Mosaic Art with Chris Eichner

SUPPLIES
• Rotary cutting mat 12 x12 or larger; the rotary mat which spins around is very helpful when cutting
• rotary cutter- new blade is essential
• straight pins with larger head 100 or more
• tweezers
• small piece of poster board (5×7) to scrape the shredded fabrics off the mat into baggie
• small box snack bags for various color value fabrics pieces
• black or gray tulle netting included in class fee
• New 90/14 top Stitch sewing machine Needle
• smoke or clear mono-filament thread for quilting sandwich (3 layers) stitching free motion on the tulle or thread 50 or 6ht 100 % cotton thread like Mettler or Aurifil. This is used to quilt the sandwich thru all layers holding the tiny shredded pieces of fabric in place. This done after pinning the tulle netting in place.
• THREAD: to highlight trees on one side: white rayon or polyester sheen thread, dark brown or black for the darker side of tree, various threads for thread painting which complement and contrast your landscape for added embellishment either polyester or 50-60 weight cotton. Mettler or your favorite brand for machine embroidery.

HOMEWORK
• top layer of fabric cut to 16 x 20 inches, batik unreadable print or cotton unreadable print for fall
• thin batting cut to size 18x 22
• backing fabric cut to size 18 x 22
• When choosing your landscape photo please keep it very simple forest, larger trees; If you like you may use my fall scene which I acquired from copyright free photos or winter which I created.
• Fabric: Batiks are best for this technique. Assorted fabrics representing your chosen landscape. BRIGHT colors are better since they are covered with tulle netting. Muted colors or matte will disappear under the tulle. Vivid shades of green, yellow orange, red, purple and blue for sky are a few suggestions, make sure you have at least 2 to 3 color values of each fabric. Select batik fabrics since both sides can be used and sometimes give you the color value change needed for shading and highlighting. For trees choose fabric representing tree species in color or pattern.
• THREAD: various threads for thread painting which complement and contrast your landscape for added embellishment either 40 weight rayon machine embroidery, polyester or (50-60) weight cotton. Mettler or your favorite brand for machine embroidery.

IN CLASS
• Once all the shredded pieces are in place, we will pin every couple of inches on surface and all around the perimeter of quilt sandwich
• Stitch around the perimeter of the quilt removing pins as you stitch so that the pieces of fabric don’t fall out while free motion quilting
• If time allows some thread painting for embellishment; 2 values of color for trees complementing your fabric for contrast
• to highlight trees on one side: white rayon or polyester sheen thread
• dark brown or black for the darker side of tree
• Pieces which are cut with rotary blade are irregular shapes, I use 10-inch squares, and cut random pieces if you feel comfortable doing this prior to class you may do so; place each color value in snack bag
• Sewing machine be able to drop feed
• MUST-free motion or darning foot; spring loaded for free motion
• Please check your sewing machine manual for recommended free motion foot or contact your dealer and bring with you for any questions about your machine
• This technique originated with Noriko Endo confetti quilting

Questions please call Chris Eichner at 828-421-6562