Fiber Artist Creates Scarves With Stabilizer and Topping

Did you know you can create beautiful scarves using a stabilizer, topping, a Husqvarna Viking Mega Quilter and Inspira Quilting Frames? Diane Prekup, Diane Prekup Fiber, New Port Richey, Fla. is doing just that using Washaway, #3012, 1.2-ounce water-soluble stabilizer and Rinseaway, #600, a water-soluble topping. Both are available from American Embroidery Supply.

Washaway is used as the base or canvas, and Rinseaway is pinned to the Washaway to secure the yarns and fabrics used. The yarns are made of mixed fibers, usually custom-dyed rayon. Miscellaneous fabrics are used as accents. Sewing is done with clear or smoke nylon thread.

These beautiful scarves were creating by using Washaway water soluble stabilizer as a base and Rinseaway water soluble topping. Scarves provided courtesy of Diane Prekup Studio, New Port Richey, Fla.

Prekup, who creates wearable works of art using color, texture and design in the form of vests, jackets, sweaters, shirts and scarves, sells her work solely to boutiques specializing in handmade items.

The scarves vary in size, but the most common is 7 inches wide by 70 inches long. She sews them in sets of 10, each one complete with no piecing needed. Garments are made one at a time, shaped to the pattern and then assembled.

To create her scarves and other wearable art pieces, Diane Prekup, Port Richey, Fla., uses a Husqvarna Viking Mega Quilter and Inspira Quilting Frames. She notes that a significant investment in time and equipment is necessary to do work of this nature.

Prekup notes that while the amount of time varies, none of these pieces are made quickly. She always creates her own patterns and while she may remake a piece, no two are ever exactly the same. She notes that the machines and materials for doing what she does is an investment in time and money; however, small pieces can be done on a home sewing machine, and there are instruction books available.

Diane Prekup Fiber Studio.jpg After spending years as an art director and designer in several industries, Diane Prekup now owns her own studio where she specializes in creating wearable art for boutiques specializing in handmade goods. Photo courtesy of Diane Prekup Studio, New Port Richey, Fla.

Prekup has a degree from Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia. She spent many years as an art director for a large corporate firm and also owned her own company doing marketing, design and public relations for hospitals, malls, colleges, non-profits and businesses.

She taught design at the Greenville Museum of Art, a program with the University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. She also worked with fused glass for many years, which was sold to retail stores nationwide.

Using the Washaway as a base, the yarns and fabrics are assembled within the pattern shape of the garment (previously drawn onto the Washaway). Next, it is topped with the clear water soluble topping and pinned to keep it in place while the piece is rolled onto the quilting rod. Shown is a section of the top of the vest at the neck and shoulder. Photo courtesy of Diane Prekup Studio, New Port Richey, Fla.

In her current life, she loves experimenting with fibers and thread. You can view some of her work at www.DianePrekupFiber.com.

Here is a finished vest. Prekup also makes jackets, shirts and scarves. Photo courtesy of Diane Prekup Studio, New Port Richey, Fla.

Fiber Artist Creates Scarves With Stabilizer and Topping

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