An intriguing thread: Kreinik's fusible fibers
We
take at least one sample of each Kreinik fiber to every show so that
visitors can see all the creative options available in thread. The
threads guaranteed to catch attention, no matter what the focus of the
market, are Kreinik Iron-on Ribbon and Iron-on Braid. Embroiderers can't
believe you don't need a needle, paper crafters are fascinated that
it's so much easier than glitter, and quilters are surprised that it
actually stays in place. Demonstrations and project models show people
how easy, fun, and useful the threads are, then they pick up some spools
to go home and play.
Quilter/mixed-media
artist Catherine Hill was one such person inspired to experiment with
Kreinik Iron-on Thread at a a craft and hobby show in England. She took
home some of the fusible fibers and later shared her results. You will
likely find Catherine's story to be similar to your own: crafting most
all her life, always has a project in hand, loves to be challenged by
new materials. Here's our interview with quilter Catherine, sharing her
thoughts on the iron-on threads, making things, and the influence of
handmade gifts.
10 questions with UK quilter Catherine Hill
Q: What type of crafting or stitching do you like?
A:
I have been involved with patchwork and quilting for over 20 years
(including ten years working & teaching in a patchwork and quilting
shop), but I classify myself as a dabbler of many crafts – felting, hand
and machine embroidery, braiding, darning, mixed-media. I love
stitching into paper, and I am currently learning dressmaking.
Unfortunately I am easily distracted and find myself indulging in as
many textile crafts as time will allow.
Q: How long have you been making things?
A:
I come from a long line of crafts people and my childhood was full of
textile and ‘make-do-and-mend’ influences. I started sewing as a young
child (hand sewing and tapestry) and developed my own direction in later
life starting with soft furnishings for the home and a quilt for my
first child. From there I developed my machine skills and took classes
to feed my interest in all things textile and sewing…I never tire of
learning.
Q: Has your creative life been influenced by a family member, teacher, or friend?
A:
Throughout my childhood my mother told stories about her childhood
through World War II and the rationing afterwards. She explained how
resources and materials were extremely short – yet every year she and
each of her siblings (she was one of 7 children) received a handmade
gift made by her Auntie Mary. The gifts included numerous dolls (she
particularly remembers a topsy-turvey rag doll), a dolls house &
fort (made from painted cardboard and wood) and knitted garments. The
notion that my Great Auntie could turn her hand to anything and make
something from nothing always fascinated me. I like the idea of
recycling or ‘upcycling’ and that the materials used have had a previous
life or a story to tell (ie, worn out patches, darned fabric). My
family was heavily involved in the Lancashire cotton mills, so I think
that textiles must be in my blood.
Q: What influences your design ideas?
A:
Part of my work revolves around photos of my children and the summer
holidays we all shared on the beaches in Brittany, France or Portland,
England – bright colours and free motion embroidery. There is another
side of me that is heavily influenced by family stories of Lancashire,
rural dialect and the expanse of green misty Moors. I have always been
interested in Lancashire textiles and the heritage of the Cotton
industry, but recently I inherited bags and bags of textiles, linens and
haberdashery from an old gentleman who’s family had worked in
Lancashire for generations – he was called Arnold and I inherited the
textiles from his Attic (this was the starting point of my website and
blog 'Arnold’s Attic’). The textiles and garments in the bags date back
to before 1900. Some garments are hand stitched from simple yet
effective designs, and there is one bundle of fabric, wrapped in brown
paper and string labelled ‘For a quilt’. Every stitch, darn and mended
garment tells a story of its construction and working life.
Q: Which Kreinik threads have you used, and how have you used them?
A:
I was so happy to meet Dena [Kreinik's Creative Director] at a
tradeshow in England. I was drawn to the iron-on threads; took them
home, very excited, and made a Stained Glass Window Mini-Quilt from
linen, a Celtic knot bookmark on silk and a decorated wooden love heart.
The threads/braids, were so easy to use. I have made stained glass
quilts many times using iron-on or even hand stitched bias, but the
fusible thread from Kreinik is the fastest, easiest and most effective
method I have used and it is so fine…. fusible bias tape is rarely
available this narrow.
Q: How do you see decorative threads enhancing projects (patchwork, mixed media, felting, cording, etc)?
A:
I like the idea of creating fine cords and couching them down,
incorporating silk or metallic threads into wet/nuno felting or needle
felting a surface and machine embroidering on top, free-motion machine
quilting or layering mixed media materials and machine/hand stitching
into them. The beauty of Kreinik threads is that whichever thread is
used – metallic or silk or even wider braids – it will create a
different feel and finish to the piece making it unique.
Q: Where do you find or buy your materials?
A:
Whilst working in the Patchwork and Quilting shop, all I ever used were
modern prints – Moda, Alexandra Henry, Lecien – but since leaving to
study for a teaching qualification, I have turned into a bit of a
charity (thrift) store queen. All my modern fabrics have been moved into
the attic, and I now only ever use recycled and reclaimed fabrics….They
tend to be softer to hand embroider. My only weakness for modern fabric
is Liberty prints which of course I have to buy from Liberty of London
(which is a very good excuse for a day out in Oxford Street and Soho,
London!). Threads I buy at festivals or from shops (I like to see the
lustre and feel the texture of the threads).
Q: What technique are you really excited about right now?
A: I
recently made a nuno felted scarf and am busy sorting my Blue-Face
Leicester and Wensleydale fleece rovings and silk caps to make another,
meanwhile I am part-way through a machine-embroidered picture using
recycled fabric….And I am altering a vintage French shirt ready to over
dye and hand stitch into….Oh and of course there is my rust dyed fabric
(very satisfying) that is waiting to be embroidered.
Q: Do you have a blog, website, Flickr, Pinterest etc that you want to share?
A: I am on Facebook, Blogger, Tumbler, Twitter and of course the very addictive Pinterest. https://www.facebook.com/
Q: Do you have any unusual talents, or strange or interesting jobs, you can share with us?
A:
I am a Mathematics Tutor by day and stitcher by night. I love the
beauty of number and pattern which often works its way into my work. I
was also a founding partner of the British based, Quilts4London London
2012 Olympic & Paralympic Inspire Project which inspired 17,000
pennants to be made using all forms of textile medium (embroidery,
tatting, lace, patchwork, crochet, felting, plus many, many more),
which were given as gifts to each of the athletes of the Olympic &
Paralympic 2012 Games, and to the athletes of the Special Olympics in
2013. Lots of hard work for 4 years, but worth it… pennants were made by
all ages, all abilities and all textile forms. They arrived from all
over the globe. My favourite was the email from a lady in a town called
East London in South Africa who was very excited to be making a gift in
East London, South Africa for an athlete who would receive it in East
London, England.
