Stitched Edges

Ref 4.9.1

Ref 4.9.2

Contemplating how the lettering and drawn thread theme could influence the edges of papers I made the following five samples. The idea of loops as well as the angular placement of letter blocks in Chapter 2, shown at the bottom of this blog, where with me for this exercise. Sample 4.9.1 uses machine stitch 6 on my Bernina Activa 140 which provides a multi outlined 'v' shape done here in Sulky variegated cotton thread.  To complete the edges of paper not at the fabric edge I hand sewena variegated perle thread in feather stitch. The background fabric was a thin muslin that was used as a sieve when draining of the water from last pieces of paper pulp and some of the pulp dried onto the fabric.
For sample 4.9.2 I pinned, studded and added tied loops to the edge, this would allow layers to be added but on the left hand side pinned some wide bias binding which was slit so that it could be used as a hinge. The bottom edge had hand stitched button hole detail which could also act as a joining edge if another edge was butted against it.

Ref 4.9.4

Ref 4.9.3

My next themes bound the edges of the paper to add strength.  Sample 4.9.3 on left shows felt borders using machine stitch 7 over the paper and with pulled threads used to decorate the edge with loops or random tied threads replicating the loops and straight lines in the word 'calligraphy'.  This broke up the 'hard' straight edge but border sample 4.9.4 keeps it line when bound in hand dyed muslin and a hand stitch to emphasis lines. More random pieces of the fabric were hand stitched on the paper.

Ref 4.9.5

Ref 4.9.5a

The samples, 4.9.5 and  5a show one piece of paper that was too large for the scanner but the run of a double line of a machine stitch, stitch 14 on my machine, and used on the edges, was also placed in the middle to show that the paper could be folded into a book shape.  The rounded edge of the paper on the bottom left of 4.9.5 would probably look better  as the top right corner of a finished cover, giving a glimpse into the content or index of the book. As in sample 4.9.2 the background fabric was a 'sieved' fabric.

Details from Module 4 Chapter 2