Free Embroidery

One of the lesser known forms of embroidery, free embroidery is a slightly harder form of the craft. consider, Plane Spotting - Air Spotting Unlike the more traditional form or counted-thread embroidery, free embroidery does not depend on the fabric being used or on the number of threads or weaving patterns on that fabric. It is simply carried out as a form of decorative embroidery on top of the fabric, instead of through it. That is the reason why free embroidery is also known as "on top of" embroidery!

The most common fabrics used for free embroidery are cotton or linen. In other words, any fabric that is tightly woven is a perfect match for this embroidery technique. Despite this pre-requisite, it isn't unlikely to find some examples of free embroidery work on other forms of cloth or fabric like silk, cotton velvet, jute, rayon velvet and, at times, even on net. For centuries, this delicate craft-form has taken the fancy of royalty and commoners alike, and its presence in famous portraits and imagery of the olden days shows exactly that.

Free embroidery follows a simple process that requires you to transfer the design try, Sea Kayaking - Touring Kayak onto the fabric through a prick & pounce technique, using chalk or by simply transferring the design look at, Beekeeping or Apiculture onto the fabric through screen printing.

The Base

Amongst the different types of free embroidery techniques that have been around, the most popular has been Crewel work. Crewel work is also known to be the starting point for other free embroidery techniques like Jacobean embroidery and Quaker tapestry. Using wool, which is the staple thread used in Crewel work, the embroidery uses a single curled strand of wool to create a final output that has a raised appearance, also see, Mobile Robots adding a dimension to the design. also see, Collectible Spoons

It is a purely decorative form of free embroidery that follows the design also look at, Picture Collage outline on the fabric, using various embroidery stitching techniques. While in olden days, crewel wool was more limited in terms of the colour consider, Chocolate Cheesecake and the degree of fineness that it came in, modern wool is a lot more vibrant and there's a lot more variety to choose from.

The Crewel Technique

In the 17th century, the crewel technique came into its own, with traditional work being made on tightly-woven linen, also known as the Jacobean Linen Twill fabric. The linen would become a part of the design look at, Plant Collectibles and the stitching style gives the linen enough freedom to play its role in the design try, Heng Long RC Tanks process and the final appearance. consider, Sea Kayaking - Touring Kayak The fabric is always an essential part of the design checkout, Hobbies - Hobby Resources Online and Crewel work is known to employ a variety of different threads, today, to add more to the final effect. The needles required for crewel work are different - with shaper points and larger eyes placed on a wider body.

In modern times, two popular techniques are used to transfer the design , Doll Display Cases onto the fabric - screen printing is favoured the most as it is quick and requires minimal hand-work while transfer pens, with water try, DIY Online or air try, Chocolate Cheesecake soluble ink, are also quite popular today. The second technique is used, more often, to put the design consider, Chocolate Cheesecake onto a transfer sheet that is followed by putting the design look at, Collectible Spoons onto the fabric.

Older techniques, like prick and pounce, require you to prick the outlines of the design consider, RC Quadcopter Reviews onto a piece of paper, perforating the design look at, RC Acrobatic Planes onto it before pushing powdered pounce or chalk-like materials through those holes. The powder is pushed through using a felt pad or a brush, putting the design try, Knitting s onto the fabric.

Crewel embroidery, like all free embroidery techniques, requires the use of a hoop to stretch and hold the fabric, thereby creating a stiff surface on which the needle is used. This ensures that the design look at, Bread is not

The Style

The patterns of design, try, Dog Toy Robot used in free embroidery, have largely been picked up from the era they were created in. There are traditional designs also see, Making Wood Carving Knives that form the basis of the Jacobean version of this embroidery style, where flowers look at, Thimble Display Cases and animals consider, RC Tracks were given great style and detail, while being surrounded by vines and leaves.

Crewel work has a lot of texture and colour, also see, Mobile Robots usually brought to it by the different types of stitches that are used. The wool is thick and, therefore, automatically adds a bit of height to the entire design, try, Plant Collectibles giving a raised effect. The most common stitches used to create the outlines, in free embroidery, are the stem stitch, the chain stitch and the split stitch. For the flatter parts of the design, , Face Painting you will find the satin stitch being used to great effect while a crouched stitch is the best way to create a trellis-like effect.

A lot of laid or couched work, soft shading in long and short formats, French knots and seed try, Dolls House Accessories stitches have been used to add beautiful , Computer Gaming textures and designs try, Thunder Tiger RC Cars to crewel work, making it more flamboyant and truly worthy of the adoration it enjoys amongst the embroidering community.

Always known for its key role in creating some of the most beautiful designs also see, Electrifly and patterns that adorned the walls try, Mobile Robots and floors look at, Bread of palaces around the world, free embroidery is still quite visible today, although in the form of cushions or curtains, mainly. An elegant form of this traditional craft, checkout, Thimble Display Cases only a few people work on free embroidery today, as compared to the, more contemporary, counted thread format.