fanny Viollet

The wonderful intricate and innovative textile art of Fanny Viollet.

Louise Baldwin

Louise Baldwin's textiles use found fabrics, applique, couching, sequins, fraying and free embroidery, look at the way she uses the patterns on the fabrics and builds on them expanding the print into picture and design.

lou Trigg II

Lou Trigg has also used blackwork to create this interesting series 'Why Internet Dating Sucks' on found and upcycled textiles.

Lou Trigg I

Lou Trigg has used blackwork to create this unique textile animation The Invisible Woman.

Couching

Above and Below: examples of couching from Sophie CallaghanBelow, Bottom: My accidental couching of string, Middle: Carolyn Saxby, Top: Michelle C

Couching is a technique where you applique thread, wool, string or strips of fabric, or indeed feathers, twigs, shells or anything else you fancy . . .

Piece by Piece

Piece by Piece was founded in 2008 by Elizabeth Brunner, based on the idea that existing materials as a precious resource with untapped potential. Piece by Piece uses fabric samples as both inspiration and the fabric for her individual, one of a kind, garments.

Alison Willoughby

Alison Willoughby, uses every technique available to a textile artist/ fashion designer/crafts person. Like a fine chef she throws unusual ingredients into the mix to create garments with unique character, flavour and flare. Be inspired . . . by Alison Willoughby.

Paula Sanz Caballero

Paula Sanz Caballero is an Italian fashion illustrator and artist who uses applique (scraps of fabric) and embroidery to create her distinctive fashion illustrations. Paula likes to challenge the idea that embroidered needlework cannot transmit a sense of sophistication.

Sashiko

Below: Circular sashiko design on indigo fabric, Above: Sashiko stitches on patterned and plain fabric by fairybread.

Below: Kimono's from the Sashiko Exhibition at the Collins Gallery Glasgow 27th Feb- 10th April 2009

Sashiko is a traditional form of Japanese textiles. Sashiko textiles are made by layering fabrics and securing and decorating them using simple running stitch to build up pattern, texture, strength and weight to domestic textiles and clothing.

Traditionally sashiko was practiced by peasant workers who were only allowed , by law, to wear clothing that was indigo and they were limited to very simple stitched designs. As a result of this strict regulation on their clothing the people became very skilled at using the limited resources available to them to make clothing and quilts of incredible complexity, individuality and beauty whilst adhering to the limitation's placed on them.

The simple running stitch is called rice stitch as it resembles grains of rice, the designs created by this simple stitch become amazingly intricate and decorative.