A Botanical Collection with Irene Manion

Irene Manion is a multidisciplinary artist living in the Lake Macquarie area of NSW.

As a practicing textile artist for over 30 years, Irene has focussed on machine embroidery techniques. Her work has been regularly exhibited in solo, group and selective exhibitions.

In recent years Irene has evolved a unique sewing technique involving increased stitch length. She also stitches on non-traditional surfaces like plastic and Perspex to convey messages about the environment.

With a teaching background in textiles and visual arts, photography and video production, Irene’s work has been published in numerous books and magazines.

www.irenemanion.com

A Botanical Collection – an  exploration of 3D machine embroidery

‘A Botanical Collection’ allows us to explore colour, pattern, transparency and texture through stitch. The workshop delves into the use of free-motion machine embroidery to create a diverse botanical collection of leaves and petals or other botanical shapes. We will work on a mix of fabrics, including transparent and water-soluble, to craft perforated, transparent and variegated foliage for our collection.

Students will work through increasingly advanced techniques of free-motion embroidery, including the following exercises:

• Introduction to traditional free-motion machine drawing
• Work on transparent fabric for the creation of patterns
• The correct way to work on dissolvable fabric
• Stitching across a hole in fabric to create lace
• Couching to create goldwork patterns
• Finishing edges using satin stitch
• Couching with wire to create a bendable form
• Making stitched textured and patterned cords that can be free standing stems and tendrils
• Advanced: embedding thick monofilament as a skeletal spiral into transparent fabric and then free motion stitching around the spiral

Inspiration from Irene

Please note:

• The workshop fee includes the following materials provided by the tutor:

• • • Detailed course notes for this workshop
    • Solvy – dissolvable fabric
    • Additional organza and polyester fabric as needed
    • Tuille for mounting design
    • Wire for various leaves
    • A selection of leaf stencils that can be used as a foundation for stitched leaf designs
    • Fabric texta colours
    • Thick monofilament (if needed)

•  A full list of requirements will be emailed to participants prior to the workshop

• Workshop bookings are subject to our refund policy

How to find the Colour Circle Studio

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