Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense
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Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense : Amazing Free-Motion Quilting Tutorial

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This is the full you tube tutorial How to thread Paint with Derwent Inktense | Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense https://youtu.be/-OLLz99wQMg

Cassie Cartmell – Faodail Creation

Table of Contents

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense is a wonderful way to transform your colored fabric artwork into a unique piece of textile art. By combining Derwent Inktense pencils, free-motion quilting and decorative thread sketching, you can turn a simple drawing into a beautiful piece of artwork that is ready to display.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to finish your Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense project by adding the final drawn details back onto your fabric and using free-motion quilting to bring the artwork to life.

We’ll be using black Glide thread to create sketchy outlines and additional details. Rather than trying to stitch perfectly over every drawn line, we’ll use a relaxed drawing technique to give the finished piece an interesting hand-sketched appearance.

Once the stitching is complete, I’ll show you how to wrap the finished fabric around a canvas to create a beautiful piece of wall art.

If you enjoy experimenting with sewing, quilting and embroidery, this is a fun project to add to your creative collection.

What Is Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense?

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense combines colored fabric artwork with free-motion sewing to create texture, definition and detail.

Derwent Inktense pencils are particularly useful for creating colorful artwork on fabric. Once the color has been applied and properly set according to the manufacturer’s instructions, you can use your sewing machine to add decorative stitching.

The stitching acts almost like a pen drawing over the artwork.

Instead of using traditional embroidery stitches, free-motion quilting allows you to move the fabric in different directions underneath the needle. This gives you the freedom to create lines, curves, outlines and sketch-like details.

For this project, I’m using black thread because I want the stitched details to stand out against the colored artwork.

The combination of color and black thread creates a lovely contrast.

Supplies Needed for Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Before starting your Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense project, gather the following supplies.

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Materials and equipment

Sewing machine used in this tutorial

I’m using my Baby Lock Soprano sewing machine for this project.

You don’t necessarily need this particular sewing machine to try Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense. You need a machine that allows you to lower the feed dogs and use a suitable free-motion quilting foot.

The ability to move the fabric freely is what makes this technique possible.

Step 1: Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Prepare Your Derwent Inktense Artwork

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

The first step in Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense is to prepare your existing artwork for stitching.

In this tutorial, we’re continuing from where we left off in the previous part of the project.

I already have my coloured fabric artwork, and now I want to restore some of the drawn lines that will help guide my stitching.

Some of the original details have become difficult to see, so I’m going to add those lines back onto the fabric.

Restore the important details

Take a look at your artwork and identify the areas where you want additional definition.

You don’t need to redraw every single line.

Concentrate on the important details that will help your finished artwork stand out.

I’m using a friction marking pen to put some of these lines back into place.

One of the things I like about this pen is that the markings can be removed with heat. Always test your marking pen on a fabric scrap first and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

When working on Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense, these drawn lines are simply a guide. They don’t need to be perfectly straight or precise.

I actually like the idea of having a slightly sketchy appearance.

The aim is to create something that looks like a drawing made with thread rather than a perfectly traced outline.

Step 2: Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Prepare Your Quilt Sandwich

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Before beginning the stitching, you need to prepare a quilt sandwich.

A quilt sandwich consists of three layers:

  1. The quilt top, which is your completed Derwent Inktense artwork.
  2. The batting, which sits in the middle.
  3. The backing fabric, which forms the back of your project.

Place your backing fabric down first, followed by the batting.

Position your artwork on top.

Smooth out the layers so that everything is sitting nicely.

For Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense, you want the three layers to remain together while you’re stitching.

Take your time preparing this stage because wrinkles or folds can make free-motion quilting more difficult.

The quilt sandwich also provides some stability to the fabric while you’re adding your thread-painted details.

Step 3: Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Choose Your Thread for Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Thread choice makes a big difference to the finished appearance of your artwork.

For this project, I’m using black Glide thread.

This is exactly the type of thread I like to use for this kind of decorative stitching.

The black thread creates strong outlines and gives the artwork a lovely drawn appearance.

I’m also using black bobbin thread.

Because the stitching will be visible on both sides of the quilt sandwich, using a coordinating bobbin thread helps maintain a consistent appearance.

Setting up your thread

I’m using a large spool of Glide thread, so I’m going to put it on my thread stand.

