Threads
I have quite a large variety of threads and they have been sorted into colour boxes. What a difference it makes in finding a specific colour when trying to decide what to use. However, I always seem to need a colour that I don’t have!!! I am also enjoying using variegated threads. I don’t have many but they are fun to use!!! I spend a lot of time deciding what to do and then the actual stitching takes such a little time!!! Not like hand embroidery!!!
Stitches
Page 1 Vermicelli - I noticed that I did get boxed in a couple of times. Also, the bit on the right was my practice piece. I like the variegated thread on the black felt!!! This piece showcased larger curves.
Fabric – black felt
Stabilizer – black upholstery dust cover fabric
Threads - top – 100% Rayon (20D/2) – variegated – colour - Carnivale – Thread Studio
Bobbin – Aurifil – 100% cotton – violet
The second Vermicelli piece showcased smaller curves and I stitched this on polycotton that had been transfer painted. Again there are a couple of breaks in the stitching as well as some of the curves are touching other curves.
Fabric – transfer painted poly cotton
Stabilizer – Black felt
Threads – top 100% rayon (20D/2) – variegated – colour - Ironbark – Thread Studio
Bobbin thread – Aurifil – 100% cotton - green
Page 2 - Vermicelli continued - this time I used a medium width zigzag near the top and then a wider zigzag in the middle. For the bottom third I used 4 different automatic stitches – 2 flower stitches, small bars that are side by side, and the stitching zigzag. This last section was not easy to do as I kept stitching into the curves. Makes very interesting meandering patterns!!!
Fabric – hand painted cotton fabric from my stash
Stabilizer – black upholstery dust cover fabric
Threads – Premium Sulky 100% cotton - variegated violet to red violet
Bobbin thread – light green
Page 3 - Vermicelli continued. I used a white textured velvet with a variegated thread (I seem to like variegated threads!!! I soon will have to get more variety!!)
Fabric – textured velvet
Stabilizer – black upholstery dust cover fabric
Threads – Rayon 100% (20/D2) – variegated colour – Carnivale - Thread Studio
Bobbin – Medium green
Page 4 - Granite stitch. This stitch is tiring and somewhat difficult to keep the stitching moving forward. I took your advice and set a steady speed for the machine and then slowly moved the piece in circles.
For my first piece I chose a flower picture from page 1 of chapter 2 in this module. I had to draw the image on top to be able to follow the lines. I did this by stitching an outline from the back as we did for another piece in another chapter. I again chose a variegated thread for the flower and a copper metallic thread for the centre. The blue enhanced the flower. I like the black outline of the flower petals.
I liked this piece.
Fabric – black felt
Stabilizer – black upholstery dust cover fabric
Threads - Rayon 100% – variegated (no label); Mettler Polyester 100% – colour light blue # C672; WonderFil Mettallic – colour bronze # MT 7722.
Bobbin – black and light blue
Page 5 – Granite stitch continued. This time I used a piece of 100% cotton fabric painted with Setacolours. I was trying to be subtle in choosing a light background. I don’t think there is enough action happening!!! I just followed the hills and valleys of the piece – again with some variegated and “straight” threads!!
I have done a couple of things that I think may have improved the piece. First of all, I added some yellow/orange lines of granite stitch. I also used an orange thread in the bobbin. Secondly, I flipped the piece. Thirdly, I took the picture at a different time of day and I think the colours are truer to the original than the one above.
Fabric – 100 % cotton fabric hand painted
Stabilizer – white felt
Threads - Rayon 100% – variegated in medium and light red browns (no label); Aurifil 100% cotton – colour # 2850 light aqua; Rayon 100% - embroidery – colour light rose; Aurifil 100% cotton – colour #246 red brown.
Bobbin threads – matched the top threads
Page 6 - Whip Stitch
Row 1 (left) - used tiny stitches with a top tension of 8 and no change in the bottom tension. From the picture below, it is hard to show the bottom thread coming through. I believe you have the capacity to see the stitches at close hand. if so, there is a definite showing of the bobbin thread and a pulling away of the top thread on the curves. I should have used threads with more contrast!!! The top thread is a rosy pink and the bobbin thread a pale yellow green.
Row 2 (middle) – In this row, I used a longer stitch length with a top tension of 8 and the bobbin with a loosened screw (I have 2 bobbins). In this sample, there is a definite difference in the stitches with more of the bobbin thread showing on the top. I used a pale blue in the bobbin and a bright variegated turquoise/blue top thread. Much better display of stitches, especially on the curve.
