small projects Archive - Page 24 of 25

Schwalm Hems – The Arch Border (2)

By Luzine Happel on 1. March 2014 / blog, small projects, Schwalm designs / 1 Comment

Perhaps you would like to work a table runner or a band with such a border as shown in the article on 1. February 2014. The below picture shows a part of such a band.

Perhaps you would like to work such a border along the longitudinal sides, and you do not want to set the length of it at the outset (but rather to have the option to adjust the length of your piece according to your enthusiasm). For this situation, please take a piece of linen in the desired width and any length. About 10 cm in from the right narrow edge of the linen, you will begin withdrawing threads. You will withdraw threads along the length of the fabric.

Withdraw one fabric thread (basic line) along the long edge where you want to fasten the hem later.
(In my example the hem should measure 3 cm plus a 1 cm wide fold, so my basic line is 7 cm from the edge. Counting inwards, leave 4 threads, withdraw one, leave 6 threads, withdraw one, leave 4 threads again and withdraw one. The ends of thread remain in the back and will disappear under the hem later.

Work Four-Sided stitches over 4 threads between the basic line and the next withdrawn-thread line.
Please keep in mind, if you do not wish to determine your final length beforehand, you will not withdraw threads the entire length of the linen.

Make a stencil of paperboard with a straight edge at the bottom, an arch in the desired size, a space for the narrow leaf, and a section of the arch (this will ensure that the spacing between arches will be consistent). My arch is 3 cm high, 4.3 cm at its widest point, and there is a distance of 0.7 cm between the arches. If the arch were smaller, the pattern could not develop, and if the arch were much larger, it would be unattractive.
Lay the stencil on the ironed fabric so that the bottom line of the arch (red line) sits on the innermost thread line. Holding it in this position, and using a pencil, trace the shape of the arch. Then move the stencil to the left to the point where the partial arch matches up with the just marked line, and trace a second curve. You may choose to mark the desired number of arches all at once, or, if you have not decided on a final length, to mark the arches as you work. When adding arches after embroidery begins, it is important to iron the fabric again, and to keep one arch un-embroidered to be able to accurately place the stencil.

Further instructions will be the subject of the next article.

Tablecloth for all Seasons – February: Hearts

By Luzine Happel on 8. February 2014 / blog, small projects, Tablecloth for all Seasons / 1 Comment

In February there is Valentine’s Day: the day for lovers. And what could be more appropriate than to choose the heart – the symbol for love – for this month’s tablecloth decoration. Of course, the heart is doubly appropriate for our purpose since the motif plays a big role in Schwalm whitework.

In past posts, “A Comparison of Iron-On Transfer Pencils” and “Iron Transfer versus direct Tracing”, one can find a heart design. Also on this blog one can find many articles describing how to embroider a heart.

Embroider some such hearts, either all the same size and the same shape or in different sizes or shapes.

One can see how to cut out an embroidered heart here: “Small Project – Slate meets Linen”.

It is a fun to play with the finished pieces to test the different possibilities for decoration and to find your favorite arrangement.

Schwalm Hems – The Arch Border (1)

By Luzine Happel on 1. February 2014 / blog, small projects, Schwalm designs / 2 Comments

In Schwalm whitework, hems are not only decorated with Four-Sided Hem stitch, Peahole Hem stitch or Needleweaving; they are also adorned with small decorative borders worked along the seam. The arch border is a very special adornment. There are different versions of arch borders.
Here I will present a very plain one – arches placed side by side, separated by a single narrow leaf.

These arches can be decorated with various filling patterns, and so one can achieve something like a sampler where many different patterns are kept always in sight.

It is very easy to take a half-oval shape, surround it with Coral Knot stitches and Chain stitches (worked on the inner side of the Coral Knot stitches), and to fill the shape with any filling pattern.
However, I decided to connect the arches directly to the Peahole hem.

In this instance, the withdrawn vertical threads are not cut along the edge at the top of Peahole hem, but turned down and caught in the Four-Sided stitches at the top of the Peahole hem.

