THE LIBERATING ART OF BURNING FABRIC

CHALLENGING THE NORMS OF TEXTILE ART 

There’s something exhilarating about breaking the rules—especially the ones we don’t even realize are there. For so long, the idea of burning fabric seemed counterintuitive to me as a fibre artist. We are conditioned to protect our textiles, to preserve them, to work with them gently. But the moment I held a heat tool to synthetic fabric for the first time, I knew I had discovered something magical. 

SOMETHING MAGICAL HAPPENS 

UNLOCKING TEXTURE AND DIMENSION WITH HEAT TOOLS 

Burning fabric opens up a world of texture and dimension that is impossible to achieve through traditional quilting techniques. The way synthetic fibres melt, curl and dissolve can create stunning filigree effects, organic edges and unexpected depth in textile art. It allows for intricate cutwork, delicate lace-like designs and a feeling of movement that adds so much life to an art quilt. One has to remember that it is an art quilt and the use of different techniques and materials are encouraged. 

INTRICATE CUTWORK 

BALANCING CREATIVITY WITH RESPONSIBILITY 

I am well aware that burning synthetic fabrics is not the best thing for the environment—or for one’s health. However, the amount of burning I do is minimal and I always take precautions to ensure that I work in a well-ventilated space, avoiding direct exposure to fumes. Whenever it is not possible to work in the outdoors, I have a fan blowing but the fumes are always blown away. Like any other technique, it is about finding balance: pushing the boundaries of creativity while maintaining responsibility for our surroundings. 

CREATIVITY WITH RESPONSIBILITY 

THE FREEDOM OF CONTROLLED DESTRUCTION 

Burning fabric has been such a liberating process for me and I want to share that sense of discovery with my students and others. This is why I have incorporated Burnwork Filigree into my teaching, helping students embrace the freedom that comes with controlled destruction. There is something incredibly satisfying about taking a heat tool to fabric and watching it transform before your eyes—creating negative space, revealing underlying layers and achieving effects that are almost impossible to replicate by hand. 

BURNWORK FILIGREE and  REVEALING UNDERLYING LAYERS 

BEYOND AESTHESTICS: EMBRACING IMPERFECTION 

For me, this technique is about more than just aesthetics. It’s about embracing imperfection, about allowing materials to behave in unexpected ways and about finding beauty in the unconventional. A heat-gun does exactly that. It is always a surprise to see the effect on my work! It reminds me that art is not just about constructing but also about deconstructing—and that sometimes, the most extraordinary results come from the willingness to take risks. 

EMBRACING IMPERFECTION and IMPERFECTION IN MY WORK 

EXPLORING BURNWORK FILIGREE IN YOUR OWN PRACTICE 

So, if you’ve never tried burning fabric before, I encourage you to explore it (safely, of course!). Whether it’s a light singe to create texture and to give a beautiful smooth finish or a full filigree effect to enhance a design, the possibilities are endless.

LIGHT SINGE and FULL FILIGREE 

If you ever have the chance to join me in a BURNWORK FILIGREE class, I’d love to guide you through the process of setting fabric alight—creatively, intentionally and with just a touch of rebellion! 

Till next time, 

Tilly