Get a design (Part 1 of 2)

Welcome back to our journey.  

In the next few weeks we will watch the making of a church banner.    I will show you how I work.   You will see everything that takes place from the beginning of the spark of idea to the mechanics of hanging the finished piece in the sanctuary.  

If you have any questions, please ask them.
Have a different way to accomplish the same task.   Share it with us.  
Love to hear from you . . .

Now let’s get started.    We need to get a design.   

There are lots of different ways to get your idea out of your head and into a form that you can make a pattern. 

The simplest way to get a design is to draw.  Just doodling on a piece of paper with a pencil is a tried and true method that still works well.  

I work on a design in bits and pieces.    I sketch a little.   Look at it.    Walk away.   Think about it . . . a lot.   Come back to the sketch.    Do another version.    You get the idea.    Most times the design doesn’t happen all at once.   

Make several versions of your drawing.   Save them all.    I might like the smoke in this sketch, the background in this one, and the foreground in still another.   

Now combine the elements you like into the final version of the sketch. 
I use a make-do light box.

Or, you can trace your design elements with tracing paper.    Be careful here.     Tracing paper is often coated and smudges easily.    Make sure this is kept well away from any fabric or from surfaces you will be spreading fabric on later.

Or, you can copy and paste.    Photocopy all versions of the sketches with the elements you like.    Then cut out and paste the elements you like into your final version.    Make a copy of your finished composite sketch.

   
Use whatever method works best for you.

When you have a finalized version of the sketch make a copy.    Keep this copy in your file.

 That’s it for right now.

Remember any task is easier when you break it down into smaller tasks.    Take it slow.  


Want to try a few other ways to get a design?   Go to Get a Design, Part 2 of 2.   

If you have any questions, please ask them.
If you have a different way to accomplish the same task, share it with us.  
Love to hear from you . . .


Enjoy!