This chapter has taken me a long time. I found each edge I did was such a challenge to match backgrounds, stitches and threads. I enjoyed it all!!
Bound edges
Page 1. Bound edge with at automatic stitched strip cut on the diagonal.
An OK sample …. The green stitching rows are not good. I did practise on a doodle cloth but obviously not enough.
For the fabric edge, I used white polyester cotton with a felt stabilizer. (I should have used a tearaway stabilizer as I was unable to turn under the raw edge!!!) I stitched rows of automatic flower pattern (#22) using Thread Studio 100% rayon variegated thread Carnivale which ranges from red to orange to yellow to violet. In between the flower rows, I used the leaf stitch (#23) using Thread Studio 100% rayon chartreuse in colour. This was all done on the straight grain of the fabric and then cut the strip on the diagonal.
For the background fabric, I used a piece of polyester cotton coloured with transfer dyes. I used a felt stabilizer. Next to the edge, I added three automatic stitches, four rows of a leaf stitch (#24), two rows of a zigzag wavy stitch (#14), with three rows of a closed type of buttonhole stitch (#11) between the two wavy rows. The thread used for this border was Thread Studio 100% rayon variegated Ironback with variations from greens to greys. My stitching did a bit of straying about!!!
Page 2. Bound edge with pin tucks.
For the edging I used a #2.0 twin needle (I only had one and soon discovered there were several different sizes!!) One thing I learned very quickly was to go very slowly as the thread kept breaking. I had to make sure that the threads were separated by the thread guide coming from the spools before going into the two tension guides. The length of stitch was 4.0. I believe if I used a higher number of twin needle, the stitching may have been easier. The fabric was thin and the threads were quite fragile!
The fabric used for the twin needling was a piece of fine silk coloured. I used two different colours of thread which were very close in value. 100% polyester embroidery thread colour #860 (red violet) and #620 (violet). The piece was stitched on the straight grain and then cut on the diagonal. This time I did stitch a larger piece as the one in Sample #1 was a bit small and very constricting in stitching it to the ground piece.
The ground fabric was a piece of fine cotton handkerchief that got caught on purpose in one of my painting sessions. I used a piece of tear away for the decorative rows. Four automatic stitches were used. Row 1 … wavy zigzag (#14) at 0.5 stitch length. Row 2 … tulip flowers (#20) with a stitch length of 1.2. Row 3 … leaf (#24) with a stitch length of 1.5. Row 4 … scallops (#16) with a stitch length of 0.5. The same thread was used for all rows … Thread Studio 100% rayon variegated Secret Garden ranging from pale pink to pale green to off white. My stitching was much better this time.
Page 3 Burnt edges using an automatic pattern
For this piece, I chose a piece of black felt. I used an edging zigzag stitch #8 varying the widths from 4 to 2. The thread used is polyester Signature size 30 … colour GEMS a variegated bright multi-coloured thread. I used the soldering iron to burn away the felt on the outside of the piece as well as some of the created windows. ( I realized, after the stitching was completed, that this thread might melt and I did catch a couple of places.)
Page 4 Burnt edges – free motion I liked this piece and it would do well along the edge of simple hanging.
Another piece of black felt for free motion using the zigzag stitch (feed dogs down). A heavier thread was used …. 100% cotton Signature size 20. Again, I chose a bright coloured variegated thread called Tropical Brights. Again I burnt the excess felt with the soldering iron.
Page 5 Free motion and burnt edges.
Another piece of black felt with a free motioned (feed dogs down) zigzag scalloped edges along the bottom of the piece. Then set the machine to straight stitching and tightened the tension of the top thread to 8. For the threads, I used 100% cotton Aurifil. the top thread was shocking pink – colour # 2530 and the bottom thread a pale green – colour # 2880. I than used a soldering iron to burn away the excess on the scalloped edge. Quite effective result!! The zigzag scalloped edge should have been neater. I needed to practise getting the stiches a bit closer.
Page 6 Automatic patterns stitched onto sheers and background fabric. I really liked this piece. I am sorry that it is a bit out of focus.
I chose a piece of hand dyed cotton that was primarily green and yellow with a small amount of red. On top, there are two pieces of organza with lime green on top of dark red wine. These three pieces of fabric were stitched together using an automatic flower stitch (#22 with a 4.0 length) and a leaf pattern (#23 with a 4.5 length ) in alternating rows.
