Scraps to Art — The Beauty of Autumn

It’s so much fun to make something out of nothing. And that’s exactly what happened when I chose to create a wall hanging from small scraps of fabric that would normally end up in the trash.

The process is easy. If you can handle a pair of scissors and a small iron, you can master this technique.

Tips for choosing fabrics

Choose at least three values (light, medium, dark) of each of the primary colors in the guide image — Yellow/Gold, Blue/Gray, Green/Brown, Red/Orange.

Look for specific color ranges within a particular fabric. For example, you may have a fabric that is large sunflowers on a tan/brown background. You may think, “I can’t use that.” But, think again. Within the flower petals, is there a perfect shade of yellow, orange, or gold that you can cut and use? Remember, you will be working with small cuts of fabric. Does the tan/brown floral background have just the right shade to use for shadowing areas, etc?

If you can’t find something that you need, buy a small amount for a specific project. I prefer using 100% cotton, such as quality quilting cotton.

You can also start to improvise. (See sample photo above)

Let’s say I need some green foliage that has strong yellow or white highlights. And wouldn’t you know, I don’t have any foliage fabric that fits what I need. What to do? Perhaps I can put a foundation of solid green leaves, and then using yellow and white fabric that I do have, I’ll fussy cut a few leaves and then use a few snippets to highlight the existing green leaves. When finished, you would never know unless you examined the foliage area up close.

Recommended tools and supplies

Heat resistant working surface. (I use a cushioned quilter’s grid)

Tacking/Mini Iron — Regular Iron

Fusible product of your choice — I use Wonder Under Medium weight and purchase it by the yard. You can use whatever fusible web you desire. There are several good choices, so do a little research and make your selection. Some choices may be Misty Fuse, Heat n Bond, Steam a Seam 2.

Applique/Teflon sheet (You can also use the release paper backing your fusible web product. Save some larger pieces after removing it from your fused fabric)

Tweezers

Design Wall or Portable Design Board (You will need to position your project at eye level and be able to back at least three feet away from it in order to judge composition and blending.) How to make your own design wall/board

Foundation fabric cut 3" larger on all sides than the size piece you want to create. (I created a 14 x 17-inch piece in vertical format– that meant my foundation fabric needed to measure 20 x 23 inches). (I always mat and frame my fabric art so the 3 extra inches give me room to do that. It will also give room to add fabric borders if you choose.)

Chalk pencil: I use the pencil to make a rough drawing to help with placement and composition. Just a few lines are needed.

Prepare Fabric

Fuse fabrics according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Then cut the desired shapes and heat fuse them to the background fabric using the tacking iron. When the piece is complete, cover it with a pressing cloth and press with a regular iron on cotton setting. This will ensure that all areas have been bonded evenly.

Create from the heart

Art is the expression of what we see but not always an exact duplicate of it since the process also involves our feelings. Autumn is my favorite season of the year. How better could I express that feeling than through the color palette of autumn itself? Brilliant leaves and a small, imperfect pumpkin portray the calm and tranquility that we all appreciate in the Fall of the year.

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