Clockwise: Studio Bundle #2 from The School of Making; Fabric Swatch in Natural/Bright White Kristina’s Rose with appliqué and beading; “Roses and Revolution” featuring the iconic Tina Modotti photograph “Roses, Mexico” (1924) from Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca Solnit; Kristina’s Rose stencil artwork; Fabric Swatch in Bright White/Natural Kristina’s Rose with appliqué and beading; Detail of August’s Swatch of the Month design in Navy/Black Kristina’s Rose with appliqué and beading

August’s Swatch of the Month features the Kristina’s Rose stencil worked in loose, undulating circles using Stripe Appliqué with Beaded Chain Stitch, the Folded Stripe Appliqué with Beaded Straight Stitch, and the Beaded Rosebud Stitch. 

Roses have been an iconic motif in both Alabama Chanin and The School of Making collections spanning the last twenty-one years. In reimagining Kristina’s Rose for August, our design team found inspiration in the photography of Tina Modotti and Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca Solnit. Studio Bundle #2 informs the seven colorways available in the new Kristina’s Rose Cropped Car Jacket DIY Kit.

Get a closer look at the inspiration for August’s Swatch of the Month design, and subscribe to stitch along using the instructions from August’s newsletter.  

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Fabric Swatch in Kristina’s Rose Navy/Black

Outer Layer Fabric Color: Navy
Backing Layer Fabric Color: Navy
Appliqué Fabric: Navy and Black
Techniques: Stripe Appliqué with Beaded Chain Stitch, Folded Stripe Appliqué with Beaded Straight Stitch, and Beaded Rosebud Stitch
Paint Color: Black
Thread Color: Black
Beads: Black Chop
Knots: Inside

Fabric Swatch in Kristina’s Rose Natural/Natural

Outer Layer Fabric Color: Natural
Backing Layer Fabric Color: Natural
Appliqué Fabric: Bright White
Techniques: Stripe Appliqué with Beaded Chain Stitch, Folded Stripe Appliqué with Beaded Straight Stitch, and Beaded Rosebud Stitch
Paint Color: Pearl Silver
Thread Color: White
Beads: White Chop
Knots: Inside

“Roses, Mexico” by Tina Modotti, 1924. In Orwell’s Roses, Rebecca Solnit introduces the concept of “Roses and Revolution” with a brief history of this significant photograph: 

“In the year 1924, a woman photographed roses. Despite the few prints Tina Modotti made from her large-format negative, the image became one of the most celebrated in the history of photography.” 

Learn more and purchase a copy of Orwell’s Roses here, or listen to the audiobook here.

SUPPLIES

2 – 10” x 16” cotton jersey fabric swatches (using double layers of fabric for your base creates stability)
1/2” strips of fabric for appliquéd ruffles
Kristina’s Rose stencil
Textile paint
Spray bottle or airbrush gun, depending on stencil-transfer method
Button Craft thread
Chop beads

Basic sewing supplies: needles, embroidery scissors, rotary cutter, ruler, cutting mat, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design for instructions on appliqué, beading, and embroidery stitches

Subscribe to August’s Swatch of the Month to receive a pre-stenciled swatch and all the materials needed to complete this design.

INSTRUCTIONS

Begin by cutting ½” strips of fabric in two colors. The number of strips needed will depend upon the surface area your stencil will cover and the number of shapes you choose to appliqué.

Transfer the design to your fabric using your stenciling method of choice. An enlargeable version of this stencil with accompanying instructions and fabric map are shown on pages 126-127 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design.

Select one rose shape to embellish using folded stripe appliqué. To do this, hold together two of your ½” strips (using the two different colors), then randomly fold them back and forth along the line of the stenciled rose shape, while sewing them into place with a beaded straight stitch. Refer to page 108 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design for detailed instructions and photographs.

Move to your next rose shape. Using one ½” fabric strip, appliqué using a beaded chain stitch. View page 105 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design for a detailed photograph.

Choose another rose shape and sew a beaded rosebud stitch (pages 25 and 79 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design) to cover the stenciled shape. Continue moving from shape-to-shape, alternating techniques until you have completed all of the rose shapes.

Follow along on Instagram @theschoolofmaking and share your projects using the following hashtags: #theschoolofmaking
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