MuseAbles Design Tips

Although every kit contains crystal-clear instructions and accompanying photos, here are some additional design tips. Some of these tips have come from fiber artists who have made MuseAbles masterpieces. If you have a design tip to share, please email us at .

SEWING TIPS

Borders

  • Always sew a border around the outer edge of your project first. Sew this border along (on top of) one of the main fibers if you project has a straight edge. If it has a fringe or looped edge, sew an inch in from the film edge across the fringe or looped fibers.
  • Some projects look good with a zigzagged border; you will see a bit more of the thread with this technique.

Interior Sewing

  • Always ensure that all interior crossways lines intersect with the outer border – this holds in all together.
  • Experienced sewers can sew a freestyle interior, as long as every 1.5 to 2 inches has some thread connecting the fibers.
  • Otherwise a simple 1.5 to 2 inch grid works best.
  • Special designs – like flowers – may need a few extra stitches to hold them in place.
  • For long rectangular projects, sewing a diagonal grid will make the thread more hidden and expose more of your fiber design. Use a marker and ruler to draw your diagonal lines on the film before you sew, so that your grid is easier to follow.

DESIGNING

Sculpted Scarves

  • This is an example of a scarf using all the film from a small kit (18x54 inches)

Long Scarves

  • Cut the small kit film in half length-wise, creating TWO -10 x 108 inch pieces of film (top and bottom) – paint with your fibers to create a long scarf.
  • In the large kit the film is 20 x 180 inches long. First cut this in half to make TWO 20 x 90 pieces, and then cut one of the pieces in half length-wise to create two pieces 10 x 90 – paint with your fibers to create a long scarf. You will have a 20 x 90 piece left over to use as you desire.

Museum Wraps

  • These projects require a large kit.
  • Cut the 5 yards of film into: 2 – 1 yard pieces, and 2 – 1.5 yard pieces. (one of each size will be the top and one of each size will be the bottom)
  • Center one of the smaller pieces next to the larger piece and pin them together, overlapping about ¾ of an inch.
  • Paint with your fibers around the film, making a rounded bottom if you desire.
  • The long part of the film will be the part that wraps around your shoulders – add a striking design to these ends for a dramatic effect in the front as you wear it.
  • Capelet Style – cut the film from your large kit into 3- 60 inch pieces (or into thirds). Cut one of these pieces lengthwise creating (2)10”x60” pieces. Lay down 1 – 20x60 inch piece and 1 – 10x60 inch piece and pin together, creating roughly a 30x60 inch piece, save the remaining film to be the matching top pieces.
    • Cut the 30x60 inch piece as shown here below and paint with your fibers to create a capelet-style wrap.

Runway Runners

  • Table runners can be made from either the small or large kit, depending on the size of your table. They can also be designed as round or rectangular.
  • Runners generally look better if they are not very bulky – more lacy/wispy – in which case you simply use fewer fibers.
  • Round pieces can be sewn in a pizza-pie pattern, though not all of your cross-piece stitches should intersect at the center – this will cause too much clumping in the center of your piece. Sew some concentric circles around the interior of the piece and then only sew in from the outer edge to one of the concentric lines, instead of going all the way through the center. Always ensure every 1.5 to 2 inches has some thread connecting the fibers.

Objet d’Art

  • The sky is the limit for making unique masterpieces to showcase as art. One could create a narrow piece to fit in that hard-to-decorate small wall space.
  • Any project can be mounted on a fabric covered board and displayed, or hung by looping the top of the project around a wooden dowel.
  • Projects can be designed as abstracts that represent a natural scene or simply as an infusion of fiber color painted in a pattern that you fancy.
  • To create a piece like “The Tiny Bowl” you simply paint the fibers around in a spiral (using several fibers at once) then sew freestyle or a pizza-pie pattern. When you dissolve the film, save the rinse water from the first rinse. After the film is completely dissolved, invert the circle piece over a cup or bowl and pour the rinse water back over it, then allow to dry in this position. The rinse water has enough stabilizer from the film to stiffen the bowl as it dries.

Fiber Fringe

  • You can decorate any room with fiber fringe. Your fringe can be any width and it can have loose fringe or loops hanging freely.
  • Cut your film to the desired fringe width, no need for film where the edge will hang freely (fringe strands or loops).
  • Paint with your fibers, and follow regular sewing and dissolving procedures.
  • To mount your fiber fringe, place double-sided mounting tape along the top edge of your wall border, then stick the top edge of your fringe to the tape.
  • Fringe can be embellished with beads; the weight of some small beads helps the fringe hang down more uniformly…if this is your desired look.

EMBELLISHING

Any and all projects can be embellished. Feel free to add bits of fabric as you are painting with your fibers, or other fibers not found in your kit.

Beads and buttons are also a wonderful addition to most projects. You will want to gauge the fragility of your piece with the weight of the beads or buttons – stronger pieces can take heavier beads or buttons.

Beads and buttons should be sewn on to your completed project, after the film has been dissolved and the piece is dry.

SWANKY PURSE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Layout your piece of material and iron down the edges ½ inch all the way around the edge.
2. Paint with your fibers all over the fabric on the side where the edges are turned in – this will be the top (right side) and the other side will be the lining. Make sure fibers cover the turned-in edge.
3. After your “painting/designing” is complete place a piece of film over the entire project, pin and sew – as per regular instructions.
4. Leaving the size “flap” you desire, fold one end onto itself (recommend about 2/3 of the way, leaving 1/3 for the flap – but for a larger purse, less flap can be left.)
5. Sew along the edges of the two sides (right sides of project must be together), reinforce at each end, and sew along the existing sewn edge line.
6. Turn project right-side out and rinse film away.
7. Attach strap of your choice - can be braided, or crocheted, or any piece of your remaining fibers.
8. Embellish with beads, included in kit.

Note: you may wish to design your Swanky Purse leaving a “fringe” on the edge of the flap, do so by simply laying fibers past the lining edge.

9. Layout your piece of material and iron down the edges ½ inch all the way around the edge.
10. Paint with your fibers all over the fabric on the side where the edges are turned in – this will be the top (right side) and the other side will be the lining. Make sure fibers cover the turned-in edge.
11. After your “painting/designing” is complete place a piece of film over the entire project, pin and sew – as per regular instructions.
12. Leaving the size “flap” you desire, fold one end onto itself (recommend about 2/3 of the way, leaving 1/3 for the flap – but for a larger purse, less flap can be left.)
13. Sew along the edges of the two sides (right sides of project must be together), reinforce at each end, and sew along the existing sewn edge line.
14. Turn project right-side out and rinse film away.
15. Attach strap of your choice - can be braided, or crocheted, or any piece of your remaining fibers.
16. Embellish with beads, included in kit.

Note: you may wish to design your Swanky Purse leaving a “fringe” on the edge of the flap, do so by simply laying fibers past the lining edge.

PAINTED PONCHO

Cut film into four - 45 inch pieces, save two of these pieces for pinning on top of other two pieces. Lay the two pieces next to each other and paint with your fibers in matching patterns, or however you choose -- realizing that these will be the right and left sides of your poncho (for both the front and the back). Pin top pieces on to make fiber sandwich. Lay the sandwiches next to each other then overlap at top and bottom, leaving a slit for your neck in the middle. Sew the overlapping parts together -- see left.


1% FOR THE PLANET Creative Home Arts Club Member Recommended