A dash of bohemian

Hi I am back after a long absence it has been a extraordinarily busy year and it continues :-) .

I noticed this year a return to boho style, a little hippie, a little free life maybe thats what we all crave for. I have been playing in my work room with this idea to create some jewellery for the free spirit that lives within all us all. The necklaces have been made from bits and pieces in my workroom and held together by free motion embroidery and hand stitch. I am sharing this technique with you and hope you take the idea and make some that suit your personality, your colours and that for a brief moment you can remember where that free spirit disappeared to. They could also be used as small hangings to bring life and a sense of joy to any space.

Materials

Trinkets e.g. hand dyed linen buttons, old jewellery, found objects, other bibs and bobs.

http://www.thethreadstudio.com/catalogue/embellish/paintersbuttons/linenbuttons.htm

Fusible web

Fabrics of choice

Yarns of choice

extra interesting fabrics such as velvet and gauze or organza

ribbons chorde etc of choice

Closed toe free motion foot

Iron on stiffening

Small amount of batting

Glue

Sea coloured bohemian necklace

Step 1

Choose your fabric and cut a piece approx. 8cm x 10c. Lay a piece of fusible web on the top of the fabric. The fusible web must be peeled form its backing paper before you lay it on your fabric.

On top of the fusible web lay some interesting fabrics that tone in but are of different textures and weights. I have used velvet and silk mesh.

Then I add some silk ribbon

And fuse by using a hot iron with baking paper underneath and on the top to protect your iron and fabric.

Step 2

This is optional I stencilled over the surface of the fabric with gold fabric paint.You might choose to dab paint or other surface treatment.

Step 3

Back your fabric with a piece of batting and free motion stitch any design you wish I have used a matching thread and some black to pick up details. Remember to keep it free flowing an organic.

Step 4

stitch some yarn/ ribbon to enhance the surface of the fabric adding a dimension

I have laid out bits and pieces from my sewing room, pieces of cheap jewellery, beautiful hand dyed buttons,drfitwood thinking about how and where to use them. I am sure you can find lots of treasures.

The plastic rings in the picture above I have stitched around in coloured threads

Step 4

Hand stitch on your trinkets and you may consider to carry the hand stitch across the surface of the fabric. Then cut a backing piece and iron the stiffening on to your backing fabric .

When you have prepared the fabric attach it to your top piece using a decorative stitch such a blanket or zig zag to seal your edges.

Step 5

I have attached a small piece of driftwood with hand stitching and tied and glued the chord to the drift wood.

Use interesting yarns of different lengths some trinkets to complete the bohemian necklace. Consider the hanging length they should hang a little longer than most necklaces because of their size and they look fabulous worn with plain coloured garment.

Close ups

The orange bohemian necklace

Step 1

Choose your base fabric thinking about the colours you love cut to approx. 8cm x 10cm.

Place a layer of peeled fusible web over your base fabric

Lay some chords or yarns etc following the pattern of your fabric.

Sandwich between 2 pieces of baking paper and fuse with a hot iron.

After the first layer of yarn I have added another layer on top and some fine silk fibre.

Below is how it looks when it is all fused