Thread for the flower pattern – 100% rayon .. variegated thread …. wine red to light to violet to lime green to a shade of orange. The thread for the bobbin - 100% cotton Aurifil .. shade of grey green … colour #2905. The leaf pattern was stitched from the back to show the green thread.
The heat gun was used to burn away patches of the organza. The red organza shows up around the rows of stitches as well as the outside edges of the piece. I then frayed out the bottom edge of the cotton to add another dimension.
Page 7 Corded edges
On this one I used one piece of fancy knitting yarn.
I have done quite a bit wheat paste painting of fabrics. The wheat paste stiffens the fabric sufficiently enough so that stabilizing fabrics are not needed. Stitching does not bunch the fabric up! This piece was originally a piece of satin with circles woven in. I used a piece of knitting thread that had some satin baubles woven along with the acrylic thread.
Thread - 100% cotton machine quilting thread - variegated colours from royal blue to a medium shade of dark blue. The bobbin thread was a medium coloured grey.
Zigzagging the attached thread was a bit of a challenge with the bauble as you can see a bit of the fabric just right of the middle of the piece. Then I used two automatic stitches for the decorations above. Two rows of stitch #21 with a length of 1. Did a mirror stitch for the second row. The top automatic zigzag wave stitch (#16) with a length of 0.6.
Page 8 Corded edges continued.
This time I used three pieces of knitting yarn that were braided together.
For this sample, I used a piece of cotton that was painted and salt added for a spotted effect. I used a tear away stabilizer. This time I stitched the braided piece on with the automatic hemming stitch (#13). This worked really well. Then several automatic patterns above …. buttonhole like stitch (#18), leaf (#23), flower (#22), cross stitch (#25) and diamond stitch (#11). My stitching rows should have been straighter!!
Thread – bobbin thread Aurifil Madeira 100% polyester - pink. Top thread - Madeira – 100% rayon light pink to dark pink to red brown.
Page 9 Corded edges continued.
Using rattail cording.
Another wheat paste piece. The wheat pasting was not a success. I used velvet which was a bit crunchy and harsh to touch. I used bubble wrap to help develop the design. Machine stitching was easy. I used the hemming stitch (#13) to attach the braided rattail cording. Decorative stitches would not have worked!!!
Page 10 Corded edges continued
Using a narrow piece of suede like crafting cord. I liked this piece.
This time I used a piece of handed painted cotton with orange fish stamped across the bottom. The stabilizer was a piece of felt. I zigzagged the suede strip onto the cotton. It slipped a bit. I then free motion stitched around the stamped fish designs. The border was finished off with an automatic stich (#17) - length 0.4 and a width of 5.
Thread - 100% Rayon Victory Embroidery thread - colour #1681 – orange.
Page 11 Corded edges continued
One of my favourite pieces.
Another wheat paste sample where no stabilizer is needed. This time a rubbing plate (a series of squares) was used to mark the fabric. The cord was stitched on with a better accuracy than the previous piece. Maybe I had improved!!! For the stitching decoration of the inside squares, I used the double cross (#25) automatic stitch with a width of 4.
Thread - 100% rayon embroidery thread …. colour pink.
Page 12 Corded edges continued
Use of heavy cord.
Used a piece of felt with no stabilizer. There was some distortion of the fabric. I used two pieces of red/gold cord. They were stitched on with an automatic stitch (#12). This same stitch was used for all the rest of the piece. The changes were in direction, length and width.
Thread – 100% rayon Thread Studio – colour #1658 - wine red’
Page 13 Wired edge
A interesting effect with wire and stitching.
I chose s stretchy bag that at one time held some garlic. I placed a piece of red wire in the fold of a white stretchy bag. I used cable stitch for the whole piece.
For the bobbin – Madeira glamour overlock thread – viscose and metallic – using two different colours 1. wine red – colour #2415 and 2. black/silver/gold – colour #2584.
For the top thread – Thread Studio – 100% rayon – wine red – colour #1658
I stitched several automatic stitches – zigzag, leaf (#24), flower (#22) , and button hole like stitches (#11 & #18)
The manipulation of the wire makes for a good edge.
Page 14 Single lettuce edge
For these lettuce edges I transfer painted a very stretchy white jersey fabric. I really like the end colour effects. The resulting zigzagging was not as tight as it should have been. I did try quite a few samples. Width of the stitch was 4 and the length was 0.6.
Thread – Thread Studio – 100% rayon – variegated – Indian Splendour (every colour of the rainbow – although not showing in this sample) Used a a red bobbin thread.
