Easy Fabric Portraits

This tutorial follows on from the Manipulating Photographs Tutorial.

One of the most important issues to consider when creating portraits is that the features are in their correct place, orientation and size (especially the eyes) - a slight miscalculation or miss placed piece can made a face look odd. With this technique there is no second guessing where the individual elements go.

1. Layer the background fabric (white), the top fabric (red) and your printed image. Secure the layers with a pin. The paper will act as a stabilizer so you should not get any puckering or shifting. (Please note that if you are using a printed fabric - which has a wrong and right side -  all the fabrics are layered right side up.)

(click on the images for a larger detailed view)

2. Set up your sewing machine for free-motion sewing: thread matching the top fabric, feed-dogs down; attach a darning, free-motion embroidery or quilting foot; and make sure your tension is correct and the thread does not pull to the front or back of the work.
When free-motion stitching, you will be in control of the stitch length. Stitch around all the black areas using a very, very short stitch. Like foundation paper piecing, the short stitch length will ensure that the paper tears away easily.
You can be selective of which elements are included or excluded. Some white areas are very small and difficult to cut through, e.g. eye highlights and teeth. But even if you stitch these elements you can choose not to cut them out.

3. Remove all the paper before you trim the thread tails, this avoids pulled stitches - especially on the edges.

4. Using small, sharp scissors, cut away the excess fabric (white areas of the photo) close to the stitch line. I did not cut away the white fabric behind the top fabric - but that is up to you.

Now you can trim your block to size. If you want a more finished edge you can zig-zag or satin stitch around all the elements - but remember you will need to use a stabilizer on the back of the block this time as you have removed the paper which previously acted as a stabilizer

This technique produces very quick and easy fabric portraits. You do not need to be so exact with your sewing either - as long as you stitch around the elements as they appear on the paper it will come out really well. You will notice the elements I chose to exclude by comparing printed image to the finished block.

I hope you give it a try.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.

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(Kindly note that the images and text in this post are copyright protected)