HP #4: Stencil Backgrounds
Welcome to my fourth post chronicling the creation of my Harry Potter Stitchbook. In the previous posts I have talked about preparing for and planning my Stitchbook, now it is time to start making!
Find the first part here if you want to go back to the start.
This post is about using a stencil and fabric paint to create backgrounds to your pages. Here I’ve used this technique to create a background for a page about Platform 9 3/4.
This is a really versatile technique that could be used to create many different shapes and designs.
Sometimes when I’m planning a Stitchbook I have instant ideas about what I want to do on a specific page. As soon as I thought about this one - a photo of us next to the Hogwarts Express, I knew I wanted to find a way to create a brick pattern on the background of the page.
I’m very lucky to have a Cricut machine at my disposal. This is a computerised cutting machine that will cut a wide range of material into intricate shapes with a motorised blade. I usually use it for cutting vinyl logos for my Stitchbooks, but it also comes in very handy for things like this.
I designed a brick outline and scanned it into the Cricut software. I loaded the cutting mat with Mylar stencil plastic and used the machine to cut out the stencil. (My machine HATES cutting Mylar but is just about able to if I put it on the highest pressure and run it through several times!).
If you don’t have a Cricut machine or similar you can use freezer paper instead and cut by hand with small sharp scissors or a scalpel. The freezer paper has the added benefit of being able to be temporarily adhered into position by a hot iron, so you will get perfect edges to your shape.
Below is a video of me painting through the stencil onto the background. I am using a sponge with acrylic paint mixed with a fabric medium (which will soften it a bit and allow me to stitch through the paint more easily).
As you can see my stencil was much smaller than the page, so I had to move it around in sections to cover the whole of the background. To get a weathered appearance I varied the amount of paint I added in different areas, leaving the background to show through in places.
Using stencils in this way is a great way to cover the background of your page without using fabric and create a different texture. I love that the linen background shows through.
If cutting by hand you could cut a single shape such as a star and repeat it many times across the page.
Below is the page as it looks when the photo and main elements have been added. It has not been finished yet- there are still some decorative parts I need to add to make it feel fully there, but hopefully you can see my vision for it!
The additional elements on the page are:
An applique and embroidery interpretation of Hedwig and luggage on a trolley. This was made using machine embroidery to outline the applique on the trolley, hand embroidery for the cage and gold ribbon and thread for the case details.
A Hogwarts express ticket - I mocked this up using a coffee stained piece of fabric and fabric paint.
Property of Hogwarts label - this has been stamped onto fabric and then stitched to felt to make it strong enough to hang half off the page. An eyelet has been added to loop in the string.
A platform 9 3/4 sign - this has been cut from a piece of Harry Potter fabric.
I hope you like the page so far. It is certainly giving me Wizarding London vibes, and i’m really pleased with how the brickwork turned out. Now just to work out how to finish it off!
Next Post: Letters from Hogwarts
