photo to fabric: a tutorial

 

 

This weekend, I started playing with an idea that I've had for a few weeks.

My goal was to use the photo below that I adore (the print is available here!), and recreate it with fabric.

 

 

So I grabbed my saral paper pack, a square of white kona fabric, the photo, a pencil,

 

 

 

and my yellow and blue scraps.

 

 

 

Next, I layered my white fabric square wrong side up, the saral paper right side down, and the photocopy of the image right side up. Then, with a pencil, I traced around the main parts of the photo that I wanted to recreate.

 

This is the tracing I started with:

 

 

 

Next, using a scrap of fabric, I layered it on right side of the white kona square (you can kind of see the yellow scrap through the white fabric in this photo),

 

 

making sure it filled the area of the tracing I wanted to cover.

 

Next, using a free motion quilting foot, I sewed the area I was filling with fabric, a generous 1/8" within the traced lines.

 

Then, I flipped the white square over to the right side and trimmed around the scrap of fabric within a little over 1/8" from the stitching.

 

 

 

I continued sewing fabric pieces to the right side of the white fabric until all the areas were filled and this is what I ended up with!

 

 

I really loved using the saral paper for this technique, the trace lines were tenacious enough to stay on the fabric through many manipulations, but came off with ease with a brush when I was done.

 

For those of you who would like to try this technique, get yourself some saral paper (it is sold as "Sally's" in some stores) and go for it! It was really fun. I'm thinking of using this technique to make some framed artwork as gifts.

 

Here are a couple tips.

• start sewing the sections that are farther away in the photo first. This will make your image look more natural since the closer details will overlap them.
• use a pair of curved applique scissors (I have never bought from the store I linked to, I just wanted to show you a photo of what they look like) to trim the fabric scraps.

 

Happy Monday to you!

~Penny

Comments

[Tabatha from Bending Pins]

Adorable, I love it! The original umbrella photo reminds me of Kona solids. I love an original idea!

[Lucy]

Wow that is so beautiful! Oh it makes me want a holiday!! Beautiful

[LeeAnn]

I would have never thought to do this, but excellent idea! I can imagine a whole quilt of hot air balloons done this way.

[Arlene]

Awesome, Penny! Well done.

[Suzanne]

Wow! So cool. I tried to click the picture to get a closer view to see if the edges are raw. Are they? It's not reverse applique where you cut the white out, right?

By the way, the umbrella makes me thirsty. It's the kind of pretty ones in fancy drinks.

[dawn]

Thanks for the tutorial Penny. I may just give this technique a try!

[Allison]

How very excellent and original and I do believe I already have from of the saral stashed... somewhere...

[Dee]

Way past cool!

[Lynne]

Oh wow, this looks like FUN! Thanks so much for sharing, I can't wait to try this :)

[Tara]

Oh my gosh, did you use the wrong side of your fabrics for the "inside" of the umbrella? Stroke of genius! I got nervous when you said photo in your post title as I just don't picture you printing a photo to fabric, but you blew that idea out of the water! Amazing, and we've come to expect nothing less!!

[lauree myler]

just when i think i cant crush anymore you go and make something so amazingly awesome like this. thanks for sharing penny. this method will prove so HELPFUL with the cocorico bee block i am working on.

[Thimbleanna]

Very fun Penny - that little umbrella is super cute. You're SO clever!

[krista]

Ack! I love this idea. I've got some very complicated blocks to do soon, and this just might be a technique I use.

[elsa]

Amazing! I've been thinking of something like this for a while and couldn't think how to do it. Thanks so very much for the tutorial. You always come up with the most clever ideas.

[Jean]

How fun... Kinda like paper peicing, but with a twist... thanks for sharing!

[anna]

so so cute penny. love!

[Marian Griffin]

This is so awesome!!! Thanks for sharing. i love it.

[Nova]

too clever miss Penny! thanks for sharing!

[Lynne]

Looks great!

[Penny]

Suzanne, yes, they are raw edges. No, not reverse applique.
Tara, I had that brilliant idea at the last minute, to use the back side of the fabrics. I really like how it turned out!!

[nanette]

Very smart. I expect no less from you.

[eunny]

What a cool technique! And I love that you used the wrong side of the fabrics to create depth.

Awesome! I expected no less from you :) I SO wish I could take your paper piecing retreat for more pictorial goodness.

[Dayna]

Very clever, Penny! Thanks for sharing!

[Claudia]

Thank you soooooooo much! I have been looking for something like this tracing paper. However didn't know what it was called and now - thanks to you - I have found it. Even here in Germany! I'm completely happy because now it will be much easier to trace the designs. Thanks a million!

[caity]

wow its just so lovely!

[Tammy]

This is a brilliant idea, thanks so much for sharing! I haven't sewn in a while, but have been itching to do a little project, this might be part of it now. Thanks again for being inspiring!

[Briana]

Love it! Thanks for sharing your process.

[Terri Harlan]

you are crazy talented!!

[Lisa]

This is so cute. Thanks for the great tutorial

[quirkygranolagirl]

i adore the detail of some fabrics turned upside down. Penny, you are brilliant!

[Framed art]

Thank you for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your efforts and I am
waiting for your further write ups thank you once again.