Bead embroidery in the “Graphic” style on water-soluble canvas!
Today, more and more girls, regardless of age, are plunging into the fascinating world of embroidery.
First of all, it is an opportunity to perform “miracles” with your own hands, to feel like a real artist. Where does embroidery begin? First of all, you need to decide what exactly you wanted to depict. Please note that the drawing must be pleasant to you both in terms of content and color scheme, because you will have to sit on it for more than one hour.
Embroidery, like any business, must be taken seriously. It is necessary to think in advance about the necessary devices that will allow you to bring certain conveniences during the work process. We will need: water-soluble canvas “Gamma” (analogous to Aida No. 14), volumenfleece interlining (for embroidery), Czech beads 10 g, nylon thread, bead needle, scissors.
So, let's start with the motif of bead embroidery on water-soluble canvas, which is ideal for hand embroidery on any fabric (denim, cotton, knitted fabric). In my case, bead embroidery will be done on a knitted product.
1. First, choose a design, then take a water-soluble canvas (Gamma) and measure it 1-2 cm larger than the design itself. We place the canvas on the product on which we want to embroider, attach it with pins, and then carefully sew it with a basting stitch so that it does not move. And on the reverse side of the embroidery area, we attach the woolen fleece interlining with a warm iron for fixation.
4. After the canvas has dissolved and disappeared, rinse the product thoroughly with plenty of water. A gentle machine wash is recommended to completely remove any remaining canvas. The detergent must be intended for washing colored laundry.
5. Ready-made bead embroidery motif in the “graphic” style on a thick knitwear product (size 25x18 cm). The embroidery design is made in two shades of beads: beige and brown to match the main tone of the fabric.
DIY tricks. Dissolvable embroidery canvas
Author: Margarita
I embroider “en masse” (if I can say so, that is, a lot
not so long ago. About a year. I like embroidery to have practical applications. And of course, I couldn’t pass by such a miracle as soluble canvas! I remember the first embroidery for a long time I couldn’t start... And my son had to embroider on a T-shirt for his first photo shoot. The prepared materials lay there for 2 or 3 weeks, I went up, looked at the T-shirt, at the soluble canvas and... decided to put it off. But when there was little time left, I decided to take up the embroidery . And now I really love embroidering with the help of this wonderful canvas. The main thing is to take the first step. It looks like I’m not the only one who is afraid and walking around this soluble canvas. And maybe someone will be interested in how I do it now. I’ll show you with the example of an Olympic T-shirt. Anyone who has encountered knitwear knows that it is a rather capricious material. And you need to work with it carefully and carefully. Before starting work, I always wash the future product, as I am afraid of the finished product shrinking and skewing. Unfortunately, I have encountered this in practice. Therefore, I think that washing before embroidery will not be superfluous. Then I iron carefully, trying to even out all the details.
And I proceed to the main steps of the process of decorating a T-shirt (or any other product).
Step 1. First, I determine the location of the embroidery. In this case, I decided to place the embroidery in the center of the T-shirt.
Find the middle by folding the T-shirt in half.
And mark the center line with threads. Here I think it is IMPORTANT to note that it is better to use threads for basting and marks in a LIGHT or WHITE color , since they definitely should not leave any marks on the product. Well, or just be sure of threads of other shades that they will not spoil the T-shirt in any way during the process.
I used dark threads to make it more visible and I was confident in them.
Step 2. We position the soluble canvas in the same way as the embroidery on the T-shirt should be located and baste it with small stitches.
Then, so that the canvas does not “dance”, we secure the soluble canvas around the entire perimeter with pins. It is IMPORTANT not to stretch the knitwear too much , otherwise the embroidery may eventually become distorted. We can say that the knitwear is in a loose state.
Next, you can baste the canvas with threads to the T-shirt, since with needles you also need to be careful when working (so as not to prick yourself). This time I left the needles, honestly - I was too lazy and regretted the time (my son’s little curious hands would not have allowed me to complete this process either))). But if you baste with thread it will be safer and more confident that the embroidery will not warp. And again, when basting, one should not allow tension and distortion of the knitwear .
Step 3. I like to embroider on a hoop. And I always use them when embroidering on knitwear. I can't live without them. Although it seems to me that with a small plot it is possible without a hoop. Dissolvable canvas is, in principle, quite rigid, and if you also take into account that it is basted with threads, then everything should work out well. I thought the plot with the Olympic rings was not small. And apparently, psychologically, the presence of a hoop sets me up for embroidery. Here I will also repeat that when using a hoop, it is IMPORTANT not to overtighten or warp the knitwear!
Next, we embroider the design you like to your heart’s content.
