Welcome to a glimpse into the creative process behind Janet Clare’s unique technique of machine sketching. Janet Clare, a renowned artist and quilt designer, shares her approach to sketching on a sewing machine, guiding us through her techniques to make sketching with thread both accessible and enjoyable.

This article highlights the key points from Janet’s video, walking you through her favorite tools, techniques, and the value of machine sketching as part of the creative process.

The Importance of Stretching your Creativity

Janet begins by emphasizing the importance of sketching as a foundation for her creativity. For Janet, sketching on fabric with thread is not only an art form but also a way to bring designs to life in a textured, tactile way. She encourages everyone to approach machine sketching as a form of personal exploration.

“Just have fun with it–just really enjoy it. If it goes right that's brilliant and if it doesn't just very quietly put it in the bin and move on.” - Janet Clare

What You’ll Need

Janet shares her essential tools for machine sketching, keeping her setup simple and efficient. Her go-to tools include:

• A sewing machine with free-motion capabilities/foot: This allows Janet to move the fabric freely under the needle, mimicking the fluid strokes of a pen on paper.
• Thread in various colors: Janet uses black thread for her sketching but a variety of thread colors could be used to add depth, contrast, and personality to your sketches, blending and layering colors as needed.
• Stabilizer and fabric: She often sketches on a stabilizer-backed fabric to prevent puckering and to maintain control as she moves the fabric.
• Kits and Templates for Appliqué: Janet offers adorable aplliqué kits which are a great way to get you started as you get more serious on your thread sketching journey!

Janet’s Step-by-Step Machine Sketching Process

Janet’s process is all about starting with simple designs and building up texture with layers of thread. Here’s an outline of her machine sketching method:

1. Start with Simple Shapes: Rather than focusing on perfect lines, Janet suggests starting with basic shapes, moving the fabric gently under the needle to create outlines. This stage captures the essence of the subject. Janet also recommends to start with writing letters, which is the most natural way to warm up those fine motor skills for sketching.
2. Add Details with Thread Layers: After forming the initial shapes, Janet goes back over the design to add detail, layering threads to create depth and variation. This approach allows her to “draw” on fabric, adding intricate details with each layer.
3. Experiment with Texture and Color: To bring her sketches to life, Janet plays with texture by adjusting stitch her speed and motions. This final touch gives her sketches a dynamic, textured look that feels lively and expressive.

Janet’s emphasis on creativity and expression over perfection makes machine sketching approachable for quilters and artists alike. Just give it a go--you have nothing to lose and a new skill to gain. Imagine how precious thread sketched quilt labels would be or using these sketches to embellish a block on a quilt-as-you-go project!

The Joy of Imperfection in Machine Sketching

Janet shares that embracing imperfection is key to enjoying machine sketching. Unlike precise embroidery, her sketching style celebrates the organic and expressive, capturing the spirit rather than the exact likeness of a subject. This relaxed approach makes machine sketching a joyful and freeing experience.

Join the Creative Journey

Inspired by Janet’s method? Grab your sewing machine, some thread, and a piece of fabric, and try her process for yourself. Machine sketching is a wonderful way to bring your ideas to life in a unique, textured form of art.

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• Get the applique template featured in Janet’s instruction here.