More detailed instructions will be the subject of future articles.

Tablecloth for all Seasons – January: Snowballs

By Luzine Happel on 18. January 2014 / blog, small projects, Tablecloth for all Seasons / 1 Comment

January is the snowiest month of the year here. So, I decided to create snowballs to decorate the monthly tablecloth.

A simple circle design with a double line (Here: internal diameter 7.3 cm; external diameter 8.5 cm) was ironed on Weddigen linen, 13.5/cm thread count. I think ironing is the best way to get a true circle on the linen.

Use Coton à broder No. 16 for Coral Knot stitches, No. 20 for Blanket stitches and for Chain stitches. Coral Knot stitches were worked along the inner line. Chain stitches were worked a small distance outside, the Coral Knot stitches. The outside Chain stitches were covered with densely worked Blanket stitches between the outline and the Coral Knot line.

Using Coton à broder No. 30 Chain stitches were worked directly inside the Coral Knot stitches. The shape was filled with pattern “445”.

After finishing, the embroidered piece was washed (boiled), starched and ironed. Then, the circle was cut.

If needed, such closely trimmed embroidery can be washed and ironed – quick and easy – at any time, but never spun in a washing machine!

To decorate your tablecloth with snowballs, work several and place them in a pleasing arrangement over the tabletop.

Of course, such small doilies also can be used as coasters.

Small Project – Hearts in Metallic Frames

By Luzine Happel on 14. December 2013 / blog, small projects / 1 Comment

Some weeks ago Méri from Portugal sent me samples of different Portuguese linens. She asked me to determine if they would be suitable for Schwalm Whitework.
I welcomed her request.

First, I would like to say that linen mills, other than “Weddigen”, could produce a linen suitable for Schwalm, but not all do. And when I do not know another producer, I recommend “Weddigen” because it is very important to have the right material.

Also, when a linen is labeled as a “second choice” this does not mean that it is necessarily “bad quality”. For example, there might be some faults in the weaving which have been marked with a coloured dot or a coloured thread. This fabric is absolutely perfect for small projects where such faults can be cut around.

Many countries around the world continue to experience a recession. Many people earn less money or have lost their jobs, so not every embroiderer can afford expensive linen. And sometimes it is economical and necessary to “make-do” with what one has on hand.

At a glance, all linen samples sent by Méri gave a good first impression. I took my thread counter and noted that all samples were evenweave with a 15/cm thread count. All were densely woven.
Only the threads of the green linen varied a little too much from one another.

Linen blends, due to their easy care, should be reserved for clothing. For table linen we use pure linen fabric only; embroidery on 100% linen will develop a true gorgeous elegance.
So I took both pure linen samples and embroidered on them. The first result you can see in “444”, the second is shown below. Withdrawing threads was no problem.

By chance I found metallic heart frames (Ernsting´s family/Germany MOD/217645-003/339795) and I got the idea to fill them with embroidered pillow- hearts. To make the heart-shape match the frame, I traced the inside and outside of the hearts onto a sheet of paper and reduced it 10 %. I marked the longitudinal axis on the linen with small running stitches and ironed the design onto the fabric.

On the inner line I worked Coral Knot stitches and worked Chain stitches next to and inside the Coral Knot stitches. I then filled the shape with the Limet pattern “divided heart” from page 47 of my book “Limetrosen I”.

I marked the outside line with small running stitches.

I laundered, starched and ironed the piece. Then, right sides together, I sewed two layers of linen together just inside the running stitches. Along a straight edge, I left an opening to be able to insert filling.

I trimmed the heart leaving a narrow seam allowance. Around the curves, the seam allowances were clipped, and the points were carefully trimmed.

I opened up the seam allowance and smoothed it.

The heart was then turned inside out and filled with filling (Poly-Fil or wadding).

The opening was sewn shut, and the embroidered heart was placed into the frame.

As you can see, the pattern looks pretty – the linen is absolutely suitable.

Two of them now decorate my home.