A thread stand is particularly useful when working with larger spools.

It allows the thread to feed smoothly into the sewing machine without having to squeeze a large spool onto the machine’s regular spool pin.

For Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense, I want the thread to move smoothly so I can concentrate on controlling the fabric.

Is black thread necessary?

No!

Black thread is my choice because I want the stitching to look like sketching.

You could experiment with other colors depending on the artwork you have created.

However, contrasting thread is particularly effective when you want your stitched details to stand out.

Step 4: Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Set Up Your Sewing Machine for Free-Motion Quilting

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Now it’s time to prepare the sewing machine.

For this stage of Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense, I’m using my Baby Lock Soprano.

The most important thing is to prepare the machine for free-motion quilting.

Lower the feed dogs

When you’re doing regular sewing, the feed dogs move the fabric through the machine for you.

With free-motion quilting, you are in control of moving the fabric.

This means you need to lower the feed dogs.

On my Baby Lock Soprano, there is a button at the back of the machine.

I slide off the cover, move the latch over to lower the feed dogs and then replace the cover.

Once the feed dogs are lowered, I can move the fabric freely underneath the needle.

This is an essential part of Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense because it allows you to move in any direction.

You are effectively using your sewing machine like a drawing tool.

Install your free-motion quilting foot

Next, make sure your free-motion quilting foot is attached.

I’m using a free-motion quilting foot for this project.

The foot allows me to move the fabric while maintaining control around the needle area.

Choose your needle

I’m using a 90/14 Microtex needle.

A suitable needle helps create clean stitches through the layers of your quilt sandwich.

Always choose a needle appropriate for your fabric, thread and sewing machine.

What about stitch settings?

One of the things I love about free-motion quilting is that you are controlling the movement of the fabric yourself.

The feed dogs are no longer moving the fabric.

You move it forwards, backwards, sideways and around to create your desired stitching.

Refer to your sewing machine manual for the recommended free-motion stitch settings and setup.

Step 5: Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Begin Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Now we’re ready for the fun part!

Place your quilt sandwich underneath the free-motion quilting foot.

Lower the presser foot and position your needle where you want to begin stitching.

Start slowly until you become comfortable with the movement.

Remember, you’re controlling the fabric rather than allowing the machine to feed it through automatically.

Follow the drawn details

I’m going to start by stitching over some of the lines that I restored earlier.

I don’t want to create perfectly traced outlines.

Instead, I want the stitching to have a relaxed, sketchy appearance.

This is one of my favorite things about Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense.

You can create an artistic look by allowing the stitching to follow the general shape of your drawing.

Some lines can be slightly uneven.

Others can overlap.

You can even go over certain details more than once to create additional definition.

The idea is to make the artwork look as though you’ve drawn over it using a black pen.

Add additional sketching lines

Once I’ve stitched around some of the main details, I’m going to add a few extra lines.

These additional lines help bring the artwork together.

You don’t have to follow the original drawing for every stitch.

Look at your artwork and decide where a little extra definition would make a difference.

This is where you can experiment with your own creative style.

When Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense, I find that allowing yourself some freedom makes the process much more enjoyable.

Step 6: Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Moving Between Different Areas Without Stopping

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

As you work around your artwork, you’ll eventually reach a point where you need to move from one area to another.

There are a couple of ways to do this.

Option 1: Jump stitch between details

Sometimes, when I need to move to another area, I don’t stop and remove the needle from the fabric.

I can lift the presser foot, raise the needle and carefully move the fabric across to the next stitching area.

I then lower everything back into position and continue stitching.

This creates a jump stitch between the two areas.

You can trim the connecting thread later.

This saves a little time because you don’t have to stop and restart every time you move to a different detail.

Be careful when moving the fabric, and keep your hands clear of the needle.

Option 2: Travel stitch between details

Another option is to travel stitch from one area to another.

This means following an existing stitched line to reach the next detail.

You can then continue stitching without having to cut the thread.

For Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense, both methods are useful.

Choose whichever method works best for the artwork you’re creating.

Step 7: Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Continue Thread Painting Until Your Artwork Is Complete

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Now it’s simply a matter of continuing around your artwork.

Work through the remaining details, adding lines wherever you feel they are needed.

Don’t worry about making every line identical.

The beauty of Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense is that the stitching adds another layer of artistic expression.

