Turn an ordinary shirt or denim jacket into a one-of-a-kind wearable art piece.

$45

Upcycled Wearable Art Workshop

Friday August 21st 12-3pm eastern
Live on Zoom

1 Week Access to full online version of this course includes many extra tutorials.

In this hands-on workshop, you'll learn Lyric Montgomery Kinard's favorite embellishment technique: a simple combination of reverse appliqué, fusible appliqué, and trapunto that creates beautiful dimensional designs without complicated construction.

The process makes it easy to add intricate imagery, texture, and visual depth to garments you'll actually wear. The technique is equally effective for quilts, wearables, and decorative textiles.

Students are encouraged to bring a thrifted cotton shirt, denim jacket, or other sturdy garment ready for a creative second life. Using your own fabrics and design choices, you'll create a unique surface design that reflects your personal style while learning a technique you'll use again and again.

You Will Learn

Easy reverse appliqué using fusible web
How to create dimensional trapunto effects without frustration
Design considerations for wearable art
Fabric and garment choices that work best with the technique
How to place motifs to create focal points and flattering visual movement on the body
Finishing techniques for durable, wearable results

Come prepared to play, experiment, and leave with the beginnings of a wearable art piece you'll be excited to finish and wear.

SUPPLIES

Don't worry if you aren't sure what design to create. I'll provide several to choose from.
We'll talk about design possibilities in class, and simple shapes often create the most successful results when learning a new technique.

Option 1: Create Wearable Art

One thrifted or existing garment made from woven cotton fabric Cotton shirt, denim jacket, cotton jacket, work shirt, or similar garment
Wash before class
Avoid stretchy knits for your first project
1/4 yard cotton fabric in a highly contrasting color
Prewashed several times
Important: The fabric should be washed enough that it will not shrink differently from your garment

Option 2: Learn the Technique on Fabric Samples

Two fat quarters of quilting cotton in strongly contrasting colors
Both fabrics should be prewashed
One fat quarter of dark or light plain fabric, no large prints
One solid or hand-dyed fat quarter of fabric that contrasts highly with your first fabric
One solid fat quarter that contrasts with BOTH of your first two fat quarters
One fat quarter fabric for back of quilt
Batting - Quilters Dream Puff works best: https://amzn.to/4v9zje4

Everyone Needs:

1/2 yd fusible web that is "sewable" (Wonder Under, Steam-A-Seam Lite, Mistyfuse - NOT Heat-N-Bond or heavy-weight W-U): https://amzn.to/3RF1SBN
1/2 yd lightweight tear-away stabilizer
Small, pointy, sharp scissors (these are my favorite!): https://amzn.to/4fPmwco
Paper scissors
Pencil, Black Sharpie, Opaque Silver Sharpie, White pencil
Pressing surface, iron, rotary cutter, cutting mat
You will need to print off a pattern onto letter-sized pages before class. You will get these via email notification before the workshop.

Optional Extras

LED light tablet (like this one) is very helpful - but you can use a sunny window if you need to: https://amzn.to/4uE4Ogu
Mini rotary cutter (like this one) + cutting mat makes cutting much easier: https://amzn.to/3Qaw3QU
Applique scissors, pinking shears
Additional fabrics for experimentation

Finishing Supplies (for after class)

Darning foot or other free-motion quilting foot for your machine
Sewing machine in good working order
Thread to match your top fabric (garment)
Zig-zag sewing machine - oiled and clean
Open toe embroidery foot if you have one
Smaller needle such as 70/10, 75/11 needle
Extra bobbins

How this Course Works

We will meet live for 3hrs via zoom, Friday August 21st 12-3pm eastern time.

Zoom links will be sent via email 14 days before the live workshop, and again 2 days before we meet.

You will then have three days access to a full online curriculum with further tutorials for finishing techniques.