EMBROIDERY TECHNIQUES!
Needlecraft Superior Embroidery Techniques!
WHAT IS EMBROIDERY?
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric
or other materials with designs stitched in strands of
thread or yarn using a needle.
Embroidery may also use other materials such as metal
strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins.
The word “embroidery” sometimes confuses people.
It is a term to describe all forms of needlework made
with needle and thread upon an embroidery fabric,
including cross-stitch, needlepoint, and samplers.
Actually, these techniques fall into the category of
counted-thread work, in which the stitcher follows a
printed pattern on a chart or grid, then counts the fabric
threads to determine the exact placement of each stitch.
Occasionally, an experienced embroiderer simply stitches
directly onto fabric using no pattern, creating a design
much as a painter would paint a canvas-an example of true
artistic freedom!
Another name for this style of needlework is “surface”
embroidery, with the implication that the design-the thread,
actually-sits upon the surface of the fabric.
You may also encounter the term “flat” embroidery, which
doesn’t really take into consideration the raised effects
of various knots, padded stitches, and stitch overlays.
Traditional Chinese satin-stitch embroidery on a
woman’s coat: silk thread on silk fabric.
Types of embroidery!
Embroidery is classified according to the use of the
underlying foundation fabric.
Embroidery styles can be described according to the
relationship of stitch placement to the fabric.
In free embroidery, designs are applied without regard to
the weave of the underlying fabric.
Examples include crewel and traditional Chinese embroidery.
In counted-thread embroidery, patterns are created by making
stitches over a pre-determined number of threads in the
foundation fabric.
Counted-thread embroidery is more easily worked on an
even-weave foundation fabric such as embroidery canvas,
aida cloth, or specially woven cotton and
linen fabrics although non-evenweave linen is used as well.
Examples include needlepoint and cross-stitch.
What we choose to call embroidery is free from these constraints,
and is often referred to as “free embroidery” to signify freedom
from having to count fabric threads.
Reduced to its most elemental essence, embroidery fills in shapes
to make a picture, using a variety of stitches.
Usually the picture already exists as an outline, either drawn
directly onto the fabric, or transferred by some other means
You may follow this outline exactly or use it as an informal guide,
taking small liberties by making adjustments to suit individual idea’s.
Embroidery Fabrics fall into three categories.
The first group, (common weave in image below) common-weave
fabrics includes most tightly woven fabrics with ralatively
smooth surface.
Although medium-weight linens and wool are the traditional
preferences,fabrics of other weights and fibres
(such as cotton and synthetics)
are also acceptable as long as the working thread is not
too heavy.
A coarsely woven cotton called headcloth is a common choice.
Most standard free-form embroidery (including crewel) is worked
on common-weave fabrics.
Even weave fabrics the second classification, (in image Below)
are all plain weaves with the number of thread per centimetre
the same for both warp and weft.
One type,the single even-weave, is made from single strands of
intersecting threads, the thread count can vary from about
5 percentimetre (coarse) to about 15 percentimetre (fine).
In Hardanger, another of the even weaves,pairs of threads intersect;
9 pairs of threads per centimetre is the usual count.
Still another type is Aida cloth, which consists of intersecting
thread groups, generally about 4 to the centimetre.
As a rule, even-weave fabrics are used for thread-counting
techniques,such as blackwork and openwork.
They may be cotton, linen, wool, or blends with synthetics.
With the fabrics in the third group,(woven patterns in image below)
have in common is a evenly spaced woven pattern that supplies
guidelines for certain kinds of embroidery, such as cross stitch
and smocking.
Fabrics as damask or the pale brown floral pattern shown at the right
allow embroidery motif to be incorporated into their woven-in designs.
The list or embroidery fabrics is far from fixed-new ones are always
appearing. Printed fabrics can be used for some free-form embroidery,
but be careful: the print design may not follow the straight grain of
the fabric.Knits are rarely satisfactory.
Embroidery Fabrics