Solvy Lace Picture Complete

Finished sewing the photograph, except for some repair work....I guess kind of like what is happening in real life out there!   Used a photograph my friend took of construction site on "tear down Doyle Drive" day....on the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate Bridge.  The big machines, the buildings of the Presido, and bay beyond, complete with sailboats.  Great photograph provided me plenty of elements to stitch.

See blog post a bit below to show this as it was just beginning...layered b/w of photo on paper, under a sheet of Solvy. Stitched the elements I wanted, like painting with thread...used Bernina, as it was very agile.  Moved sheet back and forth and worked needle forward and reverse. Yes, it did take some time, but a lot less than if I had hand embroidered!

Photo below show completely stitched on Solvy, before soak. Two photos of soaking and "agitating" to get the paper and Solvy removed.   Put it on pink to show the separations...some of the separation I will keep, but some ...like the roof of the building in the foreground need repair.  No..not going to keep it on pink.... plan to have it so light or "air" can go through the back .

Solvy Lace Picture

UPDATE: Finished....see post of 5.20.2012.

Using a picture my friend took of Doyle Drive "tear down" in San Francisco, stitching the picture onto Solvy.  The yellow elements in foreground are the bulldozers/wrecking stuff. 

If this all works as I hope, the picture will be done in stitches, with all the Solvy, etc dissolved. So far, enlarged the picture, outlined key elements on Solvy, and have stitched the row of trees in the far ground.

Have had fun with solvy in making camisole, as well stitch of image technique on silk (post somewhere on this blog!), so hopefully the combined processes will give me a new tool to work with on my ideas ahead.

stitched map of musee rodin (on silk treated with rabbit skin glue)

Solvy lace...pre and post soak (water soluble)

Solvy Lace Camisole

Created this camisole by stitching line over line on Solvy arranged in simple camisole shape. Once the stitching was done, dipped it in water for a few minutes, and the "plastic" dissolves, leaving just the stitching. Yes, a little skimpy, but if/when I have the patience to make another one larger, envision it has "over layer" dress.

How I do it:

a. Cut Solvy to basic shape I'd like to achieve.  You can add on Solvy as you go....for this cami, I started with the front, added the straps, then the back...joining the sides with the same technique. Nothing is really "sewn" it is "webbed" -- stitching very randomly
b. Start stitching on sewing machine....I use cotton/poly thread. (stitch one layer of Solvy at a time)
c. Run the machine all over....loop de loops, etc....keep it "un-broken" in terms of stitch.  Cross over your stitch lines...you are trying to allow the thread to make its web, and it will need the support of the all the threads on your solvy.
d. Fine to start with another color(s)...just keep the webbing idea going with continuous stitch lines.
e. You may be able to tell how dense I am making it...you will need a fair amount of stitching to give it structural integrity...when the above cami is off the body, it resembles a heap of thread...it does have shape, but it won't look like a regular cami ...very airy.
f. Dissolve the Solvy per instructions.

I haven't ever gone back and added more to something using this technique...so make sure you have enough thread on there before you dissolve the Solvy.

I have made garments, pictures, and assorted do-dads with this technique. The pictures are not precise, but believe they could be as desired.  I made a map using this basic technique (used habotai silk treated with rabbit skin glue so it was transparent)...could get it fairly detailed...though it does take time to make all those stitches.