Throughout June and July, I dedicated my time to creative textile experimentation, focusing on fabric painting and dyeing, as well as free-motion embroidery.
My goal wasn’t to create anything in particular, but rather to learn and become familiar with the skills I’ll need to create textile art for future projects.
This journey led me through plenty of trial and error, and it produced some interesting results.
I like to end on a high note—so let’s begin with the lowlights.
The Lowlights
I need sewing lessons
After attempting to follow an online course on how to draft a pattern for a top—and making many mistakes along the way—I realised I’d benefit from some one-on-one time with a professional sewing teacher. The top I produced was a less than desirable outcome.
I’m not keen on painting on fabric
Although fabric dyeing has its benefits, after spending some time painting and mark-making with acrylics, I’ve realised it’s not really for me. I love watching other people work this way, but I think it’s something I’ll only use minimally and with purpose. That said, I did discover that intentional application can create some beautiful effects—so it’s not completely off the table.
I don’t like bright colours
Sometimes I scroll through Pinterest or Instagram and admire the vibrant colours in other people’s art, but when it comes to my own work—I just can’t connect with it. As a Graphic Designer, I know how tricky colour can be. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and I often do. I’m one of those people who gets anxious when working with colour, always second-guessing my choices. But as soon as I bring in black, creams, or muted tones—I feel at home.
The Highlights
Drawing with thread
One of my main goals was to explore using a sewing machine to "draw." I’ve been inspired for a while by artwork created with thread. Hand embroidery is beautiful, but I love the rawness and imperfections of free motion embroidery—the squiggly lines, the inconsistency, the character. I took a class with the amazing artist Juliet Collins, who guided us through how to use a sewing machine for this purpose and introduced various techniques to create different effects. By far, this was my favourite part of the journey.
Collaging with fabrics
One small piece I created really stood out and made me realise how much more I want to experiment with using various textiles to create collage-style art. Although I’ve only dipped my toes in—during the process of sewing a top—I’d love to dedicate more time to making fun, textured compositions. It’s also a great way to use leftover fabric scraps.
Fabric dyeing (not painting)
While painting can be enjoyable, I found myself more drawn to the abstract process of fabric dyeing. Instead of producing a refined graphic using paint, I really enjoyed the slow, methodical process of dyeing—letting the fabric absorb and shift, creating ombré effects, splotches, and drips. I’d like to approach this more intentionally and apply it to a clothing project.
I’ve learned so much over the past couple of months, but more than anything, I’ve enjoyed the journey. This experience has opened my mind to several creative directions, all of which I’m excited to explore further.
One key takeaway? My ultimate goal is to screw things up. I’ve found that when I aim for perfection, I become paralysed—afraid to take risks. But when I allow myself to make mistakes, I grow. And I’ve honestly cherished every one of them.