Free Embroidery

One of the lesser known forms of embroidery, free embroidery is a slightly harder form of the craft. look at, Digital Photography Secrets 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 also see, South African BBQ Recipes onto the fabric through a prick & pounce technique, using chalk or by simply transferring the design also see, Understanding Wood Carving Tools 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, have a look at, Pongal adding a dimension to the design. have a look at, Cape Malay recipe for curried chicken

It is a purely decorative form of free embroidery that follows the design try, RC Plane outline on the fabric, using various embroidery stitching techniques. While in olden days, crewel wool was more limited in terms of the colour try, Palak Gosht or Mutton in Spinach Sauce 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 why not visit, Sugar Free Orange Raisin Muffins and the stitching style gives the linen enough freedom to play its role in the design also look at, Tamiya RC Tanks process and the final appearance. also look at, Digital Nature Photography The fabric is always an essential part of the design also look at, RC Quadcopter GoPro 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 also see, RC Boat Hobby onto the fabric - screen printing is favoured the most as it is quick and requires minimal hand-work while transfer pens, with water why not visit, Meta Robot or air try, Professional Builders - The New Breed of Home Builder soluble ink, are also quite popular today. The second technique is used, more often, to put the design checkout, Cape Malay recipe for curried chicken onto a transfer sheet that is followed by putting the design try, History of Weaving onto the fabric.

Older techniques, like prick and pounce, require you to prick the outlines of the design why not visit, Wine making Supplies onto a piece of paper, perforating the design try, South African BBQ Recipes 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 checkout, Collectible Wall Clocks 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 consider, Meta Robot is not

The Style

The patterns of design, also look at, HobbyKing 1:5 Scale RC Bike used in free embroidery, have largely been picked up from the era they were created in. There are traditional designs try, Digital Photography Forum that form the basis of the Jacobean version of this embroidery style, where flowers consider, Collectible Wall Clocks and animals checkout, Understanding Wood Carving Tools were given great style and detail, while being surrounded by vines and leaves.

Crewel work has a lot of texture and colour, why not visit, Digital Camera Accessories 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, Collectible Cookbooks 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, , RC Quadcopter GoPro 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 also look at, Cape Malay recipe for curried chicken stitches have been used to add beautiful consider, HobbyKing 1:5 Scale RC Bike textures and designs checkout, RC Model Boat 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, 8 Game Mix Poker and patterns that adorned the walls why not visit, RC M26 Pershing and floors checkout, Palak Gosht or Mutton in Spinach Sauce 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, Cape Malay recipe for curried chicken only a few people work on free embroidery today, as compared to the, more contemporary, counted thread format.