Page 15 Several lettuce edges
I used the same transfer painted fabrics for these 5 layers as the single lettuce sample. (stitched on the fold)
The middle layer had some yellow to give a bit more contrast. The other layers were similar in colour.
Each layer had a different colour thread and for a change there were no variegated threads. I used the same thread for the top and in the bobbin.
Threads listed from bottom to the top – Aurifil 100% cotton – dark red (#2460); Aurifil 100% cotton – violet (#1243); Guttermann 100% polyester – yellow (#850); Mettler 100% polyester – royal blue (#468); Aurifil 100% cotton – blue green (#4182);
Each layer was stitched on separately. Length of zigzag stitch 0.5 and width 4.
Page 16 Decorative stitched edges
I stitched 3 rows of automatic stitches on two pieces of heavy card. Then these two pieces were attached to the orange felt by one row of stitching which also caught the ends of the grid makers.
stitches for the paper two rows of tulip flower design (#20) back to back with a row of double crosses (#25) down the centre between the tulips.
The grid makers were stitched with another flower (#22) automatic stitch on to pieces of gold yellow and green yellow organza. I then carefully burnt away the excess organza to make these strips. I think they were quite successful.
Thread used for everything – Thread Studio 100% rayon – Carnivale variegated from yellow to orange to red to red violet.
Page 17 Eyelet edge
This was a challenge. I did try to make eyelets just winging the process but I was not very successful. On my Husqvarna machine, there was no automatic eyelet stitch. However, I do have a reasonably basic Janome which had an attachment for making buttonholes with a rounded end. I used the smallest size I could and came up with a tear drop shape.
I then braided some fancy yarns and wove then forth and back. to give an interesting edge to the piece of felt.
I chose a piece of baby blue felt . I did use a tearaway stabilizer which worked well. I did wish I had used a medium blue felt for the base fabric. There would have been a better blend of colours with the darker stitching and woven braid.
Two different threads for the eyelets. In this case it didn’t really matter as the threads and ribbons covered up most of the stitching. Top row – Mettler 100% polyester (poly sheen multi) - variegated colour #9973 pink to red to violet. I also used this thread for the bottom edge using a wavy zigzag pattern (#14). Bottom row – Sulky 100% cotton – variegated blue to violet to red violet. Bobbin thread was a medium shade of violet in all cases.
For the braid, I used (1) a wide ribbon, (2) 3 strands of embroidery threads and (3) a fancy curly knitting yarn. (1 and 2 were tray dyed along with some fabric) The colours were variegated red to red violet to violet.
I burnt away the felt from the bottom edge of the piece with a soldering iron. I had to be really careful for the polyester thread I used inadvertently would also melt. I was successful!!
Page 18 Eyelet edge #2
A friend lent me an attachment to make eyelets that was specific for my ‘ancient’ machine!!! (I purchased the machine in 1989). Nice large holes were the result.
I used a piece of dark violet felt with a tearaway stabilizer.
I zigzagged twice around each hole using on the first round a width of 3 and on the second round a width of 4. For the bottom edge I used a scalloped pattern (#16). And then a row straight stitching above the eyelets.
Thread for everything was Thread Studio – Carnivale 100% rayon - a variegated thread ranging from yellow to orange to red to violet. The bobbin thread was a dark violet.
The woven ribbon was a stitched automatic flower pattern (#22) on two pieces of organza (blue and yellow) using the above thread!! I burnt away the excess organza on the ribbon as well as the excess felt on the bottom scalloped edge. I would have liked the ribbon to be brighter but the burning does make things darker. Alone the ribbon looked good. Maybe the felt should have been a lighter colour. Good experimenting though!!!
Page 19 Buttonhole edge
Another wheat paste painted piece. The original fabric was a polyester napkin with scalloped edges.
I stitched 9 large buttonholes using Thread Studio 100% rayon – colour Ruby variegated from red to violet. I used the same thread for the bobbin. The decorative stitch above the buttonholes was #11. It is a bit messy as did stitches on top of each other. The one closest to the top is the best!!
For the cord I used 2 satin rat tails (violet and shocking pink) and an open knitting yarn. I twisted the three together and did the automatic 3-step zigzag over top of all.
This is a long chapter. Now, where would I use these edges. Many of the fancy ones could happily be attached to the bottoms of wall hangings. The other more cord like ones could be on the edges of bags or book covers.