Some areas might have more stitching than others.

You can use thicker-looking clusters of thread to emphasize particular details, while leaving other areas relatively simple.

Take breaks if you need them.

Free-motion quilting requires concentration, especially when you’re working on smaller details.

Remember to check the back of your quilt sandwich occasionally to make sure the stitching is looking good on both sides.

Once all the details are finished, remove any excess connecting threads.

Your fabric artwork should now have a lovely combination of color, texture and black thread sketching.

Step 8: Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Wrap Your Finished Thread Painting Around a Canvas

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Now comes the really exciting part!

Once the stitching is finished, you can transform your fabric artwork into something you can display.

For this project, I’m going to wrap my finished piece around a canvas.

This is a lovely way to turn textile art into wall decor.

Prepare the canvas

Place your completed fabric artwork over the canvas.

Position it carefully so that the design is sitting where you want it.

Check the front of the canvas to make sure the artwork is straight and that the important details are visible.

Wrap the fabric around the edges

Bring the excess fabric around the sides of the canvas.

Pull it gently so that the fabric is smooth and sits neatly against the frame.

Secure the fabric on the back using a suitable fastening method for your canvas and fabric.

Work around the edges, keeping the fabric evenly positioned.

Take care not to pull so tightly that you distort the artwork.

Once the fabric is secured, trim away any excess fabric if necessary.

Your artwork is now ready to display!

Tips for Successful Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

If you’re trying this technique for the first time, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Practice your free-motion movement

Before starting on your finished artwork, practice moving a quilt sandwich under your sewing machine.

Try drawing simple lines, curves and circles.

This will help you become more comfortable controlling the fabric.

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Don’t worry about perfect stitching

You don’t need every stitch to follow a perfectly straight line.

The sketchy appearance is part of the charm.

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Choose contrasting thread

Black thread works beautifully for this project because it creates a strong contrast against the colored artwork.

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Use the right needle

A suitable needle helps prevent skipped stitches and makes stitching through your quilt sandwich easier.

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Check your thread tension

If you notice loops or thread problems, stop and check your threading and tension settings.

Always test your setup on a spare quilt sandwich before continuing.

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Take your time

There is no need to rush.

Enjoy the process of adding each little detail and watching your artwork develop.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

What is Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense?

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense is a creative technique that combines colored fabric artwork with decorative machine stitching.

Free-motion quilting allows you to add outlines, details and sketch-like effects using your sewing machine.

Can I use any sewing machine for Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense?

You need a sewing machine that supports free-motion quilting.

The machine must allow you to lower the feed dogs and attach an appropriate free-motion quilting foot.

I’m using my Baby Lock Soprano, but other compatible machines can also be used.

What thread works best for Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense?

I like using black Glide thread for this project because it creates lovely defined lines.

You can experiment with other colors depending on your fabric artwork and the effect you want.

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Do I need to trace every line when thread painting?

No!

You can follow the general shape of your drawing without stitching perfectly over every line.

In fact, a slightly sketchy appearance can make the finished artwork more interesting.

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense – Can I turn my finished fabric artwork into wall art?

Absolutely!

Wrapping your completed fabric artwork around a canvas is a wonderful way to display your finished project.

It turns your sewing and textile artwork into something you can hang on your wall.

Final Thoughts on Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense

I love seeing how a little bit of creativity can transform a simple piece of fabric artwork into something completely different.

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense is a wonderful way to combine drawing, color and free-motion quilting.

By adding black Glide thread and sketching over the details with your sewing machine, you can give your artwork additional definition and texture.

The best part is that you don’t have to worry about making everything perfect.

Let the stitching have its own character.

Once the artwork is wrapped around the canvas, you have a finished piece of textile art that is ready to hang on your wall.

I hope you’ve enjoyed following along with this project!

I’d love to know what you think. Have you tried combining Derwent Inktense pencils with free-motion quilting?

READ NEXT

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense : Amazing Free-Motion Quilting Tutorial

Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense : Amazing Free-Motion Quilting Tutorial is a fun way to explore thread painting.

If you enjoyed Thread Painting with Derwent Inktense : Amazing Free-Motion Quilting Tutorial, you might also like How to Thread Painting on Fabric Mont Marte Thread you can also try Thread Painting Leaves to learn more thread painting using your sewing machine.

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