Nov 7-8 Improv Textile Collage with April Sproule

Class Description: Working with geometric and organic shapes, you will create a fun, expressive, and visually stunning piece in this class that can be mounted on a canvas panel to be hung on the wall. You’ll create an original hand stitched piece, approximately 14” x 18” to explore composition and the relationships between shapes while also experimenting with color and value. It’s easy to get stuck in a rut with your creativity, but getting back to just plain having fun and playing with new concepts can be incredibly enlightening. April will help you get started by sharing her process, guide you through challenges you might encounter, and make your own color and design choices with ease and confidence.

You will learn:

Tips for making confident color and design decisions
The basics and benefits of hand embroidery without a hoop on fabric and paper
Easy raw edge hand applique for spectacular results
To use basic embroidery stitches in lots of different ways to create pattern and texture

You will receive:

A Student Supply List
Student Handouts, including shapes to use for templates, and examples of compositional layouts
The Series Slideshow in PDF format to download and save for future reference

Student Materials List :
Fabrics: Cottons, silks, linens, or woolens are suitable for this project. Vintage fabrics are great.
Prewashing is recommended when possible.
a. Fabric for Background: the finished size of your piece is: 14” x 18”  – another option is to piece your background using neutral colors, this will be covered in class
b. Fabric for shapes: assorted scraps to contrast with your background
c. Muslin or other fabric to practice stitches on: (2) 8” squares

Papers for Compositional Options and Collage:
For papers used in your actual piece, you don’t want paper as heavy as card stock or as thin as tissue
paper, but somewhere in between. You want to be able to stitch through the paper, but you don’t want it
falling apart before you are done with your piece. – Also optional, construction weight paper in a light, medium, and dark color to help you with composition ideas. The template patterns, in the Design Pack, will be sent with your Student Handouts.

3.Embroidery Floss and Threads, assorted colors to go with your color scheme
a. DMC cotton embroidery floss is what I use
b. Regular sewing thread, assorted colors for sewing down your shapes

4. Tools:
1.Hand embroidery needles: I use assorted packs that are sizes 5-10
2. Fabric marking tools: this is what I use, but you are welcome to use what you prefer.
– Stabilo white pencil #8052, water erasable marker (from me or art supply stores)
– Frixion Pens # 31557, set of 3 colors (from me, Amazon, or office supply stores) heat erasable
– Fine-grit sandpaper, 1 sheet
 Basic Sewing Kit, includes:
Sharp small scissors for embroidery, and scissors for cutting through freezer paper, straight pins, regular  hand sewing needles, regular sewing thread for basting, and beeswax for your thread.
Blue painter’s tape (3/4” width is fine, or whatever you have)
Ruler, rotary cutter, and cutting mat
Color Wheel, available at any art supply store or online
Bio – Add a short bio here (required)

BIO:

April Sproule is a textile artist with a lifelong love of fabric and making. With a strong foundation in
design, sewing, and quilting, she has been a full time, award winning studio artist at Sproule Studios for
many years.

In her workshops, April has a gift for making complex processes feel approachable and
achievable. She guides students through a thoughtful progression of techniques for painting and
embellishing textiles, generously sharing her deep understanding of sewing and design knowledge. Above
all, she encourages artists to develop their own creative voice. Her exuberant, supportive teaching style inspires confidence and elevates each person’s textile art practice to a new level.