Silkscreens and Transparencies

A while back, in the middle of designing a quilt, I had a brainstorm - to use an image screened onto a transparent piece of plastic to lay over the quilt. This gave me a good feel as to how the image would work and where to place it. It was a great time saver and confidence booster; it is scary to screen an image onto a quilt because it's so permanent, no turning back kind of thing!
When I make a screen using my Thermofax, I finish the edge with duct tape, and print the image on the outside of a folder. I now take it one step further and make an image on plastic to use as a designing tool; this is stored in the folder also. It's a great time saver to have it already done and wonderful for the designing process.

I buy the plastic at a chain sewing store. It's on a roll and sold by the yard. I think it's 4mm weight but not positive. It's a nice weight to work with.

I lay it over a piece of fabric or part of the quilt itself to see how it'll work.

This is one of my favorite designs as I love the movement; I haven't used it yet.

Previewing it over fabric

This next fabric is too busy for the intricate nature of the design.

This is a feather I found on a morning walk which made into a wonderful screen.

And here it is over a piece of fabric.

This technique can also be used for stamping. Stamp the image on a piece of heavier plastic; lay it on top of your quilt for a preview. I love silk screening and stamping but always hold my breath waiting to see how the image works with the quilt; this takes the guesswork out of it.