Painted Silk Abaca lilies – 1/2 day – Thursday 3rd March – 9.30am – 1pm (uk time)

The course will involve:

• Following the pattern provided to cut the abaca to leverage the grain of the fabric
• Learning how to paint the petals to give a natural effect
• Creating delicate thread stamens
• Understanding and practising forming the flowers and subsequently creating a vine

Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced Required  – Any level

Student Supplies (Minus sewing kit):

• .5 m silk Abaca in natural colour
• PVA stiffener
• 2 – 3 Small pots of different coloured acid dyes.  A good one is  Easifix ALLinONE Acid dye crystals – available here.  coloucraft-ltd.com No added fixatives needed, or Jacquard Acid dyes work well (you may need some malt vinegar to ensure the dye is fixed)
• 3 – 5 Small paintbrushes. Small flat artists brushes are good or small household paintbrushes will do
• 3 – 5 glass jars to hold water and liquids
• Old newspapers (this is a necessity as other paper is not as good)
• Paper covered wire 22 / 26 gauge, this can be florist or cake making wire
• Glue (this can be a Uhu or fabric glue)
• 2 Threads, similar colours to your choice of dyes
• Pattern template (supplied by us)

Prep work

• Stiffen abaca with pva diluted 1:3, paint it onto the abaca on both sides and then wipe off any excess with a paper towel making sure it is all covered. Then either hang up to dry or dry with a hair dryer.  Follow by ironing it flat again, the shine of the fabric will come back.

Required Classroom Amenities (sink, sewing machine, etc):

• Scissors
• Measuring tape
• Hairdryer
• Water spray

Course outcomes:

You will leave with:

• Knowledge of painting on silk abaca
• Practice at how to mix dyes to make colours and shades
• An understanding of how to create flowers from silk abaca
• The ability to vine flowers and leaves together
• The know how to create fine and delicate stamens

To see more photos of our students work on this course, please link to the following facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/pg/jrmillineryschool/photos/?tab=album&album_id=410445582974921