Workshop - Open Work - Cut, Drawn, Pulled....
Free Machine Embroidery
There will be accompanying samples for closer scrutiny, most from my college days so that we can see and discuss common mistakes and how to avoid them and then of course, the opportunity for you to try each technique for yourself. I try to make the day as relaxed and fun as possible with you able to work at your own pace on what interests you and you don't necessarily have to try all the techniques, it is completely up to you! The outcome of the day will be a fist full of samples for you to use developing YOUR work
You will need:
N.B.: Bring along what you have, different fabrics give different results but please do not buy anything especially for this workshop, For each student, I provide a swatch of each type of fabric suitable for an 8” hoop. If you really have no polyester thread you can fill a bobbin from my stash. Do bring along any fabrics or threads that you want to play with!
Having developed a reasonable level of control with free machine embroidery using straight stitch and zigzag and having some understanding of how to remain relatively trouble free, this workshop is intended to extend your basic skills. During the course of the day you will be given short demonstrations on each of the techniques.
There will be accompanying samples for closer scrutiny, most from my college days so that we can see and discuss common mistakes and how to avoid them and then of course, the opportunity for you to try each technique for yourself. I try to make the day as relaxed and fun as possible with you able to work at your own pace on what interests you and you don't necessarily have to try all the techniques, it is completely up to you! The outcome of the day will be a fist full of samples for you to use developing YOUR work
- sewing machine (recently serviced or in excellent running order) where the dog feed can be lowered or covered
- your sewing machine booklet
- sewing machine toolkit (it is essential that the brush is included)
- embroidery/darning foot
- spare needles - you might have specifically made needled for embroidery but don't buy any especially
- your usual sewing kit to also include small pointed scissors
- 8” wooden embroidery hoop with the inner ring bound (I always include a proper screw driver so that I can tighten the screw really tight with little effort!)
- to get started, you will need a good quality regular machine thread like Guttermann Polyester Thread, but once you have got going, you might also want to use threads made specifically for machine embroidery so bring along a mixture of both
- calico for cut work
- loosely woven even weave fabric, suitable for withdrawing threads easily for drawn work. (To save yourself time on the day, you might want to prepare a small 4 ½” square, as if for hand embroidery. Zigzag across the cut edges and save your withdrawn threads.
- Make sure that there is sufficient fabric surrounding your prepared section to go
centrally in your hoop. Leave 2 or 3 holding threads across the withdrawn area so that the fabric will go in your hoop without distortion - loosely woven even weave fabric for creating pulled work that is more formal and geometric, as well as cotton scrim for pulled work that has a more organic feel
- note book and pencil so that you can record how you have achieved a particular effect
© Molly Tufnell 2014