Step 4. After completing the embroidery, remove the hoop and carefully take out all the needles and threads. Release the embroidery. Getting ready for the magic to come
Step 5. We come to the most interesting and spectacular! Carefully place the T-shirt in a bowl of warm water. Here, too, it is IMPORTANT to use warm water . I’ll write it better here: Follow the instructions on the package for the soluble canvas!
And... we begin to watch. The children will also be interested. So you can also involve children in such an interesting process of dissolution and disappearance of the canvas
After dissolution, rinse, dry, iron and... Voila! DIY beauty is ready! Simple and beautiful!
Thank you for your attention! The main thing is not to be afraid to try something new.
I would like to wish you new creative achievements!
Source
What alternatives are there to water-soluble canvas?
Stramin
Stramin is a stiff canvas that is most often used for embroidering carpets and tapestries. But smart embroiderers figured out to use it as a “removable canvas”. To use this method, you simply need to attach the stramin to the fabric with pins, embroider a design on it, and then remove the horizontal and vertical threads by pulling. The result is indistinguishable from water-soluble canvas.
Perforated paper
This is a very popular option among foreign embroiderers. This material is also used on the principle of removable canvas, but it has a significant disadvantage: careless use of perforated paper can lead to it simply tearing. Therefore, it is better to use it for the simplest patterns with a small number of details and thread colors.
Water soluble paper
This is an option that can replace both perforated paper and water-soluble canvas: a lightweight material that can be easily and “painlessly” removed with water.
Which canvas should I choose for cross stitch?
You can embroider on canvas using the counted cross stitch technique, as well as in tapestry or carpet techniques, uncounted cross stitch, satin stitch and other methods. Canvas is used not only for cross stitch, but also for pillows, handbags, and boxes. But the outline is different.
A distinction is made between uniform weave canvas (cotton) and uneven weave canvas (linen). There is also plastic canvas and canvas for embroidery on clothes. Some craftswomen use perforated paper or Stramin for embroidery.
Which canvas should I choose? It all depends on the product you are going to embroider. If you embroider something on clothes, you can use water-soluble canvas, which will not leave a trace after the first wash of the product. Or you can use canvas, which after finishing the work can be easily pulled out from under the embroidered design. You can buy regular Stramin and embroider on it, but quite often needlewomen buy Stramin with a pattern already applied. For example, I don’t like embroidering on such a canvas. However, this is a matter of taste.
Linen is an excellent base for embroidery. However, it is problematic to embroider a counted cross on it using the technique. There is also plastic canvas, which is used for volumetric products. In skillful hands, embroidered plastic canvas can become a Christmas tree toy, a box, or a decorative house.
The most popular for many years has been cotton canvas Aida. This is a fabric with a dense weave of threads that form clear squares. Embroidering on such a canvas is extremely convenient, because the needle easily and effortlessly slips into the holes, and the thread without knots is securely fastened to the front or back side. It is very easy to count the crosses on the Hades outline, which means that the likelihood of making a mistake and ruining the work is minimal.
What is the outline of Aida?
There are several types of Aida canvas. First, let's talk about Aida canvas sizes. The classification is based on the size of the squares. The most commonly used canvas is Aida 14 . There are 14 threads in one inch (approximately 2.54 cm). But we are more accustomed to counting in inches rather than centimeters. Aida canvas 14 is 55 cells in 10 cm. On such a canvas it is convenient to embroider with a full cross in two or three threads, or in a half-cross. It’s quite easy to make a French knot on such a canvas.
Also found in sets and in stores:
- Aida canvas 18 (72 cells by 10 centimeters). This is the smallest canvas from Aida (there is also Aida 22, but it is used quite rarely). Embroidery on such a canvas turns out very beautiful, realistic, and voluminous. This canvas is ideal for those who are going to embroider a large, complex picture, because the result will be a real masterpiece. On such a canvas they most often sew full crosses in 1-2 threads or a half cross.
- Aida canvas 16 (62 cells by 10 centimeters). A full cross here is usually sewn with two threads, and a half cross with 3-4 threads.
- Aida canvas 11 (44 cells by 10 centimeters). The largest weave of threads in Hades. This canvas is most often preferred by beginning embroiderers or people with impaired vision. Pillows on which the design is embroidered using Aida 11 look great. On such a canvas you can safely embroider a full cross in three or four threads, and a half-cross even in six threads.
Aida canvas is sold in several colors. If you do not have to embroider the entire field and it is assumed that the outline will become the background, then it makes sense to purchase, for example, a blue or yellow outline to make the work look more interesting. There is canvas with lurex, that is, metallized threads are included in the fabric. Sometimes sets contain tinted canvas. That is, a canvas of a certain color with image elements already applied to it, which are not embroidered and become the background for the embroidery.
