DIY Network

Embellishing Hand-Batiked Faces The ancient art of batik gets an update with embroidered and beaded accents. From "Uncommon Threads" episode DUCT-122

Starting with a silk fabric already designed with a face (but you could use any fabric, scarf or other textile), Christine Ambrose embellishes the face with embroidery and beads.

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Materials:

Embellished Hand-Batiked Face

hand-painted silk
Hobbs' Heirloom iron-on batting
batiste or lightweight fabric
iron
ironing surface
scissors,
ruler
rayon thread
rayon and cotton embroidery floss
#10-12 gold-eye appliqué needles
glass beads
hand-dyed silk

Note: Using iron-on batting to prepare the hand-painted silk batik for quilting, beading and embroidering eliminates the need for basting or pinning. The adhesive can be reattached if needed while working on the piece and naturally detaches itself from the top surface of the quilt.
1. Cut the iron-on batting to fit the image.

2. Cut batiste or any lightweight fabric to same size as batiked silk.

3. Layer the fabrics in a sandwich of top layer (silk batik), middle layer (iron-on batting) and bottom layer (batiste).

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D

4. Using a clean, dry iron (no steam), gently press from the top; once it's attached, flip sandwich over and press the other side to attach. Flip again and press to smooth out any wrinkles which might have formed. The piece is stiff enough to work on without hoops.

5. Using a backstitch, start in the center of piece, following white lines created by batik process. Completely outline the piece with the running stitch (figure A). The blanket stitch, daisy chain or couching can also be used in the white outlines to create variety and interest on the piece (figure B).

6. Select a peach- to fuchsia-toned hand-dyed rayon floss and backstitch spiral on cheek of image (figure C). With flesh-colored floss, mirror the outline of the nose and forehead. Mimic strands of hair with brown and rust floss in brown-dyed areas.

7. Lay out variety of seed beads, thread and needles. Using backstitch and contrasting thread with transparent beads, sew down individual beads to create contrast.

8. Same-colored thread and opaque beads may be used to simply eliminate white lines or outline a shape such as the nose.

9. Starting with 7 black seed beads, establish the center of the eye, tack down the circle of beads and fill with black to create pupil (figure D).

10. Pick out color for iris and stitch these beads down individually, following the outline of the pupil until entire shape is filled.

11. Cut a piece of hand-dyed silk to outer dimension of piece.

12. Place beaded quilt face down on final backing.

13. Carefully attach with very sharp pins.

14. Using a ruler, square up corners on back of quilt marking with Sharpie or dark pencil.

Tip: This will not show through the layers of the quilt.

15. Stitch around outside edge of quilt, leaving an unstitched area large enough to turn.

16. Turn, press and blind-stitch the open gap.

GUESTS :

Christine Ambrose
Websites: www.christineambrose.com
www.materialevolution.com