Design Technology
Embellished Acrylic Felt Masks
Acrylic felt is an excellent material to work with it as it is strong and washes well. It also comes in a large variety of colours and sizes.
Equipment needed:
Embellishing machine
36 gauge needles (these are a good strong needle for this type of work)
Sewing machine (optional)
Acrylic Felt
Pelmet Vilene
Organza (nylon works well)
Freezer paper
Machine thread
Photocopy paper, pencil
Iron
Design ideas
Once you have researched and completed several design ideas choose one to make.
1. Fold an A4 piece of photocopy paper vertically down the centre.
2. Draw half your mask in pencil from creased edge then refold the paper so that your image is on the inside.
3. Now transfer your image to the other side by rubbing a pencil over the back of your design .
4. Open out your paper and complete your design by drawing over the transferred image.
5. Cut out a piece of freezer paper slightly bigger than your design and trace your image onto the freezer paper.
6. Choose your felt colours, one should be your background colour and this will be A4.
7. Number each section of your freezer paper with each number representing a different colour.
8. Embellish base felt onto an A4 piece of pelmet Vilene. (this is to stiffen your mask)
9. Add Organza if required, this will improve the texture and colour of your work.
10. Cut out the mask shape on your freezer paper pattern.
Embellished Acrylic Felt Masks (cont’d)
11. Starting at the top cut out one of your freezer paper sections and iron it shiny side down onto the colour felt that you want and then cut it out.
12. Iron your freezer paper mask shape onto your base felt and then place your first cut out felt to fill the cut out section and embellish it in place. Remove the freezer paper ready to cut out the next section.
13. Continue to cut out each section of your mask and repeat Step 12 until you have completed your mask, this ensures each section is in the right place and a perfect fit.
14. When you have completed your mask you can add further texture and patterns by using the Embellisher, Sewing machine and hand stitchery.
Extension Work
Sewing Machine techniques
Free machine embroidery
1. The feed teeth (sometimes called feed dogs) guide the fabric under the needle; for free machining, the feed dogs must be lowered or covered.
2. The presser foot is not necessary for free machining so replace it with a darning or embroidery foot. The presser foot lever must always be lowered for free machine embroidery. If the lever is not lowered, the upper thread is not under tension and the thread will tangle.
3. Thread your machine with your chosen thread.
4. For straight stitching, set the zigzag width to 0 (the stitch length is 0).
5. If working on a firm base, such as pelmet vilene, the work does not need to be mounted into a hoop.
6. Start all stitching by bringing both threads to the surface and anchor the thread by taking a few stitches on top of each other.
Important: when machining, always keep fingers well away from the needle.