Water-soluble canvas for cross stitch: features, advantages, disadvantages
There are many types of thread embroidery, but counted cross stitch is one of the most popular among needlewomen. Most of the creativity kits are dedicated to this art. This popularity is easy to explain: even a child can handle simple drawings. It is enough to master a few techniques and you can get to work. This activity develops creative thinking, attentiveness, and perseverance. The location of each stitch needs to be calculated, and the process of creating an image is reminiscent of how an artist paints his painting. Therefore, this art gives a similar feeling, and the image on canvas sometimes looks better than some of the works of modern drawing masters.
Types of canvas for transferring patterns to fabric
The cross stitch technique can give a second life to boring or out of fashion wardrobe items. With its help, any thing will turn from ordinary into exclusive. But it often happens that on fabric with a dense weave of threads, even an experienced embroiderer finds it difficult to make even crosses without distorting the design. And without neat stitches, even an original idea will look ugly.
An overlay or water-soluble canvas helps to transfer the design onto the material. The first is attached to the fabric. When the embroidery is finished, the threads that make it up are simply pulled out one by one. The disadvantage of this method is the distortion of the crosses: their tilt is lost. In addition, removing threads with tight stitching is not very convenient.
Bead
Even weave canvas Even weave canvas In addition to the classic Aida type embroidery canvas, there are special embroidery fabrics without a clear division into squares: Linda, Belfast, Edinburgh and so on. Working with them requires some experience and skill, but the result is simply wonderful. Works with a lot of unsewn background look great on this fabric. Ariosa is a uniformly woven fabric with an uneven structure, equally good for cross stitch and satin stitch, and is mainly used for embroidering tablecloths and napkins. Contains 34% viscose, 62% cotton and 4% metallic fibers. Murano also features an even weave and blend (48% viscose, 52% cotton). Used for cross stitch, counted satin stitch, long stitches, suitable for embroidering shirts. Bellana is made of 52% cotton and 48% rayon. 20 threads per inch, threads intersecting and not tightly woven. The special weaving gives the canvas softness and allows the needle to easily, without the slightest effort, pass through the fabric, getting into the spaces between the threads. This canvas is usually used for embroidering napkins and tablecloths. Due to its high quality and remarkable properties, it can be used for embroidering pictures with tapestry stitch and for sewing clothes. Lugana 25 has exactly the same composition and 25 threads per inch of fabric. One of the most popular fabrics from Zweigart. Elegant fabric for tablecloths, pillows and other decorative items. It is great for cross stitch work. It is used in Janlynn kits (Teresa Wentzler). Hardanger 22 is 100% cotton canvas with 22 threads per inch or 87 cl. by 10 cm. High quality Zweigart fabrics. Looks like regular fabric. This is the smallest of all types of canvas that have clear cells, not counting single-strand ones. It is embroidered with a cross in one thread or a half-cross (tapestry) in two threads. It is recommended to embroider with counted satin stitch, blackwork, petit-point, etc. Linda 27 is 100% cotton canvas with 27 threads per inch. Lightweight fabric with even weave. The edges are easy to process and drapes well. Used for sewing clothes, bed linen, tablecloths, napkins. Can replace flax. 2X2 Linda squares correspond to Aida 14. But unlike Aida, where the square is not divisible, Linda allows you to make two narrow crosses in the horizontal or vertical direction instead of one cross. This technique is used in Heritage sets. Linda is also used in Lanarte kits. Davosa 18 is 100% cotton canvas with 18 threads per inch or 71 cl. by 10 cm. This is a wonderful high quality fabric with a special weave. The intersecting threads are not rigidly intertwined. This canvas is soft and has the appearance of fabric. The needle passes effortlessly through the spaces between the threads. It is most often used for embroidering tablecloths, napkins, and runners. But it is also good for embroidering pictures.
