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This image was scanned from the Dianna May Martin personal library collection

TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Dedication
  • Acknowledgments
  • Preface: How It All Began
  • Introduction: What Is It All About?
  • Chapter 1: Your Sewing Machine as a Drawing Tool
    • The Darning Foot
    • Adjusting Your Machine
    • The Basic Action
    • Materials and Tools: What to Collect
    • How to Hold the Fabric
  • Chapter 2: Where to Start
    • A Checklist of Steps
    • Doodle Time
  • Chapter 3: Adding Color and Texture
    • The Process
    • Designing With Circles
    • Bloops and Grumples
    • Other Ways to Change Shape and Texture
  • Chapter 4: Materials and Methods
    • Attaching and Stabilizing Fabrics
    • Base Fabrics
    • Applique Fabrics
    • About Thread
  • Chapter 5: What is Possible
    • Not Just for Pictures
    • Choose Materials and Methods to Suit the Use
    • Quilting
    • Enhancing Fabrics
    • Cut Out and Rebuild
    • Lace
    • Layering Sheer Fabrics
  • Chapter 6: Designing Free
    • Inspiration
    • The Design Approach
    • Look and See
    • Research and Filing
    • Evaluation
    • Design
    • Fabric- The Art "Material"
  • Chapter 7: All That Fabric
    • The Fabric Stash
    • Fabric Storage
    • The Movable Studio
  • Chapter 8: Making a Soft Picture, the Process Step by Step
    • Design
    • Choose Fabric
    • Cut Out Pieces
    • Assemble
    • Sew Down
    • Detail
    • Finish
    • Enjoy!
  • Chapter 9: Three Patterns to Try
    • Our Feathered Friend
    • Flite of the Flowers
    • Catch a Falling Star
  • Chapter 10: A Method for Hanging Soft Pictures
  • Glossary of Terms
  • For Further Reading
  • About the Author

Title: Stitching Free: Easy Machine Pictures
Author/Designer: Shirley Nilsson
Format/Publication Date: TPB:1993
Publisher: C&T Publishing, Lafayette, CA
Language: English
Page Count: 80, plus a folded pull-out sheet of patterns
Book Dimensions(ht. x w.): 11" x 8 1/2"
ISBN: 091488168X

SUMMARY- I really like Mrs. Nilsson's series of articles in "Creative Quilting" magazine - I considered her articles one of the highlights, so when I happened to run across a book she'd also written on the subject, I snagged it immediately. I saw the Table of Contents and groaned - I looked for ways I could cut corners, but no joy there. Her breakdown of the chapters was relevant to deciding if you want to pursue a copy of this book yourself, so I had to type the whole thing in. She did all her pictures with a Singer Featherweight in darning mode. Featherweights did not have a zigzag stitch, but they were extremely reliable machines. Her lessons are engaging - I would have dearly loved to meet Mrs. Nilsson - and her gallery to show you what is possible is amazing. If you find a copy of this book, count yourself lucky and run to the register.

Anyone with more information about this publication can contact me through My Contact Page.