Texture & Colour & Inspiration Tuesday

Have you ever played with texture on a quilt?

You know me, I often like to experiment with texture and embellishments in my quilt projects. Quilting is for me where “art meets sewing”. Two itches, one colossal scratching!

So when Island Batik announced that December was 3D month for the 2019 Ambassadors, I was in both ecstasy and agony. Right up my alley…. but, oh! Which alley to choose!?!? Thing is, I just about need a street directory for all my alleys. I didn’t even have to make up any new projects for this challenge, and I still had three to choose from.

So, I’ve done the responsible thing, and decided to progress them all……. 3x 3D! Did I mention, I quite like texture? 😀

Texture, how do I love thee?

I think Elizabeth Barrett Browning was my soul mate…..

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861)

Clearly, in her poem, Elizabeth was extolling the virtues of textured sewing. More specifically, expounding on why quilts and stuffed bedfellows are so great. All that romantic guff that her hubby and scholars through the ages have read into this poem – it’s just not there! Let’s do our literature analysis, and I know you will agree.

• “Depth and Breadth and Height”…. 3D!
• What can you feel when it’s out of sight…. texture in the dark, of course.
• “Ends of Being”…. a clear reference to waking and falling asleep.
• So, what fills that “most quiet need” everyone has in a day nap (by sun) or at bedtime (by candlelight)? The universal answer is – a quilt or toy to snuggle with.
• Furthermore: “ideal Grace”…. that rare state of being when all the chores are done and everyone leaves you alone for an afternoon of sewing. Without the threat of forgetting the school run. Pretty rare and definitely something to love.
• And then, if all that is not enough, she even throws in a line about how quilts are for using. Can’t stand it when you put my blood, sweat and tears in the cupboard, people!

I love thee with the passion put to use

Elizabeth Barrett Browning had to have been a fervent quilter and if she’d had the internet, she would have blogged about it too. Not a hopeless romantic. Case closed. hahaha

Let me count the ways.

3D in fabric can express itself in many ways….. but let’s count to three.

One: 3D to hold

A three dimensional fabric object…. a toy, a bag, a purse, a wallet…. the list is almost endless. I think you know what is coming to this space soon on Clever Chameleon…. Yes, another dose of 3D penguin palaver. My penguin boys are chillin’ out after their photoshoot and I just need to finish writing their feature. By the end of this week, hopefully.

Two: 3D to see

A pictorial representation of something 3D…. hmmm, like say, balloon animals. My twin-size “Love with a Twist”…… (which was also probably the original title of Elizabeth Browning’s famous sonnet, by the way) is my entry into this 3D category.

I have been broadcasting this project all year…. it would be fitting and expedient to get it finished for this challenge so it doesn’t go all UFO on me. It’s at the quilting stage, but it’s quite a big project and yesterday it didn’t go entirely to plan, so let’s see. I was willing to accept *some flaws* in this project as an original demo of my pattern, but I’ve passed that threshold and then some. Once I’ve stopped being frustrated and cranky we’ll see about some unpicking and some more pins/basting spray. Let’s make this project for bonus points if it gets done in time. So far, if you don’t count the bit I can’t live with, the quilting is about one third done.

Three: 3D to touch

Touchable texture…. quilts can have surface texture – like couching. Or texture built right into their bones, with techniques such as smocking, fabric folding, trapunto or gathering. I’ve tried most of these in the past (not the smocking, yet). In fact, my Love with a Twist quilts are all textured. Each balloon animal has been given the trapunto treatment (whereby appliquéd areas are raised by extra batting layers).

But still I want more textures! Specifically, I’ve been wanting to try Texture Magic (by Superior Threads) or the equivalent product (Pellon Magic Fabric, 30″ by 1 yd (Amazon affiliate link)) for several years now. It’s always good to have an excuse to buy something new and actually try it.

Disclaimers: This post contains affiliate links to products for your convenience. Using affiliate links does not change the price of your purchase if you choose to make one, but may result in a small commission being paid to Clever Chameleon for the referral. These payments help offset the costs of running this website, thank you. Also, The fabrics featured in this post were given to me by Island Batik for use as part of the Island Batik Ambassador program.

