JC Home Ec - Fabric embellishment

Benefits of textiles

For many years, working with textiles has been considered a relaxing + therapeutic + leisure activity. This leads to better health + wellbeing

Textile embellishment

-Textile or fabric embellishment is adding a decorative detail or feature to fabric to make it more attractive
-A process often used when upcycling + therefore can contribute to sustainability

Embellishment techniques

-Embroidery
-Appliqué
-Quilting
-Patchwork
-Ruffles
-Beading
-Furrowing
-Smocking
-Pleating
-Piping
-Fabric origami
-Dyeing
-Printing
-Lace + braid

Embroidery

-Stitching pictures, scenes or decorative features on textiles.
-Can be done by machine or by hand
-Can be simple or intricate

Appliqué

-Stitching small pieces of fabric onto a larger one to make a pattern or design.
-Can be done by machine or by hand

Quilitng

-Sewing 2 or more layers of fabric together to make a thicker padded material
-Usually done with 3 layers, the top fabric (quilt top), insulating material (middle) + backing material (bottom)

Patchwork

-Sewing together pieces of fabric into a larger design
-The larger design is usually based on repeating patterns built up with different fabric shapes

Ruffles

A strip of fabric, lace or ribbon tightly gathered or pleated + applied to clothing or a household textile

Beading

Stitching beads, sequins or rhinestones to fabric to embellish the surface

Furrowing

Taking a large piece of fabric + hand gathering it into a small space then stitching down all of the valleys created

Smocking

Gathering fabric so that it can stretch. Before elastic, smoking was often used in cuffs, bodices + necklines

Pleating

A type of fold formed by doubling fabric back upon itself + securing it in place. Pleats sewn into place are called tucks

Piping

-A strip of folded fabric often folded over a cord to form a pipe.
-This is then inserted into a seam to define the edges or style lines of a garment or other textile object
-Usually the fabric strip is cut on the bias

Fabric origami

Fabric folding for decorative purposes

Dyeing

Adding colour to fibres + fabric

Printing

Applying colour in a definite pattern or design

Lace + braid

Sewing lace or braid onto plain fabrics for embellishment

Buttons

Can be placed anywhere on the fabric

Buckles

Can be placed anywhere on the fabric

Zippers

Can be unzipped + used as piping, or simply stitched onto the fabric

Embroidery stitches

Used to decorate fabrics

Embroidery thread

-Usually sold in skeins
-The thread is made up of 6 strands
-Usually only 3 strands are used together unless you are embroidering on a very thick fabric

Embroidery needles

-A crewel needle is used for embroidery
-Machine embroidery or decorative stitching is available on many sewing machines

Crewel needle

A needle with a very large eye

Rules for embroidery

-Begin by making a few running stitches along the area to be embroidered
-Finish by bringing the needle to the wrong side + weaving the thread through the back of the embroidery. Cut the thread

Types of embroidery stitches

-Satin stitch
-Long + short stitch
-Stem stitch
-Chain stitch

Satin stitch use

To fill in shapes

Satin stitch method

1. The threaded needle goes in one side of the design + out the other
2. The stitches can be straight or slanted but they must be very close together
3. Running stitches throughout the design before the satin stitching helps to give extra thickness
4. Use short stitches, as long ones drag the fabric

Long + short stitch uses

-To fill in wide designs
-To give a shaded effect to petals + leaves, giving a more natural appearance

Long + short stitch method

-Row 1: First a long stitch, then a short stitch
-Row 2: First a short stitch, then a long stitch so that the rows fit neatly into each other

Stem stitch uses

To outline such as stems or intials

Stem stitch method

1. Begin with a backstitch. Work from left to right along the design, taking even, slightly slanted stitches
2. The needle should always come out above the previous stitch

Chain stitch use

-As an outline stitch
-To fill in a design

Chain stitch method

1. Begin by making a backstitch
2. Work down the design, holding the thread with your thumb to form a loop
3. Insert the needle inside the loop beside where it last emerged
4. Finish with a secure stitch, bring the thread to the back + weave through a few stitches. Cut the thread

Dyes

Before commercial dyes, people used natural dyes made from fruit or vegetables. However commercial dyes are more permanent + colourfast

Method of dyeing

-Textiles are dyed as fibres, yarn, fabric or finished garments
-The textiles are first washed + bleached to ensure the dye colour is absorbed evenly
-A substance called a mordant is used to fix the dye to the fabric
-Tie dyeing + batik are techniques used in dyeing that allow patterns to be created

Mordant

A substance used to fix the dye to the fabric

Method of printing

Printing involves applying dyes to the surface of fabric, usually in a pattern. It can be done using a block, screen or roller