18 October 2021

www.marymakerstudio.com.au The Invisible stitch How to hide your sewing and create a reversible wall piece. Let’s go! • I use 1.5mm warp cord to sew. Primarily used for warp in tapestry weavings, it is thick and strong. This enables us to pull firm and with tension; so less sewing needed. - I enter the first stitch between two rope sections. This enables the tail of the warp cord to hide in the rope. Traditionally makers have cut the cord short to limit the visibility of it but this often ends with it coming undone, jeopardising it’s structure. Keeping the cord long and entering via the middle ensures it is strong, secure and hidden! - When sewing, ensure your needle enters and exits the rope in very similar positions. When I have wrapped my thick rope with a fibre that is easy to separate (eg. rope/string) I slightly separate the wrapped fibre so I can see the thick rope just a little and complete a stitch in and out, and then close it back up. The stitch is now hidden under the fibre. Magic. If I have used art yarn or silk to wrap the rope, the ‘squishyness’ of these fibres will hide the stitch if you pull it tight and keep it under tension. - I continue this technique and sew around the form in a zig-zag pattern. I use ‘The Sword’ Needle, it takes the hard work out of the sewing. - When I get to the end I repeat the starting technique, finishing with the last stitch in hidden in between two rope sections. Following the invisible stitch practice will enable you to create a reversible piece (which opens up so many new ideas- hello mobiles and wearables!) but your work will hold a much more desirable and polished finish. I hope this makes sense, it’s hard to explain 😆 Let me know if this helps and please share it with a fellow maker x