Do you know Texture Magic? It’s a thin 100% polyester fabric that shrinks significantly when treated with steam. The stated shrinkage is 30%, but in real life it’s a bit variable.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

I thought it would be fun to add some texture to a bird quilt I needed to make this month….. It’s got a big scarlet macaw on it, and scarlet macaws have really gnarly faces…. awwww, in a good way. Naturally, I wondered if I could replicate that somehow. As you do.

So, instead of appliqueing a large flat white fabric piece as my bird’s face, I made a wrinkly piece.

I traced the shape and some stitching lines onto Texture Magic. I made it oversized to allow for the stated shrinkage.

Then I sewed the Texture Magic onto a piece of white Island Batik cotton fabric given to me by Island Batik. I used the pencil lines as a rough sewing guide. I did this step without too much care, as the shrinkage step is not very precise anyway.

Then I steam-treated the back of the sewing to install the wrinkles. And it worked! Happy dance!

Because I was after a very specific size and shaped piece, I had to have several attempts at this to get a good fit. But third time lucky I achieved a result I was happy with.

To make my textured fabric into a usable appliqué piece, I stay stitched around the edge. The I added fusible adhesive, also only around the edge.

This is my piece after I cut out my desired shape. Magic! I also cut out an eyehole to allow this area to sit flat.

Here’s a peek at my scarlet macaw with his wrinkly face!

This project is a modified duplicate of one I made for the 2019 Summer Island Batik catalogue using the Tropical Escape fabric collection. The original pattern is actually a blue and gold macaw with an embroidered face. The original blue and gold macaw is available as a printed pattern for your local quilt store to stock. A downloadable pdf version will also be available soon. We’ll have another big party when I get that far, and you can all be my VIPs!

My soul can reach ….. via the internet

Denise of For the Love of Geese reached out and linked up her 3D Island Batik project for December. At first glance, it’s not entirely obvious how this quilt fits the theme…. but take a second look and you will be impressed. All of those flying geese units are “one seam 3D flying geese”. And Denise has written you a lovely, clear tutorial on how to create your own units to add to any project you wish.

I shall certainly be tucking this idea way for a rainy day.

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Lynn B has also been sewing 3D…. cute presents for her guild friends.

And Chris of ChrisKnitsSews knitted Waddles the penguin hat for her grand-niece. Actually, Chris linked up one of her fun Christmas pillow distractions from her weekly to-do list, but when I hopped over to take a look, I was greeted by Waddles, fell in love and had to show you. Think yourselves lucky I didn’t break into a full-blown sonnet for her newly finished bonnet!

Penguins and 3D… right on target for Clever Chameleon this month! Click on over to see Chris’ sewing as well.

When feeling out of sight…. link up

Don’t stay out of sight! Elizabeth pointed the way….. let’s share our quilting passions.

Tell us – what are you working on, or have recently finished in your sewing room? We want to know so we can visit and be inspired. Link up a blog post, an IG post or simply a photo from your computer.  See if you can get the Chameleon to turn quilted with happiness. We’d love to see your quilting colours!

• Link up your latest or recent quilt/sewing excitement. All quilt construction stages welcome – finished quilts, quilt blocks – even fabric pulls! Or inspiration sources!
• You have 50 characters in the link description…. tell us who you are and what your fantastic project is.
• URL links are not necessary to link up…. non-bloggers 100% welcome! If you don’t have a URL, you can link up with just a photo.
• Take a moment to visit some friends who came to the party – leave a little love and make their day. And a link back to Clever Chameleon is always appreciated.
• Do it now……. before you forget!

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The Chameleon turns rainbow with pleasure when he hears from you. I am more reserved, so I will respond in gratitude by email instead. Now that it’s your turn…. Scroll right to the end, leave me a comment and tell me, what do you think? Thanks for connecting!

Would you like to keep in touch with Clever Chameleon and the fun quilty ideas I design as well as find all over the internet? You can follow directly for email updates, or through Bloglovin’, Pinterest, IG or FB. All your follow options can be found here. Don’t forget to link up all your current quilting projects on Tuesdays at our Colour & Inspiration Linky parties!