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Stitching & Crafting Room:  EMBROIDERY  |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9094 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9094 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 14 2006 : 05:53:53 AM
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Girls,
I do a lot of embroidery, but usually they are things that are framed or have a backing. When you do dishtowels or pillow cases etc.how do you keep the back looking neat, and what about the knots?
NANCY JO |
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Utahfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1940 Posts
Portland
Oregon
USA
1940 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2006 : 08:57:20 AM
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If you look at old embroidered towels and pillow cases, you see that you can see the work on the other side. I don't think there's any way around it and I've been making them for years. But on the pillow, you can't see the work and the towels usually are hanging so you don't see the work. You have to be more careful and neat than you would ordinarily be so you don't have a lot of "stuff" showing through though. I'd like to hear what you other girls have to say about this.
Come visit my Etsy store at www.chezPatricia.etsy.com |
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Bridge
True Blue Farmgirl
814 Posts
Bridgette
Southern
Indiana
USA
814 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2006 : 09:29:26 AM
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I never start with a knot and I always end with a thread under and a wrap not a knot. I also never carry my thread more than 1/2 inch
It is just something I learned from counted cross stitch.
My back still do not look as nice as the front but these steps do help!!
~~Bridge's Boutique~~
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2006 : 09:46:44 AM
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I use smaller knots and try to take a stitch over them so they lay down well, and same as bridge I don't carry a thread more than 1/2"..usually much less. The backs on tea towels never look perfect...but like Patricia said..they are usually folded and hung so that the back dosn't show..no way around it without putting on a backing and that would sort of make it stiff and not the same. I check the back constantly to make sure it is looking pretty neat. I am teaching my daughters to embroider and working with them on doing this from the beginning so they don't get in the habit of messy backs.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2006 : 10:00:02 AM
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This is so good to know - I'm just learning to embroider, and the backs are a little, ummm...., less than loverly. Thanks for the hints!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2006 : 1:10:01 PM
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I just figure that they are homespun, so if you see a knot or two it is okay.
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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Nancy Gartenman
True Blue Farmgirl
9094 Posts
Nancy
West Seneca
New York
USA
9094 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2006 : 2:53:17 PM
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ok julia, I think I will go with that thought, I can do that!!
NANCY GARTENMAN |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2006 : 3:26:52 PM
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| I don't do a lot of embroidery, but I do make a habit of checking the back to ensure it is nice and neat. It just takes a little planning ahead to make sure everything falls nicely. |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2006 : 08:48:39 AM
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Knots are always bad for lots of reasons which will be explained later in this note. Best to start with a split stich then weave the tale in as you go. End with a weaving in of the last thread about 1/2 to 3/4 inch depending on the use hand towles more pillow cases less. You have to think of the type of wear it will get don't carry the thread from one item to the next meaning if you have two flowers 1 inch from each other finish your thread and start again on the next flower it saves you from having an ugly thread bar that not only shows on the back but more than likely the front as well sort of like shadow work does. Pretty if you know how to do that if not just ugly. (plus this is something that will get snagged and tear quicker) Knots are always bad not because of apperance but because of two other reasons for one they are bulky and make the work not lay flat. Second if that little knot comes undone which they tend to do then you have no back up to keep you thread from undoing your stitches. If you weave it in then the thread has to unwind which is harder to because of the fabric being so close and the fact that it is not as raised as the knot . The hight of the knot tends to make it wear more thus undoing it quicker part of the problem of it not laying flat. All this is the practical part but some people prefear speed and that is the knot if you most knot Like I said do a split stitch to start, or a tailers knot it is smaller than most and you can place it any were on the thread you like with practice. You can end with a taylors knot too or weave or any combination of the techniques mentioned. I hope this helps. The back will never look exactly like the front for one thing you are monitoring the front as you work with your eyes the back is typically only be monitored by your hands. Also always have clean hands as dirty thread from the oil on your hands will almost never get clean. keep baby hand wipes inthe travel pack with your embroidery. Better to go slow and be neat then to spend 100's of hours on something that will fall apart in afew years. If you make it well your grand children and beyond can enjoy your work not just your immediate family for 5 years.
My saying is my work is handmade not homemade. Meaning it is made if care and time and love. Not just something I through together because I wanted to make something. Think of homemade cookies typicillay bumpy and lumpy not like bakery ones. Not that store bought is good but I preffear my handmade things to look better than store bought. Then people are like wow you made that. It shows you care about what you make. My three girls wear dresses to church over the years that I have embroidered, or sewn, or crocheted. People always comment on Wendy must have made that because it would cost to much to buy that in a store because of the details. They ( my children ) have dresses that I have crocheted that have 300 plus hours in them in the needle work on them, (embroidery or romanian lace that I did) but only 30.00 of supplies. Is the dress worth the 30.00 of supplies or 3000.00 ( I charge 10.00 an hour to do repair and crochet work).
Neither they are only worth what my children think of them, whom will grown up and own them and give them to there children as the time involved made them strong and abel to even last through a washing machine. Good work ='s quality and lasting time + always use the best supplies possible for your area.
have a lovely day
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Edited by - sunshine on Apr 28 2006 09:39:32 AM |
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sunshine
True Blue Farmgirl
4877 Posts
Wendy
Utah
USA
4877 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2006 : 4:59:46 PM
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so how is this project going and what are you embroidering ( picture wise that is)
have a lovely day
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Edited by - sunshine on Apr 28 2006 09:39:46 AM |
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