Linen Linen fiber is the strongest of all natural fibers. Smooth, cool, with special treatment - glossy, and always noble fabric. The strength of flax allows the use of linen canvas in such types of embroidery as cross stitch, hemstitch and “hardanger”. Embroidered using 2 threads. 100% linen fabrics are produced in weaves of 18, 25, 28, 32, 36 and 40 threads per inch. Each of these fabrics, with a specific weave, has its own name. Cork 20 (80 threads per 10cm) is a fabric with a weave of 18 threads per inch. It is often embroidered with a single thread and comes in white and a limited number of colors. Dublin 25 (Dublin) (100 threads per 10 cm) has 25 threads per inch. This is a good quality fabric and is convenient especially for beginners to embroider on linen. Usually embroidered through 2 threads of fabric using 2-3 threads of floss. Cashel 28 (112 threads per 10 cm) has 28 threads per inch and is considered the most popular type of linen fabric for embroidery. By embroidering through two threads of fabric, you get a picture comparable to embroidery on Aida with a weave of 14 threads per inch. Cashel is produced in a wide range of colors. Belfast 32 (Belfast) (126 threads per 10 cm) is a fabric with a weave of 32 threads per inch. This is a fairly popular fabric. A tighter weave allows for more detail to be conveyed. It is usually embroidered through 2 threads of fabric, which is comparable to Aida embroidery with a weave of 16 threads per inch. Available in a wide range of colors, similar to Cashel. Edinburgh 36 (140 threads per 10 cm) has 36 threads per inch, which when stitched through 2 threads of fabric is comparable to Aida with 18 threads per inch. This fabric is great for collars, cuffs, and blouses. Any embroidery on Edinburgh linen looks very elegant due to the fineness of the work. Newcastle 40 (160 threads per 10 cm) is the newest linen fabric available and has 40 threads per inch. This fabric is of excellent quality and is used for very fine embroidery work.
Mixed linen fabrics
Linen blends look like linen, but the quality of the threads is different. Typically, blended fabrics are cheaper than pure linen. Floba comes in 14, 18 and 25 threads per inch weave and is always the same natural color. It is a mixture of 70% rayon (viscose) and 30% linen and the coloring is slightly uneven, which gives the fabric a “vintage” look. Used particularly for tablecloths and napkins. This fabric is durable and is used to make Shoulder Bags, which are convenient for embroidering. Floba 14 - (55 threads per 10 cm) Floba 18 - (68.5 threads per 10 cm) Floba 25 - (100 threads per 10 cm) Quaker Cloth 28 (Quaker) (112 threads per 10 cm) also a mixture of cotton and linen , with flax content 55%. The weave of the threads is 28 per inch. The range of colors is wide. The method of weaving the threads is the same as for pastel linen (dyed and undyed threads are used together). Brocade - Quaker Cloth 28 (Pastel Linen) (112 threads per 10 cm) consists of 52% cotton and 48% linen. This type of fabric is available in five colors. The softness of the color is achieved by a special interweaving of threads, when a dyed thread is used in one direction, and undyed (white) in the perpendicular direction. Carrick Fine Linen 45 has a very tight weave (45 threads per inch). This is a very elegant fabric. Available in white only. Embroidery on such fabric looks like a painting thanks to the smallest stitches. Also used for sewing clothes (blouses with embroidery). Composition: 55% linen 45% cotton
Disadvantages of embroidery on soluble canvas
There are also disadvantages to this method of transferring a design to fabric. Water-soluble embroidery canvas is only suitable for non-stretch fabrics. You also need to choose the right temperature setting for the iron when attaching it to the material. The material should be ironed without using steam, otherwise it will begin to dissolve. Water-soluble canvas has a fairly high cost - 3-4 times more than usual.
There are several other disadvantages of this material:
How to use water dissolving canvas
Before starting work, you need to decide on a pattern, measure its size and cut off part of the canvas. The markings are located according to the direction of the threads on the fabric. Then the iron heats up. If the instructions do not indicate the optimal temperature, it is advisable to conduct the experiment on a small piece of water-soluble canvas. If it is too low, the top layer will begin to come off during embroidery, so you will have to iron the material again. By setting the temperature too high, you can melt the non-woven base and deform the workpiece.
Do not press the soleplate of the iron onto the fabric too much, otherwise the material may melt. It will be impossible to return it to its original form. The drawing, if it has already been applied, will have to be removed, and the thing on which it was made will be damaged. The canvas should only be smoothed onto dry fabric. Do not touch it with wet hands.
Let's sum it up
The canvas is selected for each type of work, as well as depending on the size and complexity of the painting. The most common fabric on which cross stitch is made is Aida canvas. It is very easy to embroider on it, thanks to the clear squares. Aida can be bought at any fabric store for relatively little money. Another undoubted advantage of this canvas is the wide range of colors and the ability to buy fabric with cells of the desired size. Canva Aida also has its drawbacks. Firstly, if the embroidery does not completely cover the entire picture, then holes in the canvas are clearly visible in the free areas. Secondly, if the embroidery is of high complexity and you need to perform fractional stitches, then doing this on Aida is problematic due to the dense weave of the threads.
Features of working with water-soluble canvas
Sometimes if the interlining has come off at the edges, it is better to hold it with your fingers while continuing embroidery. It is better to create a drawing starting from the edge or frame, if it is present in the project, in order to better secure the outline. The work is done in small sections, using a needle with a sharp tip. When the drawing is ready, simply lower the product into water. The material will completely dissolve, and the embroidered motif will remain on the fabric. You can also work with non-woven canvas when performing other types of thread embroidery, for example, using the handarger technique.
Source
