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Fabrics 101: Embroidering on Canvas
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Fabrics
101: Embroidering on Canvas
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If you
need a sturdy fabric to support a
stitch-filled design, or a rugged
material to stand up to heavy use,
canvas is going to be just what you
need. Think beyond the standard
beige tote bags - today's canvas
comes in types suitable for all
kinds of projects. And the best part
is, with a bit of attention to
detail, it's very easy to embroider.
Read on for some tips and tricks! |
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Choosing Your Materials
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FABRIC: Canvas comes in a
wonderful variety of weights, colors,
and even prints. Many of the projects we
make use lightweight canvas from the
home decorating department of our local
Joann Fabrics.
Another type of canvas you might
encounter is duck -- a tightly woven
fabric. There's also outdoor canvas,
which is treated to withstand the
elements better than ordinary fabric.
Keep it in mind for indoor projects, too
- there are lots of cheery colors and
prints to be found!
All types of canvas are known for their
sturdiness and strength, made from a
plain, simple weave. While modern canvas
is usually made of cotton, in the past
it's been made out of other fibers like
hemp and linen. In fact, "duck" comes
from the Dutch word for linen canvas -
not the aquatic birds!
Make sure to thoroughly pre-shrink your
canvas before embroidering it. Since
it's cotton, it might shrink quite a bit
-- and you want to make sure your design
stays flat and pretty even after it's
washed.
DESIGN: You can embroider pretty
much any designs you want on canvas -
it's sturdy enough to carry even heavy
designs well, and its flat surface means
even light designs like redwork will
appear bright and beautiful. Have fun
and experiment!
NEEDLE: Use a 75/11 sharp needle
to get a crisp design.
STABILIZER: Use a medium-weight
cutaway stabilizer, attached to the back
of your canvas with spray adhesive.
Canvas may be sturdy, but it wasn't made
specifically for embroidery, so a good
stabilizer will help you get the best
results you can. |
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HOOPING:
Spray a piece of medium weight
cutaway stabilizer generously with
temporary spray
adhesive (we use Gunold KK100), then smooth the canvas on top.
When the two layers are smoothly
attached, hoop them together as tightly
and evenly as possible. |
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Embroider the
design. |
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FINISHING:
And you're
done! Cut away the excess stabilizer and
keep sewing your project.
Canvas is a
great medium for embroidery because it's
sturdy, it's easy to work with, and it
gets along well with cutaway stabilizer. |
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Stitch a
colorful tote for summer trips to the
beach! Even solid, stitch filled designs
like this giraffe can be stitched
smoothly and beautifully on canvas. |
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Have fun
experimenting with subtle prints!
Embroiderers tend to stay away from
printed fabrics for fear of having them
clash with the designs -- but low-key
prints can add another element of
interest.
On your next
trip to the fabric store, enjoy
"canvassing" the options! |
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Stitching tips for canvas:
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Needle |
75/11
sharp needle. An embroidery needle
may also be used. |
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Stabilizer |
Cutaway
(2.5 ounce) |
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Design
Choice |
Any
types of designs work well on canvas |
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