Row 3 (right) – I used the same tensions for the top and bobbin threads as in Row 2. Here I don’t think I changed the stitch length very much. I was concentrating on making the knots of threads in the straight bits!!! Again my colour choices are not very dramatic!!! Light rose on the top and light blue in the bobbin.
Fabric – Black felt
Stabilizer – Black upholstery dust cover fabric
Threads – Row 1 – Auriful – 100% cotton – colour # 2455 rosy pink; bobbin thread – Aurifil – 100% cotton – colour #5020 tint of yellow green (very pale)
Row 2 – Rayon 100% (120D/2) – variegated colour Barrier Reef – Thread Studio; bobbin thread – Guttemann 100% polyester – colour pale blue (no label)
Row 3 – Rayon 100% embroidery – colour light rose (no label); bobbin thread – Guttermann 100% polyester – colour pale blue (no label)
Page 7 Feather stitch. For these two samples, I used an embroidery hoop and loosened bobbin tension. I liked the effect of the stitched circles. When I stitched from side to side, the bobbin thread came to the surface much easier than when I was stitching up and down!! The fabric was somewhat distorted when released from the frame. Still lots of bobbin thread appeared on the top!!!
Fabric – unbleached cotton
Stabilizer – lightweight polyester interfacing.
Threads – Rayon 100% (120D/2) – variegated colour Indian Splendour – Thread Studio; bobbin thread - Aurifil 100% cotton – colour #2235 orange
Page 8 – Feather stitch continued. Similar to the piece on page 7. I liked the effect of the variegated thread coming up from the bobbin!
Fabric and stabilizer the same as the sample on page 7. The threads are also the same, however, the variegated thread is in the bobbin and the orange thread is on top.
Page 9 - Moss Stitch.
I used an embroidery hoop and the top thread tension was tight at 8 and the bobbin thread tension was very loose. Here I used a filament thread (100% nylon mono-thread) for the top thread.
In the bobbin, I used a variegated 100% cotton thread for the flower and the loops that formed were fantastic (here I moved the fabric sideways rather than up and down and there were more loops).
For the leaves I used a 100% rayon thread (another variegated) in the bobbin and the loops were not as evident …. a bit more slippery and so stayed near the surface. I did vary the top tension from 4 to 8.
For the center of flower, I stitched tiny circles in a bright variegated thread.
When I took the piece out of the frame, there was quite a lot of distortion. I put a piece of misty fuse and another piece of stabilizer on the back to hold the bobbin threads in place and then carefully removed all the nylon filaments. I should have taken a picture before I pulled out the nylon thread!!! What a interesting piece it turned out to be.
Fabric – piece of painted scrim from an early age back in my life. One of the first pieces I think I ever painted. Was quite stiff.
Stabilizer – 2 layers of lightweight polyester interfacing
Threads – top thread – 100% nylon filament mono-thread;
bobbin threads – flower - cotton 100% – variegated yellow/orange (no label); centre – Rayon 100% (120D/2) – variegated colour Carnivale - Thread Studio; leaves – Rayon 100% (120D/2) - variegated colour Indian Spendour - Thread Studio.
Page 10 I chose Chinese lanterns for my final piece.
My drawing from above
Page 11 My final piece for the chapter. The fabric is a piece of painted linen napkin. I used an embroidery hoop. Tight top tension at 8.
For one set of stitches, the stem, the bobbin tension was loose and for the rest of the stitches, the bobbin was set at the regular tension.
The thread for the stem is quite dark leading the eye in a curve around the orange lanterns (moss stitch). For the first five lanterns, the bobbin thread was a pale yellow orange. The last one was stitched with an orange bobbin thread (feather stitch). It is definitely noticeable. A good thing maybe!!???
I used two different blue threads for the feather stitch framing the center piece of stem and lanterns.
An interesting piece!!!
Fabric – hand painted linen napkin
Stabilizer – unbleached cotton
Threads – Stem – top thread – Aurifil 100% cotton – colour #5020 2LD very light green/yellow; bobbin thread – Rayon 100% (20D/2) – variegated colour Ironback – Thread Studio
Lanterns – top thread – Aurifil 100% cotton – colour # 7235 2CD orange; bobbin thread – Astra 100% polyester – colour yellow orange (no label)
Blue stitching – top thread – Aurifil 100% cotton – colour #4140 2FB medium blue; bobbin thread – Aurifil 100% cotton – colour lighter blue (no label).
