Sculptural Sewing

The pursuit of sewing is not just one of simply drawing with a thread and needle.  It can become a sculptural process, where an artist builds with fabrics and uses stitching as a sort of adhesive for the three-dimensional structure.  Turning two-dimensional images into actual objects gives them life and further meaning, as the art piece can serve to function in multiple ways.

Just as with any art project, sewing takes time and planning ahead is key.  The artist here worked on her soft sculpture over a period of many days.  Beginning with a sketch of various ideas, then finding the fabrics and buttons that corresponded to her imaginings, she was able to decide on a specific design.  Simply jumping in and attempting unfamiliar techniques leads to discovering which steps to take next.

Creating a basic pattern and remaining diligent while overcoming struggles allowed the artist to follow through with her goal.  Through repeated practice of threading needles, tying knots, and figuring out what does and does not work, she furthered her understanding about the sewing process.  At the same time, she increased her confidence in being able to construct her own piece from scratch and to persist through mistakes until she got it right.

Witnessing her initial drawing come to life through fabric, the artist was compelled to add various details with beads, buttons and additional textured materials.  She now knows that she can create anything, if she just makes a plan and starts working on it.  Making the leap from stitching a design or sewing a button, to creating a detailed soft sculpture, becomes easy if an artist's inner desire to discover is present.  

The intrinsic three-dimensionality of fibers and fabrics provides endless possibilities to artists who want to build in a different way.  Functional or non-functional, sculptures obtain many meanings and serve to enhance the lives of both the creators and viewers.  The meaning of this artist's piece is multi-layered.  It represents her first accomplishment as a seamstress, holds value as a successful art piece, is aesthetically and tangibly pleasing, and tells a story of the connection with her father's favorite stuffed dog from his childhood.